Human Rights Council Forum on Minority Issues Eighth session 24-25 November 2015 11:00 -13: 00 Legal framework and key concepts Sarvar Salimov Institute for Youth Development Kyrgyzstan, Osh Str. Aliyev 190/9 +996 (3222) 27026 office.osh@dr.kg Dear Mr Chairman. I would like to stress the importance of this forum, where the voices of representatives of minorities will be heard at a global level. My name is Sarvar Salimov, I am a representative of ethnic Uzbeks in Kyrgyzstan, and I work at the Institute for Youth Development. Against the background of the global developments in the sphere of human rights violations, which lead to hundreds of thousands of victims, I would like to recall the meaning of the existence of the United Nations as an institution for maintaining and strengthening international peace and security, [and] development of cooperation between States. Unfortunately, mechanisms, instruments and recommendations of the UN do not always provide practical assistance to problem solving at the national and international level. The tragic events of 2010 in South Kyrgyzstan and consequences thereof left a negative mark in the history of the country, and became a cause of human rights violations and an increased frequency of cases of discrimination on ethnic grounds. Turning to the rights and opportunities of minorities in Kyrgyzstan, I would like to highlight the importance of several aspects:  equal access to quality education, both in a minority language and in the state language, granted to all citizens, regardless of ethnic, religious or linguistic identity, living in remote areas, in order to ensure the possibility of admission to a higher educational establishment and continued growth;  equal access to civil and political rights as well as economic and social benefits, which are guaranteed to people in accordance with the relevant covenants, in order to ensure that a citizen of the state does not feel marginalised and limited in his/her choice and opportunities:  representation of minorities in law enforcement and judicial authorities, which will contribute to an impartial implementation in good faith of the functions of these authorities, with no discrimination of any groups, particularly in regions, which are inhabited by a large number of minorities.