VZCZCXRO4904
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAH #0315/01 0690908
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 100908Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2436
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 4912
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2675
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2540
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 3156
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3375
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000315 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, EUR/ACE, DRL 
AID/W FOR EE/EA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM EAID SOCI KDEM TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: INSTITUTE OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS OPENS 
DOOR TO DIALOGUE ON DIFFICULT ISSUES 
 
REF:  08 ASHGABAT 1486 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  SUMMARY:  During an introductory meeting with the Charge 
on March 9, Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (IDHR) 
Director, Shirin Ahmedova, highlighted the "positive and 
constructive" relations it enjoyed with USAID and said that one of 
the Institute's key roles is to contribute to the passage of laws 
that conform to international standards.  The Charge explained the 
workings of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and encouraged contact 
between IDHR and the Commission in the future.  Through an 
interagency working group, the IDHR is working to reform the prison 
code, but does not specifically work on conditions in prisons, 
which, instead, fall under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 
Similarly, IDHR addresses Trafficking in Persons (TIP) issues 
indirectly through its participation in an interagency commission, 
and Ahmedova noted that Turkmenistan adopted a special law on human 
trafficking in 2007.  Recognizing the importance of having an 
interlocutor to discuss specific human rights-related cases, 
Ahmedova accepted Charge's suggestion that he bring such questions 
from U.S. organizations to IDHR.  Closing by stating, "We're on a 
path of reform," Ahmedova hoped that the areas discussed can be 
addressed in the future.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Ahmedova opened the March 9 introductory meeting with the 
Charge by delivering an overview of the Institute's activities.  She 
described its cooperation with international organizations, 
including UN agencies, local Embassies and USAID.  Characterizing 
the relationship with USAID as "positive and constructive," she 
explained the three current areas of joint work:  improving existing 
legislation on public associations (i.e., NGOs), religious 
organizations, and mass media.  Its extensive work with UN agencies 
included reforms of Turkmenistan's electoral system, as well as 
issues related to gender, child labor and juvenile justice.  In 
cooperation with UK and German specialists, IDHR was improving the 
penitentiary system through a new criminal code.  It also worked 
with the British Embassy on a project to better systematize the way 
the Complaints Commission handles citizens' complaints. (Ref A) 
 
INSTITUTE HAS NO CONTACT WITH THE HELSINKI COMMISSION 
 
¶4. (SBU) Charge asked whether the Institute had any contact with the 
United States Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe 
(Helsinki Commission).  Although she did not seem to be familiar 
with the Commission as described, Ahmedova showed great interest in 
the fact that a recent Library of Congress-supported Open World 
program delegation, which included members of Turkmenistan's 
Parliament, met with the Helsinki Commission in Washington.  Charge 
briefly explained the committee structure and encouraged future 
contact between the Helsinki Commission and Turkmenistan's Mejlis 
and the Institute. 
 
INSTITUTE FOCUSED ON REFORMING PRISON CODE - NOT CONDITIONS 
 
¶5.  (SBU) In response to Charge's question about the Institute's 
work on prison conditions, Ahmedova said the current law dated to 
the 1960s, and a current Institute aim was to reform the law. 
Direct oversight for prison conditions, however, lies with Ministry 
of Internal Affairs, not the Ministry of Justice.  An interagency 
commission that includes the above-mentioned entities had studied EU 
prison laws.  The Institute's role was to help develop a code that 
conforms to standards of international conventions. 
 
PLAYS AN INDIRECT ROLE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING 
 
¶6. (SBU) Ahmedova said the Institute did not directly work on 
Trafficking in Persons (TIP) issues, but it participated in the 
legislative reform process.  In recent seminars on human 
trafficking, the State Migration Service and Ministry of Internal 
Affairs organized the events, and IDHR joined as a participant. 
Ahmedova noted that Turkmenistan adopted a special law on human 
 
ASHGABAT 00000315  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
trafficking in 2007, which she mentioned before the December 2008 
Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). 
 
¶7.  (SBU) As part of the UPR process, bringing legislation into 
conformity with international conventions and the recommendations of 
treaty bodies was a primary task for the Institute.  After being 
"very passive" previously, this process had become more active over 
the past year.  On the rights of women and children, Ahmedova stated 
that Turkmenistan was party to a number of international standards, 
including on child labor and the Convention on Elimination of 
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).  Future plans included a 
prohibition of torture and expanding other civil and political 
rights.  Turkmenistan also ratified the Convention on the Rights of 
Persons with Disabilities.  Acknowledging that she was on the "hot 
seat" during the UPR discussions, Charge complimented Ahmedova for 
her performance in Geneva. 
 
CHARGE:  REVISED LEGISLATION NEEDS PROPER IMPLEMENTATION 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Charge said that it seemed IDHR's goal was to provide the 
basis for further reforms through legislation.  Although this was 
viewed favorably by the USG, he also stressed the importance of 
implementation.  USG interlocutors have received very little 
information in response when they raise specific cases of human 
rights violations with Turkmen Government officials.  To Charge's 
inquiry about the IDHR's role in individual cases, Ahmedova said it 
receives letters from citizens, and can forward these on to the 
Supreme Court and Prosecutor General.  Acknowledging the importance 
of having an interlocutor to discuss specific human rights-related 
cases, Ahmedova accepted Charge's suggestion that he bring such 
questions from U.S. organizations to IDHR. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) COMMENT:  IDHR will have its plate full orchestrating an 
array of legislative reform initiatives with numerous international 
partners, including USAID-funded projects to revise the Laws on 
Religious Organizations and Mass Media.  In addition, Director 
Ahmedova expressed willingness to conduct a dialogue on specific 
human rights cases.  If IDHR is able to follow-through on such 
reforms and effectively address human rights concerns, it will 
represent a real commitment on the part of the Turkmenistan 
Government to advance reform in this area.  END COMMENT. 
 
MILES