Ashgabat, 23 July 2021: UNDP and the Government of Turkmenistan started a series of seminars on the Topical Aspects of the Implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) of Turkmenistan for 2021-2025, with the first seminar convened in a hybrid format at the Human Rights Information Center of the Turkmen Agricultural Institute in Dashoguz.

The seminars are organized in the framework of the three-year UNDP project: "Assistance in the Implementation of the National Action Plan of Turkmenistan in the area of human rights for 2021-2025" implemented jointly with the Institute of State, Law, and Democracy of Turkmenistan.

Focusing on human rights education and awareness-raising the seminars will contribute to the efforts of the country to comply with its international human rights obligations and implementing recommendations of human rights treaty bodies, including the recommendations of the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), as well as accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the country.

“I would especially like to note the importance of promoting respect to human rights and freedoms through education at various levels along with the activities aimed at strengthening the capacity of civil servants, law enforcement officials, judges, and lawyers to promote human rights agenda in the country”- said Rovshen Nurmuhammedov, UNDP Assistant Representative in Turkmenistan outlining the objectives of the seminars.

The seminars will be further convened in Mary, Lebap, and Balkan velayats, and in the capital of the country Ashgabat gathering more than 75 representatives of the national law-enforcement agencies, judicial system, bar associations, civil society organizations, mass media, and other local authorities involved in the implementation of NHRAP for 2021-2025

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The NHRAP 2021-2025 adopted by the Government in April 2021 aims at strengthening the national system of provision and protection of human rights and liberties in Turkmenistan, implementation of the international obligations of the country in the given area, and the expansion of cooperation with the international organizations in the humanitarian sphere.

UNDP Turkmenistan provides support to the implementation of the NHRAP 2021-2025 in the framework of the project “Assistance in the realization National Action Plan of Turkmenistan in the Area of Human Rights for 2021-2025” jointly implemented with the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan. The project will focus on strengthening the national system of protection, promotion, and realization of human rights in Turkmenistan by harmonizing laws and practices in accordance with the country's international human rights obligations.