SUCCESSIVE MEETING OF THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMMISSION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS OF TURKMENISTAN

On July 18, 2020, the successive meeting of the Inter-departmental Commission on the Implementation of International Obligations of Turkmenistan in the area of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law was held in the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

The heads and representatives of relevant ministries and agencies of Turkmenistan, Ombudswoman of Turkmenistan, representatives of public organizations, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Elena Panova and the Head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat Natalya Drozd participated to the event.    

Speaking at the session, the Chairman of the Inter-departmental Commission, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R.Meredov told about the results of the work accomplished in Turkmenistan during the first half year of 2020 in regard to implementation of international obligations of the country in the field of human rights and international humanitarian law. The adherence of Turkmenistan to further expansion of the base and mechanisms of human rights and freedoms was underlined.

In this context, the importance of the National Action Plan in the field of Human Rights for 2016-2020, National Action Plan on Countering the Human Trafficking for 2016-2020, National Action Plan on the Implementation of Children’s Rights in Turkmenistan for 2018-2022, as well as the National Strategy of Turkmenistan on the Early Development of a Child for the period of 2020-2025 was reminded. 

Then, the participants of the Commission and the representatives of international organizations discussed further steps and priority vectors of cooperation for the second half of current year.  The participants exchanged views, recommendations and proposals on the development of national programmes, plans and laws in the area of human rights protection.

The Joint Action Plan of the given Commission and the UN Representative Office in Turkmenistan was viewed in detail.  The Plan encompasses a number of vital aspects which can strengthen the potential of Turkmenistan in the process of implementing the international obligations in the field of human rights and international humanitarian law. Among the priority courses of action are: the issue of developing the National Action Plan in the field of Human Rights for 2021-2025, raising the human rights awareness by the means of publications and printed sources, as well as capacity building of education sector in the area of human rights.     

In the end of the meeting, R.Meredov expressed gratitude to the participants for active work and reiterated the importance of cooperation with international organizations in the process of implementing international obligations of Turkmenistan in the area of human rights and international humanitarian law.