Turkmenistan Intensifies International Cooperation in Human Rights Field

The Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan hosted a regular meeting of the Inter-ministerial Commission on Ensuring Turkmenistan’s Compliance with International Obligations in the Field of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law that was attended by representatives of the country’s National Parliament, several ministries, sectoral agencies and public organizations. The meeting reviewed the results of the Commission’s work in 2017 and discussed the issues related to the main fields of its activity. 
As reported, during the period under review a range of measures was implemented to ensure further democratization and strengthen the legal framework of the Turkmen society. Having acceded to the UN principal international legal documents including human rights instruments, Turkmenistan has been taking practical steps to implement the provisions of these documents. A telling example of that is a successful ongoing legal reform and the ensuing consistent improvement of law and legal framework with regard to priority aspects of socio-economic development of the country and fundamental principles of international law. In this regard, one of the essential fields of the Commission’s work is monitoring the national legislation and drafting relevant recommendations. 
While discussing the Commission’s work in 2018, the delegates focused on practical implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan for 2016-2020, the National Action Plan on Combating Human Trafficking for 2016-2018, as well as the National Action Plan on Gender Equality in Turkmenistan for 2015-2020 approved by special Resolutions of the head of state. 
They also stressed that these documents are aimed at enhancing the work of the state authorities and public organizations in ensuring the fundamental human rights and freedoms, as well as integrating the norms of international humanitarian law into the national legislation and law enforcement practice. 
In this context the delegates noted the need for the further strengthening of fruitful contacts established with international organizations, primarily the UN and its agencies. They also spoke in favor of continuing the practice of holding seminars, meetings and consultations with international experts to discuss preparation of national reports and reviews, and to discuss the best practices in protecting human rights. 
Several other issues were also discussed at the meeting of the Inter-ministerial Commission.

source: TDH