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0.1 Latest Update: 31 December 2014

We continue to have significant concerns about the human rights situation in Turkmenistan, and there have been few positive developments during the period October to December.

Turkmenistan again decided not to attend the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) arranged by the Organization for Security & Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Warsaw from 22 September to 3 October. This annual meeting, which brings together hundreds of government officials, international experts, civil society representatives and human rights activists, takes stock of how States are implementing their commitments on human rights. 皇冠体育app Turkmen authorities contend that some Turkmen exile attendees are guilty of criminal offences in Turkmenistan. 皇冠体育app EU noted in its at HDIM that Turkmenistan had missed 鈥渁 valuable opportunity for an open and frank dialogue on this and other issues鈥�. 皇冠体育app EU also repeated concerns about the practice of enforced disappearances and the treatment of political prisoners in Turkmenistan, and strongly encouraged the government of Turkmenistan to engage on the legitimate questions about such practices that were raised during HDIM.

皇冠体育app British Embassy continues to support reform in Turkmenistan, including by funding a project through the OSCE to enhance the professional skills of domestic journalists and media specialists. In October, as part of the project, the OSCE arranged a study visit to Lithuania by five journalists from Turkmenistan. This was followed in November by a four-day training course in Ashgabat during which more than 20 journalists were able to exchange views on trends in modern journalism and enhance their practical skills, including writing, reporting, editing and interviewing best practice. 皇冠体育app OSCE concluded another media-related course on 28 November on website management for State institutions in Turkmenistan. 皇冠体育app purpose of that course was to underline the importance of fostering the free flow of information and use of the internet to facilitate wider access to information.

皇冠体育app UK has raised concerns before about pressure on certain religious communities in Turkmenistan, as well as the need for Turkmenistan to respect the fundamental and universal values of freedom of thought, conscience and belief. We are therefore pleased that eight Jehovah鈥檚 Witnesses were released in October as part of a Presidential amnesty on the occasion of Turkmenistan鈥檚 Independence Day. 皇冠体育app British Ambassador discussed this and other issues relating to freedom of religion or belief during a meeting on 5 November with the Chairman of Turkmenistan鈥檚 Religious Council. Separately, the OSCE supported a five-day working visit to Belgium at the end of November to learn more about international standards and national practices on freedom of religion or belief. 皇冠体育app Turkmen group included representatives from the Parliament (Mejlis), the National Institute for Democracy & Human Rights, the Council on Religious Affairs, and the General Prosecutor鈥檚 Office.

皇冠体育app OSCE Centre in Ashgabat undertook a range of other activities during the past three months. 25 law-enforcement officials, including penitentiary staff from across the country, participated in a training course in Ashgabat to promote international standards on prisoners鈥� rights in Turkmenistan. 皇冠体育app purpose of the course was to provide an overview of international standards on prisoners鈥� rights, including the right to healthcare and adequate living conditions, the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the right to humane treatment.

Special Representatives from the OSCE鈥檚 Parliamentary Assembly visited Turkmenistan in December. 皇冠体育appir programme included meetings at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice, Parliament, the Central Election Commission, and the Supreme Court. 皇冠体育appy noted that Turkmenistan still needs to make progress in a number of spheres, and emphasised the importance of engaging civil society in the process. OSCE parliamentarians last visited Turkmenistan for the country鈥檚 in December 2013.

In other developments, Turkmenistan again co-sponsored the biennial resolution on a 鈥淢oratorium on the use of the Death Penalty鈥�, which was adopted at the UN General Assembly in New York on 21 November. 皇冠体育app UK welcomes this, as Turkmenistan鈥檚 co-sponsorship helps to ensure wide support for the global advocacy effort against the death penalty. Turkmenistan abolished the death penalty in 1999.

皇冠体育app Minister for Central Asia, Tobias Ellwood, underlined the UK鈥檚 readiness to support further reform in Turkmenistan during a meeting in London with Turkmenistan鈥檚 Minister for Education on 24 November. 鈥�

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