Ashgabat – This week IOM/ UN Migration Agency organized a two-day seminar on International Migration Law (IML), Migrants’ Rights and rights of Victims of Trafficking for the representatives of the relevant ministries and agencies as well as public organizations of Turkmenistan in the UN Building Conference hall. This event is organized within the “Dignity and Rights in Central Asia” project funded by USAID.

This seminar aims at strengthening the capacity of representatives from organizations, charged with the implementation of international human rights standards, in the area of International Migration Law including norms and standards on the rights of migrants and victims of trafficking. The workshop’s agenda included an overview of the International Migration Law, and particularly focused on the principles surrounding entry and exit, protection of migrants and victims of trafficking rights, along with case studies and exercise activities.

The workshop is facilitated by IOM IML expert and legal consultant on international human rights law -Ms. Konul Gasimova. Among the invited experts also the Secretary of the Commission on Human Rights under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan -Mr. Tastemir Abishev. IOM national expert Mr. Yolbars Kepbanov presented the compendium of national legislation related to human trafficking and migration. From Turkmenistan side, representatives from the Ombudsman Office, State Migration Service of Turkmenistan and Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan made their presentations on human rights, migration and human trafficking issues.

This training became a forum for discussion where experts, young researchers, practitioners and policymakers working in the field of migration exchanged their knowledge and experiences in a friendly and frank environment. “In recent years the world has seen a large-scale movement of migrants however the best of systems and policies and laws have been designed,” stressed Ms. Gasimova, international IOM expert.

“Gained knowledge and expertise can be used as a good tool in the implementation of the National Action Plan of Turkmenistan to counter trafficking in persons,”  underlined one of the national participants of the seminar.

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For additional questions, please contact:

Dovlet Chariyev

IOM Communication Focal Point

E-mail: dchariyev@iom.int

Tel:+99312 488407