COOPERATION OF TURKMENISTAN WITH THE OSCE ON CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES

A series of international seminars and round tables was held with the participation and organization of the Government of Turkmenistan and the OSCE, on topical modern challenges and social trends.

As the "GA" correspondent was informed at the OSCE Center in Ashgabat, a two-day online roundtable meeting was organized with national partners involved in the implementation of the National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) for 2021-2025, which took place on 3 and 4 August 2021 year. The meeting served as a platform for discussing practical steps to implement the provisions of the NHRAP related to freedom of the media and the activities of journalists.

Representatives of the Institute of State, Law and Democracy, the Supreme Court, the Bar Association, the Mejlis (Parliament) and other relevant bodies and national media took part in the discussions.

“Independent media are essential to the development of a free and open society and to hold governments accountable. Over the years, OSCE participating States have adopted a number of important documents that contain commitments in the areas of media freedom, freedom of expression and free flow of information, ”said William Leaf, acting head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat.

The NHRAP for 2021-2025 includes provisions to improve national media legislation and practice, decriminalize libel and ensure the safety of journalists.

“The safety of journalists is high on the Organization's agenda, as the right of journalists to carry out their professional work in safety is essential to freedom of the media and freedom of expression,” added Leaf.

Two international experts from Austria and Georgia facilitated the meeting, during which they discussed the importance of decriminalizing libel and the role of the government in this process, legal guarantees to ensure the safety of journalists and illegal interference in the work of journalists. The experts also presented the best practices of the OSCE participating States in promoting Internet freedom and effective implementation of media legislation.

Also, from 2 to 4 August 2021, an OSCE online seminar was held with the participation of representatives of various law enforcement agencies, oversight and accountable agencies, non-state structures and other relevant government organizations and the private sector involved in the EAG assessment process.

Preparation for the assessment by the Eurasian Group (EAG) of Turkmenistan's compliance with the standards of the FATF Group on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism (AML / CFT) was the topic of the OSCE online seminar.

The OSCE Center in Ashgabat organized a workshop to discuss the FATF methodology used in assessing the effectiveness of the AML / CFT system and its compliance with the FATF Recommendations.

“As part of its mandate, the OSCE Center in Ashgabat is following key AML / CFT reforms and is effectively working with the Government of Turkmenistan to promote good governance, anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism,” said William Leaf, Acting Head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat ...

“We are confident that this event will contribute to support the efforts of the relevant organizations of Turkmenistan aimed at preparing for the mutual evaluation of the EAG, coming this year,” said U. Leaf.

Two international experts from Lithuania and Belarus highlighted the specifics of the FATF methodology, including questions of 11 Immediate Outcomes and 40 Recommendations, and introduced the participants to the key elements of the interviewing process in the framework of mutual assessment and provision of information and statistics on technical relevance and effectiveness. The seminar is a continuation of the Center's long-term support to the Government of Turkmenistan in improving the AML / CFT system in accordance with the FATF standards, provided within the framework of the project "Strengthening National Capacities in Addressing Major Economic Issues by Promoting Good Economic Governance".                                        

Prepared by Janmamed Gulamov

Cooperation of Turkmenistan with the OSCE on contemporary challenges