UNDP jointly with OHCHR supports the Ombudsperson`s Office Capacity Assessment

July 29, 2022

UNDP jointly with OHCHR supports the Ombudsperson`s Office Capacity Assessment

UNDP Turkmenistan

Ashgabat, 26-28 July 2022: Preliminary Virtual Visit – the Second Stage of a five-stage exercise called the Capacity Assessment of the Ombudsperson’s Office in Turkmenistan was delivered in Ashgabat in a hybrid format. Findings of the Capacity Assessment in Turkmenistan will serve as a base for the development of the Strategic Plan of the Ombudsperson`s Office in Turkmenistan.

The Capacity Assessment is carried out by a special team formed within the Tripartite Partnership[1]. The special team consists of the experts from the UNDP Regional Office, the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia, the National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia, and the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF).

-----------------------------------------

[1] Tripartite Partnership was signed among the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), UNDP, and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in 2011 to amplify the potential of National Human Right Institutions.

At the Preliminary Virtual visit the special team conducted the separate briefing sessions on the Methodology, сoncept  and expected results to the meeting participants representing various Ministries and state entities of Turkmenistan, including  - deputies of Mejlis Milli Gengesh, Supreme Court, Ministry of Adalat, Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Migration Office, Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, local municipalities of Ashgabat city, Bar Associations of Ashgabat city and Akhal velayat, as well as public associations such as the Women`s Union of Turkmenistan, Youth Organization of Turkmenistan named after Mahtumkuli, National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan, the NGO “Yenme”, the Blind and Deaf Society of Turkmenistan, the NGO “Keyik Okara” and Central Sport Club of Turkmenistan for People with Disabilities.

It is planned that the special team for the Capacity Assessment of Ombudsperson`s Office in Turkmenistan will visit the country in October 2022 to meet with representatives of the government agencies, organizations, public associations in Ashgabat city and velayats of Turkmenistan.

The Capacity Assessment is designed to enable Ombudsperson`s Office in Turkmenistan to develop and implement capacity building strategies and actions to strengthen its capability to promote and protect human rights in Turkmenistan in line with Paris Principles. In addition, conducting the Capacity Assessment of Ombudsperson`s Office in Turkmenistan and development of the Strategic Plan based on findings of the Capacity Assessment will have a positive impact on the process of considering the application of the Ombudsperson’s Office for accreditation in Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions in 2023.

***

 

The joint activities are organized within the framework of the project: "Strengthening the institutional capacity of the Ombudsperson’s Office of Turkmenistan" implemented jointly by the UNDP in Turkmenistan and the Office of Ombudsperson of Turkmenistan.

The Project aims to improve the system of protection, promotion, and implementation of human rights in Turkmenistan by reforming national legislation in accordance with the human rights international obligations of Turkmenistan and increasing the institutional capacity of the Ombudsperson’s Office.