A two-day seminar aimed at strengthening cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights in Turkmenistan has ended in Ashgabat, according to a press release issued today by the OSCE Center.
The seminar was attended by twenty-six representatives of ministries and public authorities of Turkmenistan, including the Ombudsman's Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Mejlis (Parliament), the Supreme court, the Ministry of Adalat (justice), the bar Association, the Prosecutor General's office and the Ministry of education.
Experts of the OSCE Office for democratic institutions and human rights (ODIHR) presented the practice of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) in different countries of the world, also paid attention to the comparative analysis of their activities, and in particular, interaction with other agencies. The seminar highlighted international standards relating to national human rights institutions and best practices of OSCE participating States.
Addressing the participants of the seminar with a welcoming speech, Yazdursun Gurbannazarova, Ombudsman of Turkmenistan, noted the cooperation of her Office with the OSCE Center in Ashgabat and the support of their activities from the Center.
A representative of the Ombudsman's Office made a presentation on the law, mandate, and resources Of the Office, as well as cooperation with other national institutions and international organizations.
"Human rights institutions, as well as the governments of the participating States, are our key partners in activities aimed at compliance with international human rights standards at the national level in all OSCE countries," said Natalia Drozd, head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat. " In order to meet today's challenges and meet the hopes, expectations, and aspirations of citizens, human rights institutions need to develop accordingly."
On the second day of the event, ODIHR experts divided the participants into groups to provide an opportunity for representatives of the Ombudsman's Office and other institutions to exchange views on possible ways to strengthen cooperation between them. Panel discussions allowed participants to discuss ways to improve the protection and promotion of human rights in Turkmenistan.
