By Shayne R. Burnham
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

TURKMENISTAN – Human Rights Watch calls upon the government of Turkmenistan to reform human rights in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations’ (UN) Human Rights Council.

In December 2008, under Universal Periodic Review, the Turkmen government rejected various recommendations.  These recommendations included the release of political prisoners, undergo a review of past cases of political imprisonment, and lift arbitrary travel bans on human rights activists.

Since the review in December 2008, Turkmenistan has not taken any active steps to carry out the recommendations.  It only listed programs, reports, and legislation in a February 2009 statement.

Human Rights Watch believes that more direct and immediate action can relieve some human rights problems.  “The Turkmen government can resolve quite a few human rights problems immediately, since they require nothing but political will. . . .  Releasing political prisoners and granting access to independent human rights monitors are steps authorities can and should take right away, to demonstrate a true commitment to reform.

March 19, 2009 was Turkmenistan’s final session before the Human Rights Council, which took place in Geneva.  Human Rights Watch believes that Turkmenistan should “demonstrate the political will” and adopt the recommendations.

“Today’s session in Geneva is a golden opportunity for Turkmenistan’s leadership to show it is ready to make a genuine commitment to reform,” said Maria Lisitsyna, Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch.  “The countless victims of human rights abuse in Turkmenistan deserve nothing less.”

Human Rights Watch considers Turkmenistan “one of the most repressive countries in the world.”  Human Rights Watch cites that the Turkmen government has banned human rights monitors from entering the country for the past ten years.  In addition, journalists and other private activists are not able to work freely and receive pressure from the government.  Therefore, the UN is one of the only means to investigate Turkmen human rights practices.

“The Turkmen government should treat external scrutiny of its human rights record not as a threat, but as an essential component of an accountable government,” said Lisitsyna.

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International – Turkmenistan: Amnesty International Urges Turkmenistan to Fully Implement Recommendations Made Under the Universal Periodic Review – 20 March 2009

Human Rights Watch – Turkmenistan: Commit to Human Rights Reform – 19 March 2009

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty – HRW Urges Turkmenistan to Expedite Human Rights Reforms – 20 March 2009