Ashgabat, 21 May 2010 – From 19 to 21 May a workshop on reporting under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was held in Ashgabat. This was the first workshop held in Turkmenistan that focused specifically on issues related to elimination of racial discrimination.

The workshop discussed developments in Turkmenistan since it was first reviewed by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 2005. During the workshop the reporting guidelines of the Committee were also presented as a basis for the preparation of the next report, which the Government of Turkmenistan aims to complete this year in accordance with its treaty body reporting plan. 

“The timing of this event is excellent as the Government of Turkmenistan is starting to prepare its periodic report to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)”, says Alexei Avtonomov, one of the facilitators of the workshop and a member of the body of independent experts monitoring the implementation of this Convention.

The workshop brought together members of the working group of the Interdepartmental Commission on ensuring Turkmenistan’s compliance with its international human rights obligations. “I welcome Turkmenistan’s continued willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with the CERD Committee”, said Avtonomov. “The next step is to provide detailed information on the practical implementation of the Convention in its next periodic report”, added the expert who facilitated the workshop together with Gabriella Habtom, Human Rights Officer and Secretary of the CERD Committee at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva.

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is one of the core United Nations human rights treaties. It prohibits discrimination based on race, colour, descent and national and ethnic origin and requires States to take appropriate measures against such racial discrimination. Turkmenistan acceded to this Convention in 1994 and is obliged to submit regular reports on how the substantive provisions of the treaty are being implemented. The CERD Committee reviews such national reports and makes recommendations to States on the basis of a constructive dialogue.

The workshop was organised within the framework of the joint EU/UNDP/OHCHR project “Strengthening the national capacity of Turkmenistan to promote and protect human rights”, which is implemented in partnership with the Government of Turkmenistan.