instruments. He explained that the FCNM reflects the 1992 UN Declaration and ensures
minorities can express their identity, access resources equally, and engage in intercultural
dialogue. Articles 12 and 14 specifically address education, promoting equal opportunities,
minority language learning, and fostering mutual respect, whilst emphasizing effective
minority participation in educational policy. Prof. Smith introduced the 2024 update of the
Advisory Committee’s Thematic Commentary No.1 on Education, stressing that the right to
education should be understood as the right to high-quality and inclusive education. The
revisions respond to societal changes, particularly increased diversity due to migration and
persistent biases in curricula. He concluded by urging states to integrate minority histories and
languages into mainstream education to build cohesive societies based on respect and
diversity.
Mr. Ignasi Grau Callizo emphasized that the primary aim of education, as recognized
in human rights treaties, is the full development of the human personality, which requires
both knowing who we are and participating in a shared societal conversation. He noted that,
for minorities, education must respect cultural and moral dimensions to foster identity, critical
thinking, and intercultural dialogue. Neutrality alone is insufficient, as it often reflects a
hegemonic culture that marginalizes minority perspectives and leads to discrimination.
Ensuring educational pluralism allows families to pass on their cultural heritage. Mr. Grau
Callizo recommended three measures: involving parents in the educational process, providing
public funding for minority-led schools, and ensuring that curricula do not conflict with
minority values.
Interactive Dialogue
In the interactive dialogue, participants raised numerous concerns related to minority
issues and presented various initiatives.
The issues raised included, inter alia, the exclusion and segregation of persons
belonging to minorities from the education and cultural systems, and the existence of
assimilation policies which leads to the erosion of the cultural heritage of minorities and
distorts the children’s understanding of their own culture. These issues are reinforced for
minority children facing intersectional discrimination such as minority children with disability.
They also addressed the lack of anti-discrimination law preventing to address discrimination
against minority students in educational settings, harassment and bullying, and the high rates
of school drop out of minority students. Furthermore, they noted that, in some instances, the
lack of identity documents prevent minority children to have access to education. The
participants also addressed issues related to education and language rights such as the
prohibition to use and teach minority languages in school. They underlined that such policies
result in discrimination and the marginalisation of persons belonging to linguistic minorities.
The participants presented initiatives promoting linguistic pluralism in schools, the
development of inclusive educational programs to ensure that minority communities have
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