The online seminar in support of the Office of the Ombudsperson of Turkmenistan
Within the framework of the joint project “Strengthening of institutional potential of the Office of the Ombudsperson”, realized jointly by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Office of the Ombudsman of Turkmenistan, “Assistance to the Office of the Ombudsperson in the accreditation process to the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI)”. The seminar was held by experts of the Asia-Pacific Forum (APF) national remedial establishments. The seminar’s purpose is to grant assistance to the Office of the Ombudsman of Turkmenistan in the process of obtaining accreditation in the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions by means of the analysis of the mandate of the Ombudsperson according to the legislation and corresponding recommendations. «APF is glad to see that the Office of the Ombudsman is so interested in preparation of the establishment for accreditation to GANHRI. We are glad for the possibility to give the Office technical support for preparation for accreditation process» as noted by APF Legal and Policy Manager Philip Wardle. APF has reviewed the legal mandate and practice of the Ombudsperson to give a tentative estimation of observance of the Parisian principles. This review is intended to allow the Ombudsperson to consider the demand for accreditation to GANHRI which is also a preliminary condition for membership in APF. In the review the Law on the Ombudsperson and various sources of the information, as the certificate of practice of establishment, including reports of the Mechanism of the United Nations on human rights, NGO and the annual report of the Ombudsperson was considered. During the seminar participants discussed the legal mandate of the Ombudsperson, election and appointment process, personal protection and privileges of the Ombudsperson, the general mandate and function of consideration of complaints. UNDP and APF organised a two-day seminar to give additional comments to the given review and to give the chance to the Ombudsperson to express the opinion and to ask the interested questions on review materials. APF also sent the invitation to the Ombudsperson and to its office to take part in the following seminar of APF on accreditation to GANHRI which is the annual action held by APF АТФ for support of the members and new national human rights institutions in more detailed understanding of process of accreditation with GANHRI. The project main objective «Strengthening of institutional potential of the Office of the Ombudsperson of Turkmenistan» - to improve advancement, protection and realisation of human rights in Turkmenistan by support of efforts in reforming of the national legislation according to the international obligations of the country in the field of human rights, and also increase of institutional potential of the Office of the Ombudsperson.
