Recommendations to Turkmenistan

Norway's statement during the 30th UPR session of the Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in Turkmenistan was held on the 7th of May 2018. The statement was delivered by First Secretary Paul Ø. Bjørdal.

Mr President,

Norway welcomes Turkmenistan’s participation in the UPR. We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation and recommends that Turkmenistan:

1) Allow unhindered access to enforced disappeared persons by international monitoring bodies, including UN representatives and Special Procedures; and provide information on their whereabouts;

2) Facilitate a visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions;

3) Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT);

4) Take immediate legal action to reverse policy on restricting the rights of everyone to leave and return to their own country;

5) Release immediately and unconditionally all persons imprisoned as a result of peaceful exercise of freedom of expression, collection and distribution of information, and journalistic activity;

6) Stop threats, physical attacks and arbitrary detention and conviction of human rights defenders and individuals for their exercise of freedom of expression and assembly.

Thank you.