Heads and representatives of a number of state institutions, public organizations, information centers for human rights in the velayats, the media, employees and experts of UNDP took part in a hybrid seminar “The Constitution of Turkmenistan - the guarantee of human rights and freedoms” that has been held today. The event was organized as part of the Project “Assistance in the realization of the National Action Plan of Turkmenistan in the field of human rights for 2021-2025” by the UNDP Representative Office in our country and the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan.

The agenda includes a wide range of issues related to the constitutional guarantees of human rights and the mechanisms for their implementation in Turkmenistan, carried out by UNDP projects to fulfill the international obligations of our country in this area.

The speakers emphasized that this year in the history of our independent state marks the celebration of a significant occasion, the 30th anniversary of adopting the Constitution of Turkmenistan. As was noted, the Basic Law, having legally formalized the statehood of the country and approved the sovereignty of our people within their home country, laid the foundation for the progress of the Homeland in all areas of life. Today, the Constitution of Turkmenistan is a qualitatively new document that incorporates the main ideas and principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The state strategy, being pursued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the modern epoch, is aimed at creating the prerequisites and appropriate socio-economic conditions for the most complete provision and implementation of human rights in all activity areas of our society. The state policy is based on universally recognized standards enshrined in international documents to which our country is a party, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals until 2030.

Confirming its commitment to studying the best world practices, regulations and principles of constitutional legislation, strict compliance with the fundamental conventions and other multilateral instruments of the UN in the field of human rights and freedoms, Turkmenistan actively participates in the implementation of practical actions in the humanitarian field, improves legislation that specifies and guarantees the rights of a person, develops effective mechanisms for their implementation.

In this regard, the speakers highlighted with satisfaction that national human rights institutions are successfully operating in Turkmenistan, such as the Institute of State, Law and Democracy, the Interdepartmental Commission on the Implementation of Turkmenistan’s International Obligations in the Field of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, and the Ombudsman’s Office.

The theme of protecting human rights is reflected in all national programs and plans. The commitment of our country to dealing with issues in this area is confirmed by the “Program for Socio-Economic Development of the Country for 2019-2025”, the Program “Revival of the New Epoch of the Powerful State: the National Program for Socioeconomic Development of Turkmenistan in 2022-2052”.

Due to the successful carrying out of fundamental reforms and the implementation of the “National Action Plan of Turkmenistan on Gender Equality for 2021-2025”, the “National Action Plan for Human Rights in Turkmenistan for 2021-2025”, the “National Action Plan for the Realization of Children’s Rights in Turkmenistan for 2018–2022”, “The National Plan of Turkmenistan on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings for 2020–2022”, progress has been made in this area that was recognized by the world community.

Particular emphasis in the reports was on the fact that enshrining the priority of universally recognized standards of world law in the Basic Law creates the necessary legal prerequisites and conditions for the integration of our country into the system of international relations and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

In this context, the importance of the established constructive partnership with the United Nations and its divisions was emphasized. In recent years of bilateral cooperation positive experience has been gained in the implementation of joint projects and programs aimed at further strengthening democratization and the rule of law, human development to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

During the seminar, reports were also made on the importance of digitalization in reforming public administration, current trends in the development of human rights education in Turkmenistan, and the role of public associations in ensuring human rights.