OREANDA-NEWS. October 13, 2009. The seminar Legal reform and gender issues: exchange of the best practice in gender-sensitive legislation was conducted in the Turkmen capital within the framework of the plan of projects, which would be implemented by the Government and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat in 2009. The deputies of the Mejlis, specialists of the ministries, the Prosecutor General's Office, local bar, the Ashgabat Khyakimlik, the National Red Crescent Society, largest public organisations of the country and journalists took part in the seminar. The forum was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat in the conference hall of the President Hotel.

The international experts from Lithuania, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Spain and Switzerland made the presentations on the international instruments for the promotion and protection of gender equality, the relevant national mechanisms and presented the overview of the practice of legislative regulation of these issues in the labour, social, public and other spheres.

The Turkmen specialists presented the reports on the mechanisms of legal support of gender equality in our country. They noted that during the years of independence Turkmenistan had joined the fundamental international human rights documents including the women’s rights declarations and conventions. The Government of Turkmenistan carried on the proactive gender policy aimed to strengthen the principles of equality of women in the social and political spheres. The Constitution of Turkmenistan and universally recognized international standards set forth the major principles of the policy initiated by the President of Turkmenistan including equal rights and freedoms, equal opportunities for women and men. In accordance with the Constitution of Turkmenistan and generally-recognized international standards including Recommendations of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995) Turkmenistan, condemning discrimination against women in all forms, committed to the policy of non-admission of any gender distinction, exclusion or restriction.

Presenting Turkmenistan’s achievements in this sphere the forum participants noted that the reliable legal framework, the judicial and law enforcement systems and the effective functioning of relevant public organisations contributed to achieving the goals of protecting the rights and legitimate interests of an individual including empowerment of women. Implementation of the key principles of Turkmenistan’s policy on human rights ensured integrated development and enhancement of the role of women in the society and established the relevant state guarantees.

Exchanged views the participants underscored the significance of the programme on improvement of the national legislation and called for further enhancing mutually advantageous contacts in the legal sector as an essential aspect of cooperation with the leading international organisations.