Ashgabat, 13 July 2018: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights of Turkmenistan have extended the implementation of the joint project with the aim to implement National human rights action plan of Turkmenistan 2016-2020 (NHRAP).

The second stage of project implementation is co-funded by the Government of Turkmenistan and the UK Embassy in Turkmenistan with the total budget amount of $68,023.50 for the period of 2018-2020. The project will continue supporting the Government in implementation and monitoring of activities of the NHRAP and reporting as well as implementation on recommendations of the UN treaty bodies.

The second stage of the project will concentrate on the implementation of the recommendations accepted by the Government of Turkmenistan during its 2018 UPR interactive dialogue at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). Accepted UPR follow-up practice is to develop implementation mechanisms, either UPR-specific or by ensuring that NHRAPs will include UPR recommendations to ensure implementation in a credible and coherent manner.

Additionally, the project will also include awareness raising activities on human rights, including campaign dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights to promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) for government officials and public at all levels.

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In May 2018, Government of Turkmenistan participated in the 30th session UPR of the UN HRC.  During the session Turkmen side made a presentation on the main directions of Turkmenistan's policy to implement the commitments undertaken in the field of human rights, and also informed about the progress on implementation of the recommendations received during the previous dialogue on UPR held at the HRC in 2013.

NHRAP was approved by the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on January 15, 2016. The Plan emphasizes the importance of Turkmenistan's commitment to international, regional and national standards in the area of human rights and serves as a specific guide for promotion and protection of human rights.