UNDP and Working Group of the Interdepartmental Commission prepare the Combined Second, Third and Fourth National Periodic Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

September 14, 2022

Preparing the Combined National Periodic Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

UNDP Turkmenistan

UNDP and the Government of Turkmenistan conducted the two-day workshop to prepare the combined second, third and fourth periodic report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in UN Building.

The workshop gathered all members of the Working Group of the Interdepartmental Commission on the implementation of international obligations of Turkmenistan in the field of human rights and international humanitarian law (Interdepartmental Commission). The workshop was delivered by the international expert Mr. George Tugushi.

“It is great honor to assist the Working Group of the Interdepartmental Commission in the preparation of the 2-4th Combined Periodic Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Convention on Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) is a unique treaty, providing protection to millions of people with various disabilities all over the world. Turkmenistan was the first State in the region to ratify the CRPD and its Optional Protocol. Commitments under the CRPD open the opportunity for a number of important reforms, enhancing existing legal framework and practices providing better protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. The aim of the new combined national periodic report is to provide information on the status of implementation of the recommendations of the CRPD Committee for the 1st concluding observations, as well as provide information on current challenges and plans on realization of reforms in several important directions.”– said George Tugushi, UNDP international expert. 

As a result of the workshop discussions with the Working Group of Interdepartmental Commission Mr. Tugushi will provide recommendations on the discussed document to the Working Group of the Interdepartmental Commission for further review.

Earlier Mr. Tugushi had a working meeting with representatives of civil society organizations and representatives of UN agencies in Turkmenistan on discussion of the implementation of CRPD in Turkmenistan.

UNDP has been a long-term partner of the Government of Turkmenistan in the preparation of national reports to the UN human rights treaty bodies. This Combined Second, Third and Fourth National Periodic Report of Turkmenistan to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will contribute to the efforts of the country to comply with its international human rights obligations, as well as accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the country.

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The NHRAP 2021-2025 adopted by the Government in April 2021 aims at strengthening the national system of provision and protection of human rights and liberties in Turkmenistan, implementation of the international obligations of the country in the given area, and the expansion of cooperation with the international organizations in the humanitarian sphere.

UNDP Turkmenistan provides support to the implementation of the NHRAP 2021-2025 in the framework of the project “Assistance in the realization National Action Plan of Turkmenistan in the Area of Human Rights for 2021-2025” jointly implemented with the Institute of State, Law, and Democracy of Turkmenistan. The project focuses on strengthening the national system of protection, promotion, and realization of human rights in Turkmenistan by harmonizing laws and practices in accordance with the country's international human rights obligations.