APF meets with Turkmenistan Ombuds Office

The APF secretariat has held a virtual 'introduction session' with the Ombudsperson of Turkmenistan and a senior member of her staff to discuss the work of the institution and potential areas of APF support.

The Skype session, which took place on 2 June 2020, was organised after the planned country visit by APF NHRI Expert Consultant Rosslyn Noonan was postponed due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The session also included Pip Dargan, representing the APF secretariat, as well as representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

In 2017, Turkmenistan adopted legislation to establish the Office of the Ombudsperson as an independent human rights body. Ms Yazdursun Gurbannazarova was appointed by the Parliament as the country's first Ombudsperson in March 2017.

During the consultation with the APF, Ms Gurbannazarova provided an update on Turkmenistan's recent engagement with the UN human rights system – including with the Universal Periodic Review and human rights treaty bodies on the rights of women and on economic, social and cultural rights – and the government's steps to implementing recommendations from these bodies by developing a 'road map' and national action plans.

The APF discussed the type support it provides to national human rights institutions, including:

• Facilitating a High Level Dialogue, to engage the NHRI's leadership team in a conversation on their responsibilities and their individual and collective goals
• Providing information and advice on the process for international accreditation with the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions
• Capacity development programs, such as training on functional areas of an NHRI's work.

Ahead of the meeting, the APF provided resources on the role and function of national human rights institutions, conducting human rights investigations and undertaking strategic planning, which UNDP Turkmenistan translated into unofficial Russian.

The Ombudsperson also expressed her interest in taking part APF activities including in the 2020 APF Annual Meeting, which is likely to be a virtual event.

The APF currently has two members from Central Asia: the Ombuds Office of Kazakhstan and the Ombuds Office of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Date: 9 June 2020