12th Session, Geneva, 28 and 29 November 2019 Twelfth Session of the Forum on Minority Issues Education, Language and the Human Rights of Minorities Concept Note The Twelfth Session of the Forum on Minority Issues is convened on 28 and 29 November 2019 in Palais des Nations in Geneva pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 6/15 of 28 September 2007 and resolution 19/23 of 23 March 2012. This year, the theme of the Forum is "Education, Language and the Human Rights of Minorities". A preparatory meeting for all participants will be organised on 27 November 2019. 1. Background The rights of linguistic minorities are human rights that must be respected, including in relation to the appropriate degree of use of minority languages. Minorities in all regions of the world often face significant challenges in using and maintaining their language, as well as in accessing quality education and in particular education that contributes to the preservation of their language, culture and identity. Education deals with what is perhaps the central linguistic right of minorities, and is also fundamental to the maintenance of linguistic diversity. A language that is not taught is a language that will ultimately vanish. The benefits of education in the mother language are now fairly well established scientifically through studies of minority children in different parts of the world.1 In addition, the protection of minority languages, as well as the recognition, respect and promotion of the educational needs of minorities, is a crucial component of the protection and preservation of the culture of minorities, and the promotion of society’s diversity, and thus an important factor in reducing inter-ethnic tensions and preventing conflicts. The 2017 publication by the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on minority issues entitled “Language Rights of Linguistic Minorities: a practical guide for implementation” highlights the importance of designing and implementing educational programmes in minority languages along with the teaching of the official language(s), and advocates for the preservation of minority languages, because as stated “a language that is not taught is a language that will ultimately vanish”. 1 Language Rights of Linguistic Minorities: A Practical Guide for Implementation, UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Geneva, March 2017.