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The International League for Human Rights, a New York-based non-governmental organization in special consultative status at the United Nations, issued an alternative report in advance of the August 11, 2005 UNCERD consideration of the Government of Turkmenistan's report on compliance issues. The League's alternative report presents an in-depth critique of Turkmenistan 's position on human rights issues impacting on racial and ethnic minorities.
Press Release Below:
Read the full report (PDF)
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Contact:
Sergei Kalamytsau
International League for Human Rights
Phone: (212) 661-0480 ext. 101
Mobile : (310) 779-0856
centralasia@ilhr.org
International League for Human Rights Report to United Nations Finds Minorities in Turkmenistan Are Excluded from Education, Denied Access to Jobs, Intimidated by Police; League Challenges First Official Turkmenistan Report to UN
New York, NY – August 10, 2005 – A new report from the International League for Human Rights finds that racial and ethnic minorities in Turkmenistan face severe restrictions on their political rights, freedom of movement, opinion and expression and their right to work, education and nationality.
The Government of Turkmenistan systematically discriminates against racial and ethnic minorities in employment as part of their effort to “purge [the labor force] of all minority groups,” said the New York based organization's alternative report submitted to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) which, on August 11-12, is conducting a review of the government report on compliance with the 1969 treaty prohibiting discriminatory treatment. The League's alternative report presents an in-depth critique of Turkmenistan 's position on human rights issues impacting on racial and ethnic minorities during the nation's first appearance before a UN Treaty Committee.
Employment in the public sector, which dominates the national economy, is conditional on the fulfillment of the ‘third generation' test, requiring an applicant to prove his/her Turkmen ancestry for three generations. “Such policies institutionalize racial and ethnic discrimination and invalidate Turkmenistan 's claims of compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,” said the League.
The population of racial and ethnic minorities in Turkmenistan declined drastically from 23%, according to the 1995 census, to only 5.3% as reported in the official 2005 government report. Reasons for such a dramatic change include the under-reporting of minority groups by state authorities to artificially homogenize the population and the mass exodus from Turkmenistan of certain groups, especially Russians, due to discrimination.
The League's alternative report identifies ethnic and racial minority groups in Turkmenistan and the particular challenges that they face, provides an overview of Turkmenistan 's political development post-independence, and presents an analysis of the actual treatment of racial and ethnic minorities in contrast with the Turkmenistan Government's claims on critical human rights issues.
The official Turkmenistan submission, and the 67 th session of the UNCERD which will consider it, “offer an unprecedented opportunity to consider the country's human rights record, and in particular its treatment of racial and ethnic minorities, in front of a distinguished international body,” says the League, a non-governmental organization with special consultative status at the United Nations. UNCERD conclusions and recommendations are expected to be presented by August 19, when the current session ends.
The full text of the League's alternative report can be found at: http://ilhr.org/ilhr/regional/centasia/protests/turkmenistan_report-9.8.05.htm
Read the full report (PDF)
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