Ashgabat –The High level Round Table on “National Action Plan — Comprehensive Approach to Combat Human Trafficking” was organized by the Mission of International Organization for Migration in Turkmenistan (IOM) in close cooperation with the Government of Turkmenistan and supported by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, U.S. Department of State. During the event, the National Action Plan of Turkmenistan on Combating Human Trafficking for 2016-2018 (NAP) was officially launched.

The launch of the National Action Plan took place with participation of the senior members of the inter-ministerial Human Rights Commission and the established working group on combating human trafficking, ambassadors and senior diplomats, public associations (NGOs) and international organizations and agencies. For the participation in the event, Mr. Anh Nguyen, Head of Migrant Assistance Division from IOM Geneva, Switzerland, Ambassador Ms. Madina Jarbussynova, OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings from Vienna, Austria, Mr. Vladimir Emelyanov, Deputy Head of the Department on Combating Human Trafficking and Drug Control from the Ministry of Interior from Belarus were also invited.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Batyr Niyazliyev, Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan officially informed about the adoption of the National Action Plan on Combating Human Trafficking for 2016-2018 and welcomed the support of IOM and other international organizations in its implementation. Then Mr. Begmurad Begmuradov, Deputy of the General Prosecutor of Turkmenistan delivered speech on the plan and provided in-depth explanation of the plan, including the aim, goals, structure of the National Action Plan.

The National Action Plan 2016-2018 was approved by the President of Turkmenistan on 18 March 2016. The aim of the comprehensive actions, outlined in the National Action Plan is to prevent, detect and suppress trafficking in persons and to provide assistance to victims of trafficking, as well as to implement international obligations of Turkmenistan in this area. The plan has a matrix format and includes five sections. The first section, General Actions (Section 1) containing general support measures for the main sections. Other four sections corresponding to for main areas recommended by Palermo Protocol: Prevention of trafficking in persons (Section II), Social assistance to, and protection of victims and witnesses (Section III), Investigation and prosecution (Section IV) and International cooperation (Section V). It’s noteworthy to mention that the plan contains 35 activities and the majority of activities in the NAP are focused on providing assistance and protection to the victims of trafficking. Each part contains a list of activities to be implemented during the period of 2016-2018 by the relevant ministries, law enforcement agencies together with civil society sector and others. The document also includes indicators that will help measure the progress and success of implementation of the National Action Plan 2016-2018.

At the end of the event, Mr. Anh Nguyen welcomed the adoption of the plan, stressed the importance of its implementing and assured the national partners that IOM is ready to support in implementation of the NAP. Representatives of the other international organizations and agencies congratulated the Government of Turkmenistan on the development and approval of the National Action Plan and expressed their readiness to support the Government in successful implementation of the Action Plan.

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For additional questions, please contact:

Dovlet Chariyev

IOM Communication Focal Point

E-mail: dchariyev@iom.int

Tel:+99312 488407