UNDP supports preparation of the Common Core Document for Turkmenistan

November 12, 2020

Ashgabat, 10-11 November 2020: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan conducted a two-day workshop on the preparation of the Common Core Document to the UN Treaty Bodies for representatives of the Working Group of the Interagency Commission on ensuring the compliance with  Turkmenistan’s international obligations in the area of human rights and international humanitarian law .

The goal of the workshop is to review and update the Common Core Document of Turkmenistan to submit to the Human Rights Council in December 2020.  The Common Core Document included updated general information on the political, legal, social, economic and cultural context in which human rights are implemented in the State.

“This process will largely contribute to the elaboration of a comprehensive Common Core Document in line with the harmonized guidelines on reporting under the international human rights treaties which will play a positive role in the strengthening of the entire reporting process to the UN bodies”, said UNDP international expert on human rights Mr. George Tugushi.

The workshop was conducted for 20 representatives of the Working Group of the Interagency Commission for provision of international obligations of Turkmenistan in human rights and international humanitarian law.

During the seminar participants discussed principles and requirements of preparation of the Common Core Document, overviewed requirements and examples from other countries and information required for inclusion in the Common Core Document.

In 2016 the Working Group of the Interagency Commission on ensuring the compliance with Turkmenistan’s international obligations in the area of human rights and international humanitarian law prepared and submitted Common Core Document to the UN treaty bodies. The Working Group regularly meets to discuss and ensure the regular reporting to and implementation of the recommendations of the UN treaty bodies.

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The workshop was conducted as part of the joint project of UNDP and the Institute of State, Law and Democracy “Assistance in implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan for 2016-2020”.  The project is focused on engaging the Government of Turkmenistan on its duty and capacity to comply with its international human rights obligations and implementing recommendations of human rights treaty bodies, including the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).