Oral Statement of « Zagros Human Rights Center » on the situation of the minorities in Turkey, for the eighth session of the Forum on minority issues in Geneva, 24 and 25 November 2015 Item III Mr Chairman, On behalf of the Zagros Human Rights Center, I wish to draw the attention of the forum on the situation human rights in Turkey, especially int the Kurdish area. After an initial positive developments in settling the Kurdish issue in Turkey, the peace process effectively came to a complete halt in July. To date Turkey is not ready to recognize the existence of approximately 15 millions Kurds and their rights. The Turkish constitution refuses the Kurds the status of national minority and teaching of Kurdish language in public schools is still forbidden. The situation is no more better for other minorities like Grecs or Arméniens… After a wake of a resurgence of violence in the East and South-East of Turkey, there were numerous casualties among civilians. There were disturbing reports of serious human rights violations committed by the security forces. More than 20 civilians were killed during the curfew imposed nine days in the town of Cizre. Between July and September, dozens of civilians, including 20 children. A report prepared by the Association of (Mazlumder) about a curfew that had been in place for 12 days in the southeastern town of Silvan indicates that civilians were targeted with real weapons during the curfew. According to the same report, the security forces went beyond the law and violated civilians' right to life during the curfew. The year 2015 was marked by the escalation of violence, leading to discontinuation of the settlement process of the Kurdish question. It is imperative that the Kurdish peace process resume as it remains the best opportunity in a generation to resolve a conflict that has claimed far too many