Written answers

Wednesday, 24 June 2015

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Human Rights Issues

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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211. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on relations with Turkmenistan; and his views on the human rights situation in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25223/15]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has diplomatic relations with Turkmenistan on a non-resident basis through our Embassy in Moscow. On Monday, I participated in the Foreign Affairs Council meeting which adopted conclusions on the EU’s Strategy for Central Asia. I welcome this Strategy under which, among other things, the EU will “further enhance its efforts to address the serious challenges to human rights in the region, including by maintaining and deepening the human rights dialogues with the five countries, and by continuing to provide extensive support for reforms”.Ireland supports the EU’s Human Rights Dialogue with Turkmenistan. During the most recent meeting in this dialogue, on 17 June in Ashgabat, the EU reiterated its serious concerns about the human rights situation in Turkmenistan, including about the reported use of torture. The EU urged the Turkmen Government to release information on the status and location of prisoners who have disappeared in detention. The EU also urged Turkmenistan to ease restrictions on Internet access. Excessive restrictions on civil society and interference with the right to freedom of religion or belief were also raised by the EU. During this dialogue, the EU welcomed certain positive developments in Turkmenistan, including the plan to create an Ombudsman institution in the context of a broader constitutional reform process. The EU acknowledged the release of a number of religious detainees in 2014 and the most recent presidential pardon (in May 2015). The EU encouraged Turkmenistan to use future pardons to release imprisoned political activists, human rights defenders and members of peaceful religious groups.

The next human rights dialogue between the EU and Turkmenistan will take place in Brussels in 2016. The EU has expressed its willingness to support credible reforms undertaken by the Turkmenistan Government.

In April 2013, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, Ireland participated in the most recent UN Universal Periodic Review of Turkmenistan. Ireland made two recommendations, both accepted by Turkmenistan: that the Turkmen Government reforms the Law on Public Associations to bring it in line with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and that the Government permits visits from all 10 UN special procedures who have requested a visit.

Earlier this month, human rights issues were also raised by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, during his visit to Turkmenistan. The Secretary General welcomed Turkmenistan’s commitment to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and encouraged the Government to address concerns regarding the detention of prisoners. The Secretary General also urged the Government to move towards media pluralism, freedom of expression and access to information, including through social media. The Secretary General encouraged the Government to extend standing invitations to all thematic special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council to further advance the dialogue on human rights concerns.

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