The IOM office in Turkmenistan organized the seminar on strengthening international cooperation to elaborate effective mechanisms to combat trafficking in persons.Representatives of the Mejlis, Ombudsman, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, the Institute of State, Law and Democracy, the Academy of Sciences, Magtyumguly Youth Organization, the Women's Union, the National Red Crescent Society, as well as teachers of higher educational institutions and secondary schools of the country were invited to participate in the forum.
Those speaking during the seminar emphasized that Turkmenistan as a full member of the world community that joined a number of basic international documents, regulating the issues of ensuring human rights and freedoms, demonstrates commitment to the undertaken obligations.
Moreover, our country demonstrates adherence to the high principles of humanism, democratic development and a modern legal society, making a significant contribution to strengthening constructive cooperation in this area with the International Organization for Migration, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Labor Organization, etc.
Having acceded to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, Turkmenistan has also ratified the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children - the main international instrument aimed at consolidating the efforts of governments, international structures, departments, non-governmental organizations in this field.
Our country adopted the Law On Combating Trafficking in Persons and the Law On Migration, amended the Criminal Code of Turkmenistan and carries out the work to improve legislation and implement international law.
At the beginning of this year, during a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed the Resolution, authorizing the membership of the Interdepartmental Commission to ensure the implementation of international obligations undertaken by Turkmenistan in the field of human rights and international humanitarian law.
The commission is aimed at monitoring the national legislation and preparation of relevant recommendations, increasing awareness among the population about the Regulations and Laws of Turkmenistan on fundamental human rights and freedoms.
One of the priorities of the policy, pursued by the President of Turkmenistan, is the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals set forth in the 2030 Agenda, adopted by all Member States of the United Nations.
Turkmenistan pays particular importance to creating conditions for building a democratic and inclusive society, which is based on the rule of law, in order to ensure basic human freedoms.
The rights and opportunities of women are expanding, equality of opportunity and full participation of women in the economic, political and cultural life of the country are ensured.The National Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons has been implemented, a comprehensive anti-corruption scheme has been developed.
The institution of the Human Rights Representative - Ombudsman has been introduced, the National Human Rights Action Plan and a number of other important programmes in this direction are being implemented.
The seminar participants emphasized the need for further development of fruitful contacts with authoritative organizations, in frames of which foreign experts hold meetings and consultations in our country on the preparation of national reports, reviews and the study of best practices in the field of human rights protection.
The presentation of a training manual for teachers and students of educational institutions developed by IOM in frames of the project ““Strengthening counter-trafficking and protecting vulnerable migrants in Central Asia in response to regional and global challenges” took place during the seminar.