TURKMENISTAN: INSTITUTE OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN

UNCLAS ASHGABAT 001486 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: INSTITUTE OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS RELISHES ROLE AS UNOFFICIAL OMBUDSMAN ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) During a meeting with a visiting Emerson College professor of Political Communication, Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (IDHR) Director Shirin Akhmedova said IDHR informally plays the role of ombudsman for citizens with human rights complaints. In 2007, the Institute received around 2,000 complaints and this year, to date, has received at least that many. The letters, which the Institute forwards to the appropriate ministry for action, range from requests for money to build houses to allegations about violations of human rights. ¶3. (SBU) Akhmedova said that one reason that IDHR tries to publicize its activities is so that people know that they can contact the Institute about concerns. IDHR especially tries to get this message out to the provinces. ¶4. (SBU) Akhmedova said the response from ministries has been good. Each and every letter that IDHR forwards gets a reply, either from the minister or a deputy minister. Two years ago, during a period when IDHR did not have a director, complaint letters, when answered, would get rude replies from low-level functionaries. Therefore, there has been a big improvement. However, often problems can be solved at the local level, but citizens choose to write directly to IDHR for help. IDHR hopes to find a better mechanism for directing concerns to local officials. ¶5. (SBU) IDHR will cooperate with the British Embassy on a project to better systematize the way it handles complaints. Akhmedova believes this will make IDHR a more effective advocate for citizens with human rights concerns. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: If IDHR is able to play a serious role as ombudsman for citizens complaints, it will be an important step forward. And if officials know they can be called on the carpet for violating rights, that may help prevent some human rights violations. END COMMENT. CURRAN