CERD/C/KGZ/CO/5-7
requests that the State party provide it with information on specific measures taken
for this purpose in its next periodic report.
Situation of internally displaced persons following the June 2010 conflict
11.
While noting the efforts made by the State party to provide assistance to internally
displaced persons, the Committee remains concerned that sustainable reintegration of
internally displaced persons has not been yet achieved and that some of those who returned
to Osh and Jalal Abad after the June 2010 events continue to face difficulties with regard to
housing, properties and reintegration (arts. 2 and 5).
The Committee encourages the State party to pursue its efforts to provide full
assistance to internally displaced persons who returned to their places of origin in Osh
and Jalal Abad regions and to ensure their full reintegration, in particular with
regard to access to housing and labour market.
Minority languages and culture in education
12.
The Committee notes that the Constitution of the State party (art. 10) and the State
Languages Act guarantee the right of persons belonging to minorities to be taught in their
languages. However, the Committee is concerned at the lack of qualified teachers,
translators, textbooks and teaching material in minority as well as in the State languages.
The Committee is particularly concerned at reports that since the June 2010 events, many
schools in Osh and Jalal-Abad have changed the language of education from minority
languages into Kyrgyz, and that some of them do no longer benefit from State funding
enabling them to ensure classes in minority languages. The Committee is also concerned at
information on a decision of the State party according to which the high school testing will
be conducted in Kyrgyz, thus creating a discrimination with regard to minority children
who were educated partially in minority languages and do not have proficiency to be tested
in Kyrgyz; such a situation may prevent their admission to universities or access to the
labour market on equal footing with members of the majority. Moreover, the Committee
remains concerned at reports that textbooks and curricula for primary and secondary
schools do not adequately provide information on the history and culture of different ethnic
groups living in the territory of the State party (arts. 2, 5 and 7).
The Committee encourages the State party to strengthen its efforts to promote
education in minority languages for children belonging to minority ethnic groups in
particular in the regions of Osh and Jalal-Abad. The Committee also recommends
that the State party review its decision to introduce high school testing in Kyrgyz and
take appropriate measures to ensure that children belonging to minorities be tested in
languages in which they were mainly educated. The Committee reiterates its previous
recommendation (CERD/C/KGZ/CO/4, para. 14) that the State party include in
curricula and textbooks for primary and secondary schools information about the
history and culture of different ethnic groups living in its territory. The Committee
requests that the State party provide information on follow-up given to this
recommendation in its next periodic report.
Minority languages in media following the June 2010 conflict
13.
The Committee notes explanations provided by the delegation of the State party
according to which some media incited ethnic hatred and that some media owners have left
the country for security reasons. However, the Committee is concerned that “in general, the
Uzbek-language media are in somewhat lamentable situation as almost none of them have
functioned since the June 2010 events” and that the use of minority languages in media has
decreased in particular in the Osh region. The Committee is particularly concerned that
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