Ashgabat, 6 December 2021: UNDP and the Government of Turkmenistan started the workshop on the International Standards for Human Rights Education Programs in online format.

The workshop is 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.

The workshop is delivered by the international expert on human rights education Mrs. Aigul Kulnazarova. As a result of the workshop Mrs. Kulnazarova will provide Recommendations for the introduction of new human rights courses in undergraduate and graduate programs for participants of the workshop – representatives of the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, the Civil Service Academy under the President of Turkmenistan, the Turkmen State University named after Mahtumkuli, the Institute of International Relations of Turkmenistan and International University for Humanities and Development of Turkmenistan.

“Noting the importance of advancing human rights education, let me highlight that United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Education reaffirms the call made at the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in 1993 for all states and institutions to include human rights, humanitarian law, democracy and the rule of law in all educational institutions and human rights education should include issues of peace, democracy, development and social justice, as stated in international and regional human rights treaties, in order to achieve common understanding and awareness to strengthen universal commitment to human rights.”- said Rovshen Nurmuhammedov, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in Turkmenistan outlining the objectives of the seminar.

The introduction of new human rights courses in undergraduate and graduate programs at the universities and institutes of Turkmenistan will contribute to the effective implementation of NHRAP 2021-2025 and 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.

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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.