Committee on Rights of Child examines reports of Turkmenistan under Convention, and on sale of children and children in armed conflict

Committee on the Rights of the Child

14 January 2015

The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its consideration of the combined second to fourth periodic report of Turkmenistan on its implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its initial reports under the Optional Protocols on children in armed conflict and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

Introducing the reports, Lyudmila Amanniyazova, Deputy Head of the State Statistic Committee of Turkmenistan, said that significant progress had been achieved in the protection and promotion of the rights of the child in the country.  Social transfers, donations and grants were a key part of the Government’s policy, and new laws had been adopted, including a Presidential Decree on juvenile justice, the law on State guarantees for children’s rights, the law on education which would improve access to inclusive education for children with disabilities, and the code on the administration of justice which strengthened the rights of juvenile offenders.  With regard to the two Optional Protocols, Ms. Amanniyazova said that there were no domestic provisions on children in armed conflict and that measures against human trafficking were being adopted.   

Committee Experts welcomed the domestic legal definition of a child which was consistent with the one provided for in the Convention and wondered whether discrimination against children based on their nationality and statelessness were being sufficiently addressed.  Corporal punishment was still practiced and torture and other ill-treatment of children were still not criminalized.  Experts stressed the importance of hearing the opinion of children and ensuring their participation in decisions that affected them and inquired how the principle of best interest of the child was applied in courts.  Regrettably, the goal of the deinstitutionalization of children with disabilities seemed not to have been realized, despite the provisions of the family code and the ratification by Turkmenistan of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

On the sale of children, Experts regretted that the crimes provided for in the Optional Protocol seemed not to be properly defined in the national legislation and, stressing the need for a focused and systematic approach, called for the setting up of a body to deal with the issue.  Committee Experts asked about specific measures to prevent trafficking in children, particularly for children at risk, and wondered if international assistance and cooperation could be further enhanced to ensure the prevention of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

Concerning the involvement of children in armed conflict, it was noted that children under 15 were involved in military schools and that there seemed to be no explicit criminalization of using children in non-State armed groups.  Experts underlined the importance of extraterritorial jurisdiction over all offenses covered by the Optional Protocol, and asked whether the recruitment of children under 15 in the armed forces was considered a war crime in Turkmenistan’s domestic law. 

In concluding remarks, Olga Khazova, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Turkmenistan, expressed hope that the long-awaited national plan for children would be adopted this year and that it would pave the way for new legislation and policies on issues affecting children and ensure that greater attention and priority were accorded to children’s issues.

Wanderlino Nogueira Neto, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for the report under the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, in his closing remarks reiterated the need to align the legislation of the country with the provisions of the Optional Protocol.

Gehad Madi, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for the report under the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, in concluding remarks expressed hope that at the presentation of the next report, Turkmenistan would have passed appropriate legislation, for example extraterritorial jurisdiction for the criminalization of recruitment of children under the age of 15. 

In her concluding remarks, Ms. Amanniyazova thanked the Committee Experts for their recommendations and for the critical comments they had provided, which she said would be carefully examined and studied for future implementation. 

The delegation of Turkmenistan included representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry, the National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan, the State Statistic Committee of Turkmenistan, and of the Permanent Mission of Turkmenistan to the United Nations Office at Geneva. 

The next public meeting of the Committee will be at 11.30 a.m. on Thursday, 15 January, when it will start the examination of the combined second and third periodic report of Gambia (CRC/C/GMB/2-3) in Chamber A.  In Chamber B, the Committee will meet at 10 a.m. to continue the consideration of the combined third to fifth periodic report of Mauritius (CRC/C/MUS/3-5). 

Report

The Committee has before it the combined second to fourth periodic report under the Convention (CRC/C/TKM/2-4), the initial report under the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (CRC/C/OPSC/TKM/1) and the initial report on the implementation of the provisions of the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict (CRC/C/OPAC/TKM/1).

Presentation of the Report

LYUDMILA AMANNIYAZOVA, Deputy Head of the State Statistic Committee of Turkmenistan, said significant progress had been achieved in Turkmenistan concerning the protection and promotion of the rights of the child.  Social transfers, donations and grants were a key part of the Government’s policy on this issue.  Access to gas, electricity, water and public transport were being strengthened.  Tax concessions and other services formed a package for child care and assistance.  Many of the previous recommendations made by the Committee on the Rights of the Child had served for the adoption of measures.

A plan for cooperation between the United Nations Children’s Fund and the Government had been put in place.  The President had recently adopted a decree approving legislative measures on juvenile justice.  A new draft law had been adopted on State guarantees for children’s rights.  Resources allocated to the issue had been increased.  In 2014, 37 per cent of the national budget was allocated to the field of education.  Improving equal and non-discriminatory access to the internet and modern technologies in the country was also part of the Government’s efforts.  

Turkmenistan had approved standards for diagnostics of various diseases, and had an obligatory system of certification for medical workers.  Turkmenistan was making efforts to combat sexually transmissible diseases and improve the quality of and access to drinkable water and sanitation.  A national strategy on climate change had been recently adopted, and had resulted in additional resources allocated to addressing this issue.  A new law on education allowed the establishment of facilities to improve access to inclusive education for children with disabilities.  Turkmenistan had established faculties for enhancing the skills of teachers.  Turkmenistan was also committed to promoting sports and physical activities as well as the right to recreation for all children.  A new code on the administration of justice had recently entered into force and strengthened the rights of juvenile offenders. 

With regards to the implementation by Turkmenistan of the Optional Protocols to the Convention, Ms. Amanniyazova noted that the country had not been involved in any armed conflicts over the past years and had no domestic provisions on children in armed conflict.  There were currently 37 individuals with the status of refugee.  Child refugees were given support by the authorities in accordance with the law.  There were no victims of child trafficking in Turkmenistan, nor were there any victims of child pornography.  Turkmenistan was nonetheless adopting measures against human trafficking. 

Questions from the Experts

AMAL ALDOSERI, Committee Member and Rapporteur for the report of Turkmenistan under the Convention, welcomed that the domestic legal definition of a child was consistent with the one provided for in the Convention.  This did however not seem to be the case in all legal dispositions.  Ms. Aldoseri asked whether discrimination against children based on their nationality, as well as statelessness, were sufficiently addressed.  She inquired about allegations of internet access shutdowns in late 2014 and on whether these were temporary or permanent measures. 

The Rapporteur demanded whether children were given the opportunity to participate in public life.  Maternal mortality had allegedly increased in clinics from the Dashoguz region.  Had any investigation been held to identify and address this situation?  Corporal punishment remained; were there any measures to prohibit such conduct in law and practice?  The Rapporteur finally asked whether Turkmenistan would criminalize torture and other ill-treatment against children. 

OLGA KHAZOVA, Committee Member and Rapporteur for the report of Turkmenistan under the Convention, noted the significant progress achieved by Turkmenistan for the protection and promotion of the rights of the child.  Laws and programmes recently adopted were encouraging.  A number of concerns remained however.  There seemed to be some gaps with regards to the dissemination of information on child protection provisions in the law and international instruments.  International treaties were apparently only available in the library of the Justice Ministry, which was very limitedly accessible by the public.  Regarding coordination for the implementation of the Convention, she asked whether there would be a special mechanism established to deal exclusively about the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

Ms. Khazova welcomed that budget allocations for children had increased, but asked whether there could be more transparency in the allocation of budget lines to specific issues affecting children.  She regretted that statistics relating to children’s rights seemed to be lacking, including information resulting from the last official census.  The Rapporteur inquired about how judges and other personnel working with children applied the principle of the best interest of the child in courts.  Was the opinion of a child under 10 established? She stressed the importance of hearing the opinion of children and making them protagonists of decisions affecting them.  Did children have access to social media?

A Committee Expert asked what activities were taken to protect freedom of expression for children, particularly in the framework of the new law on education. 

Response by the Delegation

Concerning the transparency of the budget, the delegation of Turkmenistan said that there were details on all expenditures dedicated to education.  The Government had developed strategic planning for children, and had developed training for local authorities and teaching staff. 

As for accessibility, the Government was working on collecting data and aligning its statistics with international standards.  Data was collected on gender issues and ethnic minorities.  The Ministry of Labour would be developing a database on unemployment based on ethnic origins.  Together with the United Nations Development Programme, Turkmenistan had worked on a comprehensive self-assessment of statistical data in the country.  In December 2014, the Government had prepared a census of the population and would undergo an expert study on gender and ethnic aspects.  This data would be distributed once assured that it was reliable.  Turkmenistan was publishing data and indicators on the economic situation in the country, which included gender aspects. 

Regarding internet shutdowns, a delegate said that this had to be seen as a preventive temporary technical measure.  This took place in August 2014, when very high temperatures could have caused technical damages to internet networks and services.  The Internet was currently fully up and running.  Generally speaking, people and children had access to the Russian speaking social media. 

Recent legislation dealing with children and healthcare contained dispositions about children with disabilities. 

With regards to health and the Dashoguz region, a delegate said that the Government had implemented strategies for addressing child and maternal mortality.  There had been a decline in maternal and child mortality in that part of the country thanks to the implementation of these strategies.  The World Health Organization had been involved in the elaboration of programmes to address the needs of women with cancer.  This included the creation of cancer centres helping the early detection of breast and other types of cancer. 

On torture and ill-treatment, a delegate said that such practice against children was considered a criminal crime, along with sexual violence against children.  Criminal investigations on such allegations could take place in an accelerated format.  In most cases, investigations were conducted within a month.  If a child was the victim of bodily harm, criminal cases were automatically opened.  In the cases where there was a lack of evidence, administrative cases were nonetheless opened.  Torture against women, children, people with disabilities and people in custody was being criminalized in the law.  Juvenile offenders and adults were held separately.  So were female juvenile offenders.  All detainees could lodge a complaint in case of ill-treatment and such allegations would be investigated.  The delegate noted however that there was no registered case of torture in Turkmenistan. 

Follow-up Questions from the Experts

An Expert asked to what extent children in detention facilities or children in foster families could lodge complaints if they were victims of violence.  Was some sort of hotline available for these children?  What was the composition of the body in charge of receiving complaints from victims of violence in detention facilities for juvenile offenders?  Was this complaint mechanism independent?

Response by the Delegation

The delegation reiterated that there had been no cases of violence against juvenile offenders referred to the complaint mechanism.  There had been no case of violence against children in detention facilities for children.  The complaint mechanism included representatives of the prosecutor’s office and civil society. 

Regarding child participation and the dissemination of information on the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the delegation said that several events had been held and children had forums where they were able to share their views and needs.  These events also included means to inform children on their rights and the provisions of the Convention.  The legislation in Turkmenistan was constantly published in gazettes and on the internet, both in the §Turkmen language and in Russian. 

The National Plan of Action for Children was being drafted, after consultations and cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund, including seminars with international experts.  The adoption of this plan had been postponed in order for it to fully incorporate the conclusions of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on the present review. 

The Intergovernmental Commission on Turkmenistan’s obligations under international law was in charge of coordinating the implementation of international law.  It included mechanisms specifically dedicated to international human rights and humanitarian law, and had a working group addressing the issue of juvenile justice.  Turkmenistan was considering the establishment of a coordination body in charge specifically with the rights of the child. 

Follow-up Questions from the Experts

An Expert raised questions on whether the case of stateless children was adequately addressed in Turkmenistan’s domestic law.  Was there any risk that a child born in Turkmenistan might end up stateless?

Experts asked whether awareness raising campaigns were conducted to combat corporal punishment.  Was corporal punishment prohibited and criminalized?

OLGA KHAZOVA, Committee Member and Rapporteur for the report of Turkmenistan under the Convention, asked whether situations of children not living with their parents were registered by the State.  Families living in extreme poverty were in some cases in a situation where they were forced to abandon their children.  Was the Government providing support to these families?  International adoption seemed to have been stopped.  Was there any prospect of Turkmenistan acceding to the Hague Convention on the protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption?  An Expert asked whether the question of street children was an issue in Turkmenistan. 

On health issues, an Expert asked about the reasons why a centre on HIV/ AIDS was recently closed.  A number of hospitals were reported to have been closed as a result of cuts in budget, an Expert regretted.  The drop of the number of persons being affected by infectious diseases was welcomed.  What efforts were being made to improve the sanitation system and access to potable water?  There seemed to be a drop in the number of children under six months being exclusively breastfed, one Expert noted.  What measures were being undertaken to prevent the contraction of HIV/AIDS and to combat discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS, particularly among vulnerable groups?

The goal of the deinstitutionalization of children with disabilities seemed not to have been realized, one Expert regretted, despite the provisions of the family code and the ratification by Turkmenistan of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

Experts welcomed reforms in the education system, including the raise of salaries for teachers.  Did the curriculum include human rights education for all children?

Ms. Khazova noted that the official data on child suicide seemed not to reflect the reality of this phenomenon.  Were any measures being planned to seek to eradicate this phenomenon?

Response by the Delegation

Corporal punishment was prohibited in the law, a delegate said.  The law separated bodily harm depending on its gravity.  The degree of gravity determined what cases were brought to the court.  A certain level of force could be used without being deemed to fall into the definition of bodily harm. 

Turkmenistan had acceded to international conventions against statelessness.   The legislation and citizenship rules had been recently amended to take into account the standards set in those international conventions, including the principle of the best interest of the child.  The Institute for Democracy and Human Rights included a special unit that dealt with resolving nationality issues.  Children born in Turkmenistan could receive the nationality regardless of the nationality of their parents. 

On freedom of expression and the participation of children in public life, Turkmenistan was taking part in negotiations at the international level on the post-2015 development agenda.  Children had been invited to participate in the debates and to express their views.  Children had opportunities to express their views on the internet.  School children all had their own mobile phones with access to the internet.  Children were learning about freedom of expression at school, and were learning to express their views, including through the mass media.  There were also specialized children magazines and television programmes.  Children could put forward their views, including their political views, through these different channels. 

On parenthood, Turkmenistan had adopted a law in 2009 on promoting breastfeeding and raising awareness about it.  Child-friendly hospitals were certificated, and future mothers studied the benefits of breastfeeding as part of their training for motherhood.  Parents also received training for child care.  The number of children exclusively breastfed had increased as a result of these efforts.  The Turkmen code provided three types of allowances for mothers, including maternity leave.  Allowances were given until the child reached three years of age.  Paternity leave was also provided for in case mothers did not want to leave work for a long period of time.  Accommodation existed for allowing mothers to feed their babies at the workplace. 

On adoption, a delegate said that Turkmenistan would consider acceding to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-country Adoption.  This would require modifications of the domestic legislation.  Adoption was only allowed if families had appropriate conditions for guaranteeing an appropriate life to the child.  If adopted, a child enjoyed the same rights as biological children in terms of inheritance.   There was an article in the criminal code dealing with confidential adoption.  Medical staff could be condemned if they broke the confidentiality agreement.  There was no law providing for situations where an adoption was cancelled.  It was up to the courts to decide what happened to the adopted child in such a case.  Poverty and other social reasons, as well as illness of the parents, led to parents giving up their children.  Absolute poverty in Turkmenistan did not exist.  This was confirmed by the World Bank.  Support was given to low-income families. 

On health, there had been an increase in the number of hospitals and health facilities dedicated to children.  The State budget for healthcare had increased by 20 per cent in 2013.  Healthcare was also funded with extra-budget solidarity funds.  Medical staff received training.  There had been an increase of more than 500 teaching staff in medical institutions.  Turkmenistan cooperated with other countries, including the United States, the Russian Federation and Germany, for the training of medical staff. 

Children with disabilities were included in mainstream education.  About 100 schools had been assigned the status of “child-friendly schools”, meaning that they were equipped to include individuals with disabilities.  “Child-friendly schools” were created with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund.  Inclusiveness and good quality educational conditions for all children were considered a priority.  A network of educational institutions had been recently opened where the teaching was carried out only in English.  

Follow-up Questions from the Experts

An Expert noted that closed or confidential adoption was not compatible with the Convention and asked whether Turkmenistan would consider reviewing its legislation in this regard.  An Expert asked what would happen if a court decided to cancel an adoption and whether biological parents had a right to reclaim their child.  Was the opinion of the child taken into account in such cases?  Experts underlined that institutionalizing abandoned children, even temporarily, could be very damaging for them, particularly if they had health problems or disabilities.  Turkmenistan was urged to encourage foster families to take care of these children instead, even on a temporary basis. 

Response by the Delegation

With regards to child labour, a 2005 law prohibited labour for children under 15.  Disciplinary sanctions, which were administrative sentences, could be pronounced if cases of child labour were proven.  Child labour was prohibited when it prevented children from attending school or when the work had negative consequences on the child’s health. 

In order to improve the quality of education, training sessions had been carried out for educational staff.  All pupils were given a notebook to make sure they were learning to use a computer from early on.  Turkmen children had very good results in international school competitions.   All children were given textbooks free of charge.  Children started school at six and studied for 12 years from then on.  This was free of charge and compulsory.  The status of teachers had recently been reformed, and higher criteria for selecting them were applied.  Every year, the level of salaries for teachers increased. 

Reproductive health was included as a subject in the curriculum.  This was included in the basic safety and life course, which was taught in all classes.  It also included moral conducts, family values, protection from HIV/AIDS, and the use of contraceptives.  Every year, activities were organized by the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Children’s Fund, where boys and girls were given free contraceptives.  In 2016, the State of Turkmenistan would be buying 100 per cent of the contraceptive methods itself. 

Clean drinking water and appropriate sanitation was vital, a delegate said.  A law had been adopted to ensure that there were appropriate and safe water supplies accessible.  Concerning potential epidemiological regions, preventive measures were taken against hepatitis A.  There were about 40 water purification facilities in the country, spread in all regions.  

As for minorities, a delegate said that education was carried out in the Russian language in about 100 schools.  Some schools provided education in English, and proposed studies in English, French and German.  More than 80 national ethnic groups were officially recognized in Turkmenistan.  Foreign citizens studied alongside nationals and enjoyed the same rights without discrimination.  There were a lot of local civil society organizations in Turkmenistan, a delegate said.  This included organizations defending the interests of children, persons with disabilities, migrants or persons with Down syndrome.  

Regarding children with no parental supervision, a delegate said that children ending up in the street were systematically held under police supervision.  After their identity was determined, these children could be either returned to their families or placed in children homes or administrative centres.  Children placed in children homes amounted to two per cent only of those children without parental supervision. 

The number of suicides among children had been reduced as a result of measures taken by the Government, including the establishment of phone help-lines and services by children’s organizations.  It was very important for medical staff to achieve contact with children who attempted suicide to make sure they would not try again. 

Questions from the Experts on the implementation of the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography

With regards to the legislative framework against child trafficking, Experts asked whether there had been cases in Turkmenistan of children being victims of trafficking as described in the Optional Protocol.  Experts regretted that the crimes provided for in the Optional Protocol seemed not to be properly defined in the legislation of Turkmenistan, and noted that, even though such crimes did not occur, legislative measures were still needed to ensure that these would not occur in the future.  A focused and systematic approach was needed, and the establishment of a body to deal with this issue was necessary.  What kind of work was being done with children facing specific risks, including children living close to border areas, to prevent trafficking from occurring? An Expert asked for information about sanctions applied and penalties used to prevent the recurrence of cases of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.  An Expert asked how Turkmenistan was ensuring the protection and interests of child victims or witnesses of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. 

An Expert demanded whether international assistance and cooperation could be further enhanced to ensure the prevention of the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

Questions from the Experts on the implementation of the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict

An Expert asked about training and the dissemination of information on the Optional Protocol. 

An Expert took note of the fact that children under 15 were involved in military schools.  Was the system of penalties applied in these schools also applied in non-military schools?  Were children in military schools taught the handling of weapons? 

An Expert was concerned that there seemed to be no explicit criminalization of using children in non-State armed groups.  This had to be done as a preventive measure, even if such armed groups did not currently exist in the country. 

An Expert underlined the importance of extraterritorial jurisdiction over all offenses covered by the Optional Protocol, and asked whether the recruitment of children under 15 in the armed forces was considered a war crime in Turkmenistan’s domestic law. 

Replies by the Delegation

On juvenile justice, the delegation said that in 2012, Turkmenistan had embarked on a juvenile justice programme, and since then training courses had been organized for law enforcement officials.  The trials of minors were carried out in special premises and under special procedures.  Within the framework of the programme, a survey of national legislation was underway with the objective of aligning it with international norms and a proposal was being prepared for legal amendments.  The programme covered both criminal and civil cases.  The delegation clarified that the sentence of conditional deprivation of liberty meant that minors remained with their families and served the sentence of up to three years, provided that no other offence was committed.  The juvenile justice system contained also other forms of conditional sentencing which did not involve deprivation of liberty.  Juvenile judges received refresher courses in juvenile justice and minors were usually assigned to judges who had experience in the matter.  The programme on juvenile justice contained measures for rehabilitation, integration and psychological support, in collaboration with non-governmental organizations and social and psychological services. 

Free testing for HIV/AIDS was available for blood donors, pregnant women, health workers, cancer patients, and other at-risk categories.  Training of health workers in diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, testing and counselling were being carried out on a regular basis.  Some of the activities were supported by the 2011 grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Turning to the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, a delegate said that in the period from 2011 to 2014 there had been no recorded crimes of trafficking and therefore no child victims of trafficking.  Only a handful of cases of children used for sexual purposes had been recorded.  The sale of children was punishable by 8 to 15 years in prison.  There were no proven cases of child pornography, while confiscated pornographic materials were destroyed.  Dissemination and production of pornographic materials was punishable by five years in prison.

Military schools did accept the children of 15 years of age with the aim of providing military education to children who envisaged carriers in the army.  Students learned the general curricula designed by the Ministry of Education and approved by the Ministry of Defence.  In addition to the general subjects, two hours per week were dedicated to studying preparatory military subjects; the workload was comparable to general secondary schools.  Graduates chose the kind of higher education they wished to pursue.  The school programme included human rights and the rights of the child.  Military discipline penalties were not applied to students. 

Turkmenistan had international treaties and agreements on mutual legal assistance with a number of countries, including with India, Georgia, Uzbekistan and Iran.  The provisions of the Convention and the Optional Protocols had supremacy over the national law.  The Commission for the monitoring and coordination of human rights treaties contained 21 members representing ministries, civil society and law enforcement agencies; the work on countering trafficking was coordinated by the Procurator-General, as per the anti-trafficking law. 

Refugee children enjoyed all rights like Turkmen children, and were provided with temporary housing, health care and education, while refugee children with disabilities received particular support.

Upon arrival to the country, asylum-seeking children were transferred to reception centres where their identity and statements were checked.  Once established, they could apply for asylum and obtain refugee status.

A Committee Expert said that the purpose of early identification of asylum-seeking children who had been involved in armed conflict was to provide them as early as possible with social and psychological rehabilitation and reintegration in society, and that was why there was a need for special treatment for those children.

The delegation agreed with this premise and said that Turkmenistan did not have practical experience in dealing with this category of asylum seekers. 

A special department in the Ministry of Social Affairs was monitoring the use of the internet for crimes of a sexual nature and other kinds of crimes.  Import and export of weapons and ammunition was only carried out with authorisation from the Ministry of Defence and only by those possessing a valid licence.  Teaching about international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions was included in the curriculum of appropriate institutions, such as law faculties and the police academy.  The Criminal Procedure Code and international agreements on mutual legal aid in criminal cases contained provisions of extra-territorial jurisdiction and extradition.  The establishment of a national human rights institution in accordance with the Paris Principles was currently under consideration and the law on ombudsmen was being drafted.

Concluding Remarks

OLGA KHAZOVA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Turkmenistan, thanked the delegation and said that broad-based reforms were ongoing in the country which directly affected children.  It was hoped that the long-awaited national plan for children would be adopted this year and would pave the way for new legislation and policies on issues affecting children.  At the moment, children’s issues had not yet received the significance that they deserved and it was hoped that they would receive greater attention and priority and that children would be encouraged to play a more active role in their affairs.

AMAL ALDOSERI, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Turkmenistan, expressed hope that the situation of children with disabilities would soon be addressed.

WANDERLINO NOGUEIRA NETO, Committee Expert and the Rapporteur for the report under the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, thanked the delegation and reiterated the need to align the legislation of the country with the provisions of the Optional Protocol.

GEHAD MADI, Committee Expert and the Rapporteur for the report under the Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, said that the idea of the dialogue and the submission of the initial report was to gain more knowledge about the requirements for the implementation of the provisions of the Optional Protocol.  It was expected that at the presentation of the next report, Turkmenistan would have passed appropriate legislation such as extraterritorial jurisdiction over crimes and offences stipulated in the Optional Protocol, or the criminalization of the recruitment of children under the age of 15. 

LYUDMILA AMANNIYAZOVA, Deputy Head of the State Statistic Committee of Turkmenistan, thanked the Committee Experts for their recommendations and the critical comments they had provided, which would be carefully examined and studied for future implementation.  It was clear that quite a lot had been done; nevertheless Turkmenistan would continue to improve legislation.

KIRSTEN SANDBERG, Committee Chairperson, thanked the delegation and called on Turkmenistan to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on a communication procedure.
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