Human Rights Council
Fifty-fifth session
26 February–5 April 2024
Agenda item 8
Follow-up and implementation of the Vienna Declaration
and Programme of Action
Written statement* submitted by Centre Zagros pour les Droits de l’Homme, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status
The Treaty of Lausanne(1), signed on July 24, 1923, was a historic turning point for the region of Asia Minor(2). Recognized by the League of Nations on August 26, 1924, the treaty aimed to establish peace and stability following World War I. The signatories, including the Republic of Turkey, the British Empire, France, Italy, Japan, Greece, Romania, and the Serb-Croat-Slovene state, committed to respecting provisions that subsequently had a significant impact on the region’s minorities, particularly the Kurds(3), Alevis(4), and Yazidis(5).
A particularly concerning aspect is the targeted violence and massacres against these minorities. Acts of violence, including massacres and genocides, have been repeatedly committed, causing massive human losses, forced displacements, and profound trauma. Tragic examples such as the Dersim Massacre in Turkey(6)(7), the Anfal Campaign in Iraq(8), deprivation of the Kurds’ citizenship rights in Syria(9), and recent atrocities committed by extremist groups in Syria(9) and Iraq(10)(11) testify to the violence perpetrated against these communities(12).
Effects on the Political and Social Rights of Minorities
Neglect of Political Rights
The provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne led to a serious neglect of the political rights of minorities. These groups were systematically excluded from political processes, deprived of representation and participation in decisions affecting their lives and communities.
Social Marginalization
The social marginalization, exacerbated by the treaty, resulted in considerable socio-economic disparities. Access to education, health services, employment, and other essential services was limited for these minorities, worsening their vulnerability and exclusion.
Violations of Cultural, Linguistic, and Human Rights
As previously mentioned, the treaty also led to massive violations of cultural and linguistic rights, as well as human rights. These policies had a devastating impact on the identity and cultural survival of the minorities.
Violence and Repression
Targeted violence, including massacres and genocides, as well as systematic repression, were direct consequences of the treaty, leading to human losses, forced displacements, and trauma.
Critical Situation of Women in Minorities
Women in these communities suffered extreme forms of gender-based violence, exacerbated by impunity and lack of legal recourse.
Call to Action and Commitments :
**Revision of the Treaty of Lausanne
We call for an urgent revision of the Treaty of Lausanne to incorporate strong guarantees for the political, social, cultural, linguistic, and human rights of minorities.
**Mechanisms for Investigation and Accountability
We demand the creation of independent investigative mechanisms for human rights violations, including political and social rights, to ensure accountability of the perpetrators and justice for the victims.
Kurdish-Swiss Alliance, Equality for All, Act for Afrin, NGO(s) without consultative status, also share the views expressed in this statement.
(1)- https://treaties.un.org/doc/publication/unts/lon/volume%2028/v28.pdf
(2)- https://utopia.miraheze.org/wiki/Asie_Mineure
(3)- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/who-are-kurds
(4)- https://minorityrights.org/minorities/alevis/
(5)- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yazidi
(6)- https://www.sciencespo.fr/mass-violence-war-massacre-resistance/en/document/dersim-massacre-1937-1938.html
(7)- https://www.sciencespo.fr/mass-violence-war-massacre-resistance/en/document/dersim-massacre-1937-1938.html
(8)- https://www.hrw.org/reports/1993/iraqanfal/ANFALINT.htm
(9)- OHCHR – https://urlz.fr/m3Iq
(10)- https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2014/08/iraq-immediate-action-needed-protect-human-rights-yazidis-grave-danger-un
(11)- https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2016/06/un-commission-inquiry-syria-isis-committing-genocide-against-yazidis
(12)- https://www.hrw.org/legacy/summaries/s.syria9610.html
