SUCCESSIVE SESSION 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

On the 28th of January 2021, the 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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

The heads and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and other branch ministries and departments of the country, Ombudswoman of Turkmenistan, heads of the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan, the National Society of Red Crescent of Turkmenistan, as well as public organizations took part in the session.

At the opening of the session, the Chairman of the Inter-departmental Commission, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov spoke about the important steps implemented in Turkmenistan under the leadership of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in the area of human rights and international humanitarian law.

During the meeting, the reports were heard about the work of the Inter-departmental Commission in 2020 and priority courses of action for the upcoming period were determined. The enhancement of the constitutional norms on parliament serves as one of the important examples. The participants presented detailed information on the work done, including the outcomes of cooperation with the international organizations on strengthening the legal base of collaboration, in particular the UN, International Labour Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization and others.

The Working Plan of the Commission for the current year which is declared in Turkmenistan as “Turkmenistan – Homeland of Peace and Trust” was considered. It was stated that the events planned for the current year are also aimed at the advancement of humane principles embedded in the work of the government on reinforcing the ties of friendship and mutual understanding between countries and people.

Special attention was paid to the development of drafts of national programmes in the area of gender equality, protection of children’s and juvenile’s rights, as well as the state youth policy and action plans for their implementation.

The participants of the Inter-departmental Commission informed about the regular events, including seminars, meetings and consultations on the preparation of national reports, reviews. The importance of studying the best practices in the area of implementing human rights was underlined.

At the meeting of the Inter-departmental Commission, the information about the fulfillment of the Plan of Events on International Humanitarian Law for 2018-2020 was heard, as well as the draft of similar plan of events for 2021-2023 was discussed. One more important topic of discussion was the enhancement of human rights awareness and the improvement of the system of processing and coordinating the claims, including the issues of joining the international conventions and their facultative protocols by Turkmenistan.