2004 Press Releases

U.N. Commission on Human Rights Adopts Resolution on Turkmenistan

April 19, 2004

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) adopted a Resolution on Turkmenistan on April 15, 2004 at its 60th session in Geneva. In it, the Commission expressed concern over ongoing human rights violations and called on the authorities to ensure full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, to grant immediate access by appropriate independent bodies to detained persons, to immediately release all prisoners of conscience.

The U.S.-supported resolution was passed by a vote of 25 in favor to 11 against, with 17 abstentions, becoming the second resolution on Turkmenistan adopted by the UNCHR. The previous resolution was adopted a year ago at the 59th session of UNCHR. The U.N. General Assembly also adopted a resolution on the situation of human rights in Turkmenistan on November 24, 2003.

The American Embassy welcomes the Government of Turkmenistan's recent commitments on freedom of movement and religious freedom and looks to work with the Government of Turkmenistan to improve cooperation in the area of human rights, as well as in other areas.