ABTTF, WTMUGA Attend UN Forum on Minority Issues in Geneva
The Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) and the Association of Western Thrace Minority Graduates (WTMUGA) participated in the 17th Session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues held on November 28-29, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland. The theme of the forum was "Representation and Self-Representation of Minorities in Public Spaces and Discourses." Representatives Melek Kırmacı (ABTTF) and Kerem Abdurahimoğlu (WTMUGA) highlighted the educational challenges faced by the Western Thrace Turkish community.
During the forum, issues such as minority representation in public spaces, education, media, and cultural fields were discussed. ABTTF emphasized Greece's poor record on minority rights in Europe, citing its refusal to ratify the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) or sign the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. They pointed out the systematic closure of Turkish minority schools, reducing their number from 194 in 2008 to 86 in 2024, and the lack of Turkish preschools in regions with significant Turkish populations.
WTMUGA also addressed problems such as the shortage of school facilities and the government's neglect of demands for new buildings. Both organizations called on the UN to urge Greece to respect minority rights and restore educational autonomy for the Western Thrace Turkish community.
