MEETING OF THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMISSION

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan held a routine meeting on April 6, 2024. The purpose of the meeting was to oversee the fulfillment of Turkmenistan's commitments in the areas of human rights and international humanitarian law. Representatives from various organizations such as the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, several ministries, sectoral departments, and public associations were in attendance.

The Interdepartmental Commission reviewed the results of their work for the first three months of 2024 as per the agenda. They also discussed the tasks related to the implementation of the "National Action Plan on Human Rights in Turkmenistan for 2021-2025", the "National Action Plan on Gender Equality in Turkmenistan for 2021-2025", and the "National Action Plan for the implementation of children's rights in Turkmenistan for 2023-2028".

During the meeting, it was mentioned by the speakers that the Interdepartmental Commission is actively working towards enhancing our country's international obligations by establishing strong relationships with the United Nations and other international organizations in Turkmenistan, as directed by the head of state during the expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on February 9th of this year.

It was also mentioned that the legal framework in Turkmenistan is continuously updated, incorporating national practices and universally recognized principles of international law.

During the discussion of the results achieved in the reporting period, the speakers emphasized the significance of the ongoing activities in relation to the implementation of the UN Human Rights Committee's final recommendations for protecting citizens' interests.

"To enhance the capabilities of the Human Rights Ombudsman in Turkmenistan, the agenda also focused on creating new divisions within the Ombudsman's Office to specifically safeguard the rights of children, women, and entrepreneurs."

Comprehensive measures aimed at the effective organization of labor relations in accordance with the realities of the times play an important role in the consistent work carried out with the units of the United Nations and other relevant international organizations. In this regard, the possibilities of intensifying cooperation with the International Labor Organization, accession to international documents, as well as the draft "road map" of joint activities with the ILO for 2024-2025 were discussed.

According to the speakers, there is a particular focus in the contemporary times on ensuring the appropriate social and legal environment for citizens to exercise their constitutional right to work as per Turkmenistan labor laws, promoting economic growth, enhancing the quality of life, and fostering collaboration between employees and employers.

During the discussion, it was highlighted that one of the main focuses of the Interdepartmental Commission is to enhance the public's legal awareness and improve access to legal information.

While discussing the measures to be taken to carry out the tasks set out in the work plan of the Interdepartmental Commission, it was noted that conferences, working meetings and consultations with the participation of international experts would be held on a regular basis in order to study the best global practices in the field of human rights protection.

A number of other issues were discussed at the Interdepartmental Commission meeting.