Supporting the Ombudsperson’s office in Turkmenistan in setting its strategic priorities

ASHGABAT, 16-20 October 2023: Consultations for a multiyear Strategic Planning of the Ombudsperson’s Office of Turkmenistan were held at the invitation of the Ombudsperson and in partnership with the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for Central Asia (OHCHR). 

The multiyear Strategic Planning of the Ombudsperson`s Office was arranged under the framework of the Global Tripartite Partnership [1] to Support National Human Rights Institutions comprised of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), UNDP, and the OHCHR.

The purpose of the multiyear Strategic Planning was to provide thorough support to the Ombudsperson’s Office to identify within its mandate and resources the strategic priorities, goals, activities, and the results framework for the coming five years (2024-2028) by promoting universal understanding and application of human rights in all areas, protecting human rights and freedoms, especially those most vulnerable to human rights violations, strengthening and coordinating external cooperation and partnerships, strengthening the capacity and competence of the Office of the Ombudsman to effectively implement its mandate as an independent national human rights institution  in Turkmenistan in line with the UN endorsed Paris Principles.[2] 

As part of the strategic planning process, the APF experts Dr. Jill Crisp and Dr. Ahmed Shahid visited Ashgabat from 16-20 October 2023 and held consultations with the Ombudsperson’s Office, representatives of civil society organizations, and the UN country team in Turkmenistan, which was followed by participatory working sessions with the Ombudsperson and her staff to develop strategic priorities, outcomes, activities and indicators. An initial draft of the Multiyear Strategic Plan was presented to the Ombudsperson’s Office by the end of the visit, and the final draft will be submitted for adoption by the end of November 2023.

The development of the Multiyear Strategic Plan is one of the key recommendations provided as a result of the Capacity Assessment of the Ombudsman’s Office conducted in October 2022 by the APF-UNDP-OHCHR within the Global Tripartite Partnership.

The APF, UNDP and OHCHR remain committed to supporting the Ombudsperson’s Office to implement the Capacity Assessment recommendations and will continue to encourage its engagement with the international human rights system to strengthen promotion and protection of human rights in Turkmenistan. 

1 Tripartite Partnership was signed among the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), UNDP, and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in 2011 to amplify the potential of National Human Right Institutions.  

2 Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions (The Paris Principles) https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/principles-…