Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10ASHGABAT43
2010-01-09 12:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: UK-PROMOTED REVISIONS ON JUVENILE
how-toVZCZCXRO4076 PP RUEHIK DE RUEHAH #0043 0091217 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 091217Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4045 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 6105 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3795 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3654 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 4347 RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 4279
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000043
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KJUS TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UK-PROMOTED REVISIONS ON JUVENILE
CRIME TO BE INCLUDED IN LAW
UNCLAS ASHGABAT 000043
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KJUS TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UK-PROMOTED REVISIONS ON JUVENILE
CRIME TO BE INCLUDED IN LAW
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) The UK has been working with the Turkmenistan
government on a penal reform project. One element of the
project was a 2008 trip by Institute for Democracy and Human
Rights Director Shirin Akhmedova to the UK. Another part has
been assistance in amending the criminal code. The UK Charge
told us that Turkmenistan plans to include a new section in
the amended law dealing with juvenile justice. Based on UK
suggestions, there will be a greater emphasis on
rehabilitation and education and less on punishment.
Currently, there is no provision for educating incarcerated
juvenile offenders. Juveniles will also have the right to
more family visits and to receive more parcels than adult
offenders.
3. (SBU) UNICEF has also been involved in this project and
has brought in consultants from King's College and from an
organization in Essex, England expert in juvenile law.
Ideally, UNICEF would like to see Turkmenistan set up a
separate juvenile justice system, but realizes that such a
change is still a ways off. UNICEF believes the new criminal
code should be passed by the parliament in March. After
that, UNICEF will set up a pilot program in one of the
provinces to help officials, including judges, with
implementation.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: It is important that this juvenile
justice project has included not just assistance on revising
the law, but also a component designed to aid with
implementation. Many Turkmen laws are not bad as written,
but there is a tremendous gap between what is on paper and
implementation. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KJUS TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: UK-PROMOTED REVISIONS ON JUVENILE
CRIME TO BE INCLUDED IN LAW
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) The UK has been working with the Turkmenistan
government on a penal reform project. One element of the
project was a 2008 trip by Institute for Democracy and Human
Rights Director Shirin Akhmedova to the UK. Another part has
been assistance in amending the criminal code. The UK Charge
told us that Turkmenistan plans to include a new section in
the amended law dealing with juvenile justice. Based on UK
suggestions, there will be a greater emphasis on
rehabilitation and education and less on punishment.
Currently, there is no provision for educating incarcerated
juvenile offenders. Juveniles will also have the right to
more family visits and to receive more parcels than adult
offenders.
3. (SBU) UNICEF has also been involved in this project and
has brought in consultants from King's College and from an
organization in Essex, England expert in juvenile law.
Ideally, UNICEF would like to see Turkmenistan set up a
separate juvenile justice system, but realizes that such a
change is still a ways off. UNICEF believes the new criminal
code should be passed by the parliament in March. After
that, UNICEF will set up a pilot program in one of the
provinces to help officials, including judges, with
implementation.
4. (SBU) COMMENT: It is important that this juvenile
justice project has included not just assistance on revising
the law, but also a component designed to aid with
implementation. Many Turkmen laws are not bad as written,
but there is a tremendous gap between what is on paper and
implementation. END COMMENT.
CURRAN