A/HRC/10/29
creation of a government body on family, maternal and child protection; work on
legislation regulating religious organizations and civil society organizations; and on the
regulation of the media.
539. In 2008, Turkmenistan prepared, inter alia, its report under the Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and its core document. In accordance with
recommendations from the Council, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and
UNICEF, Turkmenistan undertook to examine adhesion to ILO Convention 182 on child
labour.
540. Turkmenistan proceeded to respond to recommendations forthcoming from the
universal periodic review.
541. Turkmenistan was currently examining the Rome Statute and mechanisms of
adhesion to it. Cooperation was planned with the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime and the European Union/Tacis on this matter as well as for parliamentarians and
relevant Government bodies.
542. With respect to the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against
Torture, Turkmenistan planned to present its national report to the Committee against
Torture in December 2009. In the framework of the preparation of that report,
Turkmenistan was planning to conduct seminars and round tables together with United
Nations agencies, to learn about the Optional Protocol. Those activities, as well as
consultations for members of the Inter-ministerial Commission on the mechanisms of
adhesion to optional international instruments, would be undertaken in the framework of a
joint project OHCHR/European Commission/UNDP on strengthening the State’s capacity
to promote and protect human rights.
543. The Inter-ministerial Commission, having consulted with relevant government
bodies and civil society organizations on the effectiveness of adhering to the Optional
Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women, transmitted to the Government the necessary materials for Parliament. The
President wrote to the Mejlis on 21 January 2009 about the need to ratify the Optional
Protocol.
544. Turkmenistan proceeded to respond to the recommendation to establish an
independent national human rights institution in line with the Paris Principles. In the
framework of cooperation between the relevant Government bodies and the Embassy of the
United Kingdom, a cycle of seminars was started in January 2009 for parliamentarians and
Government bodies to examine the experience in other countries of ombudsman systems.
Turkmenistan was planning to broaden cooperation on gathering knowledge on
ombudsmen systems, to complete the legislation and further the activities of governmental
bodies and of the Institute for Human Rights and Democracy under the President of
Turkmenistan. The Institute also planned to undertake joint activities, including an
assessment of the complaints system, in the framework of projects with OSCE and UNDP.
Turkmenistan also planned to hold ongoing consultations with OHCHR on complaint
procedures.
545. On the recommendation of issuing a standing invitation to special procedures,
Turkmenistan indicated that the relevant Government bodies were currently examining the
recommendations made by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief, who
visited the country in September 2008, in order to further improve the system of registration
of religious organizations and relevant legislation. Currently, Turkmenistan requested a list
of the special procedures in order to examine the question of issuing them invitations.
546. The question of torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment
in places of deprivation of liberty was being examined by the Government commission on
GE.09-17451
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