Committee on the Rights of the Child

Sixty-eighth session

12–30 January 2015

Item 4 of the provisional agenda

Consideration of reports of States parties

List of issues in relation to the report submitted by Turkmenistan under article 8, paragraph 1, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict

The State party is requested to submit in writing additional, updated information (15 pages maximum), if possible before 15 October 2014.

The Committee may take up a ny aspects of children’s rights set out in the Optional Protocol during the dialogue with the State party.

Please provide information on the general measures of implementation of the Optional Protocol, including on:

(a)The legal status of the Optional Protocol in the national legislation;

(b)The body responsible for coordination of activities under the Optional Protocol;

(c)Training and dissemination of the Optional Protocol among professionals;

(d)Data collection.

Please inform the Committee whether children below the age of 18 years are exempt from military service in the event of an emergency.

With regard to the Ministry of Defence boarding school and other military schools, if existing, please clarify:

(a)The minimum age of admission to these schools;

(b)The proportions of academic and military training in the curricula, including training on handling weapons;

(c)Whether pupils are subject to military discipline and punishment;

(d)Whether pupils attending military school have access to an independent complaints and investigation mechanism;

(e)Whether they are classified as members of the armed forces.

With regard to higher military institutions, please clarify:

(a)The minimum age of admission to such institutions;

(b)Whether students under 18 years are subjected to military discipline and punishment;

(c)Whether pupils attending military school have access to an independent complaints and investigation mechanism;

(d)Whether students are classified as members of the armed forces.

Please clarify whether the State party’s legislation explicitly criminalizes the recruitment and use of children in hostilities by both the State armed forces and non-State armed groups, in addition to article 169 of the Criminal Code, which concerns mercenaries.

Please provide detailed information on mechanisms for the early identification of child refugees, asylum seekers or migrants who may have been recruited or used in hostilities abroad. Please also provide information on their number, disaggregated by age, sex and nationality. Kindly provide information on the steps taken to provide for their physical and psychological recovery and rehabilitation and to promote their reintegration into society.

Please indicate whether national legislation prohibits the trade and export of arms, including small arms and light weapons, as well as military assistance to countries where children are involved in armed conflict.

Please inform the Committee whether the State party can establish and exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction over all offences under the Optional Protocol.