Embassy News

International Center for Not-for-Profit Law Hosts Two-day Roundtable on Improvement of NGO Legislation

PAS No 222
November 26, 2008

At the roundtable discussion

Ashgabat, November 26, 2008 — The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), in partnership with the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights (IDHR), held a two-day roundtable with Turkmen Government officials and leading civil society organizations on the ways to improve Turkmenistan's legislation on NGOs from November 17 -18.  The discussion focused on legal impediments of establishing NGOs in Turkmenistan, and also on necessary amendments to Turkmenistan's legislation to remove those impediments.  Over 50 participant and officials from the National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Justice of Turkmenistan, the Institute of State and Law under the President of Turkmenistan, the Parliament (the Mejlis), the Supreme Court of Turkmenistan, the Bar of Advocates of Ashgabat city, and Magtumguly Turkmenistan State University attended the roundtable.

At the opening of the roundtable, the Director of the IDHR, Shirin Ahmedova emphasized that “This roundtable is a critical step towards achieving the goals of the fundamental reforms and changes initiated by President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, to improve the legislation of Turkmenistan and bring it into compliance with international standards.  Improving the laws on public associations and other noncommercial organizations will help to further the democratic process and development of civil society in Turkmenistan.”

ICNL’s Program Director for Central Asia Elizabeth Warner noted: “By working together with NGOs, the Government can leverage its efforts and achieve greater progress in all areas”. 

This ICNL roundtable is one of the many activities, supported by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), one of the largest development partners with Turkmenistan over the past 15 years. ICNL has been implementing USAID-funded programs that strengthen and support social services and NGOs in Central Asia for over 10 years.  ICNL is a US-based legal research organization providing technical assistance and analysis to leaders in over 80 countries worldwide.