TURKMENISTAN: OSCE HOLDS SEMINAR ON TURKMEN HUMAN RIGHTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000900

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SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: OSCE HOLDS SEMINAR ON TURKMEN HUMAN RIGHTS
ORGANS


1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet distribution


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: At a July 16 seminar for government officials
devoted to the subject of improving the work of Turkmen human rights
institutions, an OSCE expert from Sweden explained the international
legal framework regulating governmental human rights organs and the
role of human rights commissions in dealing with individual
complaints. International experts from Ireland, Estonia,
Azerbaijan and the Netherlands delivered presentations on the roles
of their national commissions on human rights in dealing with
individual complaints. According to a Turkmen government official,
Turkmenistan has approached some international organizations for
advice on establishing an independent human rights institute. The
seminar, which was part of a series of Turkmenistan-OSCE joint
projects for 2009, was held in the framework of legal reform in
Turkmenistan. END SUMMARY.

TURKMENISTAN-OSCE JOINT PROJECT


3. (SBU) The director of the State Institute for Democracy and Human
Rights (IDHR),Shirin Ahmedova opened the session, saying that the
seminar being was held in the framework of legal reform with the aim
of further democratization of Turkmen society and improvement of its
national legislation. In this regard, Ahmedova underscored that
Turkmenistan pays significant importance to learning from the
experiences of other members of the international community and
strengthening contacts with foreign partners such as the United
Nations and OSCE. Yesterday's seminar was one such event organized
by OSCE together with the Turkmen government in the framework of
their joint projects in 2009.

EXPERT PRESENTATIONS


4. (SBU) Frank Orton, former Ombudsman in Sweden and Bosnia and
Herzegovina, delivered a presentation on the international legal
framework regulating the national human rights institutes, Paris
Principles. He also made a presentation on the role of Human Rights
Commissions in dealing with individual complaints, discussing best
practices and concrete examples from different countries. Shemshat
Atajanova, Head of the Department of Human Rights Issues and the
Protection of Democracy of IDHR, in her presentation talked about
current mechanisms of dealing with individual complaints. Sinead
Lucey, Senior Enquiries and Legal Officer of the Irish Human Rights
Commission delivered a presentation on the work of that office, and
talked about its mandate and work in dealing with individual human
rights complaints. Indrek Teder, Chancellor of Justice from
Estonia, spoke about the mandate and work of his office. Mehman
Amiraliyev, Head of the Department of Protection of Human Rights of
the Office of Ombudsman on Human Rights from Azerbaijan, spoke about
the mandate and work of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the
Republic of Azerbaijan. Adriana Stehouwer, Deputy Ombudsman of the
Netherlands, made a presentation on the mandate and work of the
Ombudsman in the Netherlands in dealing with the human rights
complaints referred to her office. Listening to the presentations,
Ahmedova said that "Turkmenistan is keen to learn international best
practices of dealing with individual complaints." The presentations
were followed by a Q&A session.

TURKMENISTAN AND AN INDEPENDENT HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTE


5. (SBU) In the course of the seminar, Ahmedova mentioned that as a
result of Turkmenistan's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) reports to
the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in December 2008 and March
2009, the UPR made recommendations to Turkmenistan with regard to
its human rights records. In particular, one of the recommendations
was that Turkmenistan establish an independent human rights body.
Pursuing the recommendation, IDHR approached international
organizations such as UN and OSCE to prepare proposals on the
institutional character and system of such a body. She said that
the new agency/institute would monitor human rights issues in the
country, put forward proposals, and provide recommendations on human
rights issues, and be a protector and guarantor of the Constitution.


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6. (SBU) The event gathered representatives from IDHR, the Institute
for State and Law under the President of Turkmenistan, the Mejlis
(Parliament) of Turkmenistan, Ministries of Justice, Internal
Affairs, National Security, General Prosecutor's Office, Judges, Bar
Association, Women's Union, Youth Organization, Ashgabat
municipality, local media, UN Representation in Turkmenistan, the
U.S. Embassy, and the OSCE Center in Ashgabat.


7. (SBU) COMMENT: Certainly, the creation of an independent human
rights body in Turkmenistan would be a major improvement. How
effective that body would be would depend on the degree of
independence as well as whether its recommendations or proposals are
taken seriously by the government. END COMMENT.

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