Convention on the Rights of the Child

Ninety-seventh session

Geneva, 26 August–13 September 2024

Consideration of reports of States parties

Replies of Turkmenistan to the list of issues in relation to its combined fifth and sixth periodic reports *

[Date received: 15 July 2024]

Replies to the list of issues (CRC/C/TKM/Q/5-6)

Part I

Reply to paragraph 2 (a) of the list of issues

1.The Procurator General’s Office is carrying out practical measures to improve the regulation in question. A draft regulation has been drawn up to ensure that the national documents on juvenile affairs are in line with international standards. Consultative activities are now under way to discuss the draft regulation for the Juvenile Affairs Commission and other normative acts.

Reply to paragraph 2 (b) of the list of issues

2.The National Plan of Action on Children’s Rights for the period 2018–2022 was instrumental in the implementation of most of the recommendations in the concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child. The Plan reflects the key areas of State social policy for children, based on the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. https://www.unicef.org/turkmenistan/media/4316/file/NAP_Evaluation_report_final_18062022_GEROS_clean.pdf.pdf.

3.The evaluation of the National Plan of Action on Children’s Rights for the period 2018–2022 was conducted by an independent consultant of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and included consultations with various representatives, including civil society, children and parents. https://www.unicef.org/turkmenistan/reports/nap-evaluation-report-turkmenistan-2018-2022.

4.The National Action Plan for the Realization of Children’s Rights in Turkmenistan for the period 2023–2028 was approved by a presidential decision of 21 June 2023. The new plan was prepared on the basis of national priorities enshrined in the country’s Programme for the Socioeconomic Development of Turkmenistan in 2022–2028 and on the basis of the key recommendations and best practices arising from the evaluation of the previous plan. The goals and objectives of the new National Action Plan are presented here: National Action Plan for Realization of Children’s Rights in Turkmenistan for 2023–2028 (NAPC) | UNICEF Turkmenistan.

Reply to paragraph 2 (c) of the list of issues

5.In the current budgeting system, financing is provided from an overall socially-oriented budget. The share of financing of the social sphere has been systematically increasing, financed by the State budget. Of the total amount of State budget funds allocated for public and social services in 2023, 39 per cent was spent on education, 14.1 per cent on health care, 2.6 per cent on culture, 34.7 per cent on the State social security system and 9.6 per cent on housing and utilities. According to the country’s voluntary national review of 2023, between 2015 and 2022 the share of funding for education, health, and social protection services in the total State budget increased from 49.0 per cent to 67.7 per cent.

Reply to paragraph 2 (d) of the list of issues

6.The State Statistics Committee is working with line ministries and departments to improve State statistical reporting, including for information on children.

7.In addition, data on children are published once every five years in a statistical compilation entitled “The situation of children in Turkmenistan”, which contains demographic indicators of generational change and also information on certain social and economic conditions that have a direct impact on population replacement, the level of preschool upbringing and education and the state of medical and preventive care.

8.At the same time, data on children are disaggregated by gender using surveys and questionnaires for international organizations such as UNICEF or the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

9.In accordance with a presidential decision on the conduct of the 2022 comprehensive population and housing census, the State Statistics Committee is currently working to process the data obtained during the population survey. The first results of the 2022 comprehensive population and housing census are available on the website of the State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan: stat.gov.tm.

10.Together with UNICEF, two reviews have been prepared of the progress made in achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to children. They are available here: Progress for every child in Turkmenistan | UNICEF Turkmenistan.

Reply to paragraph 2 (e) of the list of issues

11.Appropriate measures have been taken to increase the institutional capacity of the Office of the Ombudsman, in particular through the creation of separate departments for the protection of the rights of children and women within the Office.

12.In 2024, the Strategic Plan of the Office of the Ombudsman for 2024–2028 was approved. It includes four priority areas: to promote universal understanding and application of human rights in all spheres; to protect human rights and freedoms, especially of vulnerable groups, including women and children; to develop and coordinate cooperation and partnerships in the field of human rights; and to strengthen the capacity and competence of the Office of the Ombudsman as an independent national human rights institution.

13.The Office of the Ombudsman, in cooperation with UNICEF in Turkmenistan, has published and distributed a brochure in Turkmen, English and Russian on the procedures for filing oral and written complaints with the Ombudsman. The materials are available on the Office’s website, at ombudsman.gov.tm.

Reply to paragraph 2 (f) of the list of issues

14.Between 2021 and May 2024, 29 seminars on the protection of children’s rights were held with the cooperation of international organizations, with the participation of international experts and Turkmen judges and officials of the judiciary.

15.In order to increase the knowledge and awareness of all internal affairs officers about violence and abuse affecting children, those subjects have been included in their training programmes. Specifically, training sessions have been conducted as described in the table below:

Year	Number of study sessions	Number of participants	Number of training sessions and seminars	Number of participating employees
2021	719	20 000	11	23
2022	719	20 000	10	22
2023	718	20 000	15	40
Total	2 156	60 000	36	85

16.As part of the cooperation between the Office of the Ombudsman and UNICEF in Turkmenistan, various events have been organized with the participation of children and representatives of State institutions, local executive bodies and local authorities dealing with children’s issues. From 2021 to 2023, such activities reached more than 500 professionals working with children either on children’s rights issues or on questions related to the Committee’s concluding observations, and they reached more than 500 children through sessions held at children’s camps.

17.In 2020, a programme entitled “I want to learn about children’s rights” was broadcast, where children asked a UNICEF representative and the Ombudsman about various aspects of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The programme is available here: “ÝAŞLYK”teleýaýlymynda ÝUNISEF-iňwekili we Adalatçy bilen ýörite taýýarlanan gepleşik (youtube.com). There are plans to continue with a series of similar broadcasts.

18.A compendium of the national legislation and international obligations related to children has been produced to raise awareness among professionals working with children. It can be consulted here: https://instsld.gov.tm.

19.More than 20,000 booklets have been published and distributed presenting the Convention on the Rights of the Child in a child-friendly format. Further distribution is planned using air and ground transport.

Reply to paragraph 3 of the list of issues

20.Implementation of the National Action Plan for the Realization of Children’s Rights in Turkmenistan for the period 2023–2028 is the subject of a continuous cycle of monitoring. In order to ensure the National Action Plan’s effective implementation, the Interagency Commission on Enforcing the International Obligations of Turkmenistan on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law periodically hears information from the relevant ministries, departments and public associations on the progress made.

21.The main objectives of the monitoring are to identify the elements of progress and to select effective measures for the successful implementation of National Action Plan’s strategic actions. The monitoring helps maintain positive momentum and the timely resolution of issues that may arise during implementation.

22.The main achievements in the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations are presented in the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Turkmenistan.

Reply to paragraph 4 (a)–(c) of the list of issues

23.During the reporting period, specific activities were carried out, on the basis of a comprehensive approach, to raise awareness among children, their parents and teachers of the negative impact of early marriage on the psychological and mental health of minors.

24.The “Basics of Life” course, which is taught as a stand-alone subject in general education schools, covers specific topics related to family and marriage and gives schoolchildren an age-appropriate idea of the negative consequences of early marriage. The same topics are covered in the training course entitled “Fundamentals of the State and law of Turkmenistan”, in its section on the fundamentals of family law (Ashgabat, Turkmen State Publishing Service, 2021).

25.In order to raise awareness among parents of schoolchildren, consultations and interviews are held and talks are given at parents’ meetings.

26.Awareness of children, their parents and teachers about the negative impact of early marriage on children’s mental and emotional health is raised not only during the school year, but also during vacations, as events are organized in various formats.

27.In 2022, 48,929 minors participated in 535 outreach events. In 2023, 27,969 children participated in 720 events, and in the first five months of 2024, more than 400 events were held with the participation of representatives of procurators’ offices, as part of their work to ensure regular outreach events for minors. The measures are aimed at improving legal knowledge among minors, at preventing early marriage and at ensuring that decisions related to early marriage are taken conscientiously.

Reply to paragraph 5 (a) of the list of issues

28.According to the amendments made to the Social Protection Code (https://minjust.gov.tm/), the notion of a person with a disability is fully consistent with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, under which a person with a disability is defined as a person with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. Also, under article 150 of the Social Protection Code, persons with disabilities are provided with facilities for storing special means of transportation, including motor vehicles, near their residences. They are also exempted from rent for premises and land used for vehicle parking.

29.In Tajikistan, children with disabilities enjoy the full range of social, economic and personal rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution and the law. A child with a disability has the right to dignified and full participation in the life of society and the State.

30.It is prohibited to discriminate against children with disabilities. They have the right to respect for their physical and mental integrity on an equal basis with others.

31.Persons who discriminate against them are held liable in accordance with the law.

32.All this is set out in the Children’s Rights Act, the Family Code (arts. 85 and 89) and the Labour Code of Turkmenistan (art. 265) (https://minjust.gov.tm/).

Reply to paragraph 5 (b) of the list of issues

33.The law enforcement agencies of Turkmenistan and the Ombudsman have not detected discrimination on the basis of wealth, disability, refugee or stateless status or ethnicity. Every child, irrespective of sex, age or place of birth, has equal rights. To ensure full coverage, the Ministry of Education and other departments carry out additional work among the Baluch people on awareness of the need for education, health and other aspects. The Nohurs are not considered an ethnic group distinct from the indigenous population of Turkmenistan.

34.In the Turkmen language, ethnicity and nationality have the same semantic character and translation, so there are no distinctions based on ethnicity in law or in practice. All children have equal rights.

35.One example of a measure is a Turkmen-language speech synthesizer for visually impaired people, who thus gained access to texts in Turkmen through text-to-speech technology. The speech synthesizer also allows people with impaired speech to express themselves in a text file in Turkmen.

36.This groundbreaking initiative demonstrates the country’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities for children and adults with various types of disabilities.

37.A special training session on the use of the Turkmen speech synthesizer for visually impaired people was held in Ashgabat, organized by the Innovation and Information Centre of the Ministry of Education and UNICEF. Participants were introduced to the specifics of the use of synthesizers for learning, including through screen reading and website access. The programme allows people with visual impairments to access texts using text-to-speech technology.

Reply to paragraph 5 (c) of the list of issues

38.The adoption of the new Administrative Procedures Act was an important step in ensuring the rule of law and the observance and safeguarding of human rights, including children’s rights. The implementation of administrative procedures by administrative bodies is aimed at ensuring the best interests of individuals, and first and foremost children.

39.International experts of the regional programme of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) entitled “Promoting the rule of law in Central Asia” participated in the drafting of the Act and in the preparation of comments after its adoption. National analyses show positive results in the realization of rights.

40.In the adoption of legislative acts, modern methods are increasingly being introduced, taking into account public opinion in the drafting of laws by means of visits by parliamentarians to the regions and through meetings with the population.

41.A new version of the Criminal Code came into force on 1 January 2023. With its entry into force, the situation regarding the sentencing of minors has improved.

42.Under article 87 of the Criminal Code, minors with criminal records are sentenced to deprivation of liberty for minor crimes for terms of no more than 1 year; for ordinary crimes for terms of no more than 5 years; for serious crimes for terms of no more than 9 years; and for especially serious crimes for terms of no more than 12 years.

43.Minor first-offenders who have committed minor or ordinary offences cannot be sentenced to a deprivation of liberty.

44.Article 3931 was added to the Code of Criminal Procedure by the Act of 8 May 2022 amending the Code.

45.According to this article, if a court has the technical capabilities for a digital video link and if the need arises, the court that is hearing the case may provide for witness examination through the use of a digital video link. Video link witness examinations must be conducted only at courthouses.

46.The above requirements apply to minor witnesses as well.

Reply to paragraph 5 (d) of the list of issues

47.No cases of death or torture of children in police and penitentiary custody were registered during this period.

Reply to paragraph 5 (e) of the list of issues

48.Members of the parliament, together with general education school teachers, hold training seminars on children’s rights. Every year, during the summer vacation, together with representatives of the country’s educational system and UNICEF in Turkmenistan, they visit children’s recreation centres to discuss their views and to hold talks and seminars to explain the Convention’s provisions and the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the national legislation.

49.During the reporting period, more than 5,000 children were familiarized with the rights of the child.

50.In the preparation of the national report, in 2020, owing to constraints during the pandemic, the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan held consultations online with schoolchildren. Their results provided an additional basis for the report’s preparation. More than 300 students provided their opinions through online questionnaires. Sessions with parents and children are planned again in 2024.

Reply to paragraph 5 (f) of the list of issues

51.This question is answered in the reply to 2 (f).

Reply to paragraph 6 (a)–(b) of the list of issues

52.Turkmenistan is a party to the main international conventions relating to refugees and stateless persons. The Government adopted the National Action Plan for the Elimination of Statelessness in Turkmenistan for the period 2019–2024. In the context of the #IBelong global campaign to eradicate statelessness by 2024, work is being conducted jointly, in close cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to address this important humanitarian task.

53.Special attention is paid to the protection of children’s rights, which is based on the principles of the best interests of the child and the right to life. The State guarantees the universal registration of the birth of every child and, from the moment of birth, the right to a name and the right to acquire citizenship.

54.The Civil Registration Act (2019) governs the registration of births of the children of stateless persons, thus facilitating the naturalization of stateless persons and the protection of refugees’ rights. The law guarantees that all children born in the country are registered, regardless of their parents’ legal status, and is aimed at preventing statelessness.

55.All children born in Turkmenistan receive birth certificates. Discrimination on the basis of birth out of wedlock or stateless, migrant or refugee status is not allowed.

56.Turkmenistan has now achieved, through legislative reform and practical steps, nearly 100 per cent birth registration. This indicator has been recorded in the voluntary national survey of Turkmenistan, as well as at regional birth registration conferences and at the High-Level Segment on Statelessness held in Geneva in October 2019 and the high-level Global Refugee Forum in Geneva in December 2019 on the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees (https://fineconomic.gov.tm/ru/vnrt).

Reply to paragraph 6 (c) of the list of issues

57.A national initiative entitled “Young Ambassadors of the Sustainable Development Goals” has been undertaken in Turkmenistan. The platform is aimed at involving children and youths in the development of national programmes and the monitoring of their implementation. As a result, for the first time in Turkmenistan, young people have acted as facilitators of focus groups with children and parents during assessment of the National Action Plan for the Realization of Children’s Rights. This has made it possible to directly obtain the views of beneficiaries of the National Action Plan and to prepare new action plans based on such discussions. This process of involving youths in programme development and monitoring has served as a good example and continues to expand in other areas.

Reply to paragraph 6 (d) of the list of issues

58.In accordance with the provisions of the Internet Development and Internet Services Legal Regulation Act, the Communications Act, the Data Protection Act and other legal and regulatory instruments, all persons, including children, are provided with unlimited opportunities to increase their knowledge and exchange information, in accordance with the procedure established by law. The above laws include measures to protect people against malicious information exchanged among minors. Along with digital technologies, interactive and multimedia channels are the backbone of modern media. Information and communication technologies are included in the educational programmes of initial training in schools. Specialized skill enhancement further training and retraining courses are conducted to ensure the success of teaching staff during their work with students. Such technologies are primarily intended for distance learning, for the skill enhancement of teaching staff working in remote areas.

Reply to paragraph 7 (a) of the list of issues

59.The first special child-friendly investigation room, which strengthens protection measures for children who have been victims or witnesses of crimes, was opened in the Ashgabat police department. It was created through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and UNICEF. International best practices were taken into account, ensuring a safe and unintimidating environment for children. The child-friendly room is equipped with a modern video and sound system, which will help to avoid unnecessary repeated interrogations and also contribute to obtaining more reliable evidence at the preliminary investigation stage. The introduction of information and communication technologies will strengthen the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of child victims and witnesses of crime.

60.A child-friendly room based on international best practices was also opened at the police department of Turkmenabat, in Lebap Province. The room was set up to strengthen protection measures for children who have been victims or witnesses of crime.

Reply to paragraph 7 (b) of the list of issues

61.In accordance with the Ombudsman Act, one of the main duties of the Ombudsman is to monitor compliance with the rights of persons deprived of their liberty or with restricted liberty, to visit pretrial detention facilities, places of detention, correctional and other specialized institutions and to inspect such facilities, either alone or in conjunction with authorized bodies, officials and civil servants. The Ombudsman monitors the realization of the rights of convicted persons subjected to deprivation of liberty, paying particular attention to ensuring the rights of a special group of convicted persons – minors. Every year, the Ombudsman and staff of the Office conduct inspections of the facilities where minor convicts are held. It should be noted that the possibility of receiving a secondary education has been created for convicts. During visits to educational institutions, a full analysis is made of the types of crimes committed by the minors, recidivism, their regions of residence and other circumstances, which determine the relevant recommendations provided by the Ombudsman (ombudsman.gov.tm).

Reply to paragraph 7 (c) of the list of issues

62.Under article 213 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, criminal proceedings for offences under article 113 and article 131 (1) of the Criminal Code are instituted only following complaints filed by victims or their representatives, in accordance with article 86 (2) of the Code (https://minjust.gov.tm/).

Reply to paragraph 7 (d) of the list of issues

63.On-site commissions for juvenile affairs are not established by the Ministry of Internal Affairs; the powers of these commissions are set out in the Regulation on Commissions for Juvenile Affairs. The Ministry of Internal Affairs often initiates the organization of on-site commissions due to certain difficulties in conducting them in the etrap (district) administrations. The difficulties arise in certain circumstances, such as the remoteness of the place of residence, study or work of the persons whose cases are under consideration.

Reply to paragraph 7 (f) of the list of issues

64.Within the framework of the State programme on youth policy for 2021–2025 and the plan for its implementation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in cooperation with the Office of the Procurator General, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the Medical Industry, the State Committee for Physical Education and Sport, the Magtymguly Youth Organization and the Women’s Union of Turkmenistan, every year draws up and carries out a joint plan of educational and awareness-raising activities for the prevention of delinquency and other offences. Activities are thus organized among students of secondary, specialized secondary and higher educational schools, with specialists from these bodies, concerning current problems that arise among minors, and meetings are held with the parents of senior secondary students (where parents are advised to pay attention to problematic issues related to children).

Reply to paragraph 8 (a)–(b) of the list of issues

65.The National Action Plan for the Realization of Children’s Rights aims to develop a system of social services and alternative family-based care for children and to strengthen the preventive child protection system so that it can intervene earlier to assist families and to prevent children from unnecessarily entering alternative residential care. Objectives 5.1 and 5.2 of the National Action Plan include capacity-building for professionals working with vulnerable children and with families, to improve access to quality preventive and inclusive family and community services as an alternative to residential care. Interventions are thus aimed at reducing dependency on residential care and increasing access to family-based care, including for children with disabilities.

66.A vision or concept for alternative family-based childcare is being developed with specific outcomes, priorities and policy recommendations in order to prevent family separation and ensure appropriate family-based care for children lacking parental care.

67.The Government is participating in the UNICEF global initiative to improve monitoring systems for children in alternative care, which was launched in June 2023. This initiative should help strengthen the administrative data system for children in alternative care and establish a subnational and national monitoring system for children in all types of alternative care, including family-based kinship care (or guardianship) and the placement of children for adoption.

Adoption registrations with the Civil Registration Records Office

	Year	List of registrations
1	2020	2 397
2	2021	2 517
3	2022	2 466
4	2023	2 472
5	First 5 months of 2024	869

Reply to paragraph 8 (c) of the list of issues

68.Reception and placement institutions temporarily house minors, including citizens of other States, between the ages of 3 and 18, who are in need of assistance from the State and society, as well as juvenile offenders, and take measures for their placement or return to a family or children’s institution.

69.The juvenile reception and placement centres:

Detect and prevent child neglect and juvenile delinquency

Maintain and take measures for the placement and return to a family or children’s institution of minors aged 3 to 18 who require State or social assistance

Reply to paragraph 9 (a) of the list of issues

70.In accordance with an order of the Ministry of Health and the Medical Industry dated 1 November 2017 on improvement of medical services to the population, treatment of children with disabilities is free of charge.

71.Order No. 203 of 11 June 2018 approving a procedure for the dispensary examination or check-up of citizens provides that children with disabilities at health centres can be observed and given anti-relapse treatment and laboratory follow-up by family physicians and specialized doctors and, if necessary, may be hospitalized as inpatients.

72.A new rehabilitation centre opened in 2023 in Arkadag. By referral of family physicians, it provides rehabilitation activities for children with disabilities with locomotor disorders from all over the country (in two full rehabilitation courses).

73.The Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charity Foundation for assistance to children in need of care was established in 2021. Numerous cardiac surgery, traumatology, orthopedic, neurosurgery and rehabilitation operations have been performed throughout the country with the Foundation’s support.

74.UNICEF, together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and other partners, has been working since 2016 to introduce professional social work and family support services for children. The body of evidence collected over the years, including a review of children under 3 years of age in institutions (2013), an evaluation of social services (2015) and an analysis of the situation of boys and girls with disabilities (2015), has contributed to a better understanding of the life challenges faced by families and children and of the resources within national systems supporting them. The Government’s ongoing efforts to harmonize the national legislation and regulatory framework on child welfare with international standards provide an optimal basis for the implementation of social work in the country. Comprehensive local health and education interventions for the families of children with disabilities have been introduced in selected pilot districts.

Reply to paragraph 9 (b) of the list of issues

75.Efforts are being made with international organizations to establish inclusive education, and specifically to include children with disabilities in general education.

76.In accordance with the Education Act, the State provides the conditions for the education (in inclusive education) of citizens with disabilities, i.e. physical and/or mental disabilities, at general education establishments. On the basis of special pedagogical approaches, special education schools are established for the education of citizens who, for health reasons, cannot attend general education schools, to address developmental disorders and facilitate their integration in everyday life. The number of children with disabilities studying in regular general education classes in the country’s schools increases every year. In addition, work is carried out on a regular basis to develop the competence of teachers working with children with disabilities and to familiarize them with international educational experience in this area.

77.The development by Turkmen experts of a policy framework for inclusive education and of its implementation plan, with technical assistance from the UNICEF office in Turkmenistan, deserves special attention. The drafts of these documents have been positively evaluated by international experts of UNICEF and are now under consideration.

Reply to paragraph 9 (c) of the list of issues

78.On 16 December 2019, the Government and the United Nations signed the Joint Programme on Improving the System of Social Protection through the Introduction of Inclusive Quality Community-based Social Services, funded by the Joint Sustainable Development Goals Fund.

79.The Programme piloted a new model of inclusive services at the local level, targeting broader groups such as persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, orphans, children without parental care, children at risk of separation from their parents, youth at risk, women, older persons and other populations in need of support with basic daily care. The Programme was aimed at introducing social work in support of the most vulnerable parts of the population.

80.In December 2021, the parliament adopted the Social Services Act, which provides for a set of measures and actions to meet the individual needs of persons with disabilities, including children with disabilities, older persons, orphans, children without parental care or persons in loco parentis and other categories of persons, with a view to improving their living conditions and/or strengthening their ability to independently meet their basic needs.

81.With regard to the realization the right of children to a decent material standard of living, it is worth noting some of the goals and objectives of the National Action Plan for the Realization of Children’s Rights. They provide for ensuring that social benefits are sufficient and for improving their management (goal 4.1); for increasing the coverage of social payments to families with children (goal 4.2); and for increasing access to quality, inclusive social services at the local level that meet international standards for social services in support of children and their families (goal 4.3).

Reply to paragraph 9 (d) of the list of issues

82.In the 2023/24 academic year, a new course in social work was offered at the Magtymguly Turkmen State University and the Seyitnazar Seydi Turkmen State Pedagogical Institute.

83.The number of people graduating from the general psychology programme has risen since 2018. From 2018 to 2021 there were 8 graduates a year, but in 2022, the number increased to 20. At the end of the 2023/24 academic year, there were plans for 18 psychology students to graduate, and in 2025 and 2026, the plan is to graduate about 50–60 specialists annually.

Reply to paragraph 10 (a) of the list of issues

84.Turkmenistan has made the transition to international standards for live births, which was supported by initiatives of UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

85.In collaboration with UNICEF and other partners, the Government has approved the National Strategy on Maternal and Child Health for 2021–2025, under the title “Healthy Mother – Healthy Child – Healthy Future”, ensuring that Sustainable Development Goal 3 will be achieved.

86.In 2017, the country joined the global Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP). In order to study the causes and conditions that lead to perinatal mortality and to reduce this indicator, a phased confidential audit of critical obstetric cases has been put in place at the level of health facilities since 2017.

87.The country has developed indicators for monitoring in the area of maternal and child health. Regular monitoring visits are made to all provinces and action is taken on the basis of the results.

88.One of the most important achievements of the cooperation between UNICEF and the Ministry of Health and the Medical Industry is the promotion of breastfeeding. This led to the adoption of the Breastfeeding Protection and Promotion and Baby Food Requirements Act. To raise awareness, a national breastfeeding week is held every year between 1 and 7 September. Family physicians, nurses and medical school professionals participate in a series of educational workshops on the latest infant and toddler feeding guidelines. As part of these courses, they receive a training manual on breastfeeding and tools for monitoring children’s growth and development, published by the Ministry of Health and the Medical Industry, in cooperation with UNICEF.

89.The Government has supported the baby-friendly hospitals initiative, a joint programme of UNICEF and WHO. Thanks to assistance from UNICEF, 95 per cent of hospitals (67 out of 71) are now compliant with the initiative, and 18 per cent of primary health-care centres have already been certified.

90.Currently, much work is being done to implement a programme for the integrated management of childhood diseases and to develop new clinical protocols for the most common childhood conditions (12 clinical guidelines to improve the visiting nurse service have been developed and printed). Implementation of the five-year road map for integrated childhood disease management is continuing; 24 instructors were trained in April 2023. An e-course on integrated childhood disease management has been adapted, approved and printed.

91.WHO and UNICEF launched the adaptation and use of the Pocket book of primary health care for children and adolescents: guidelines for health promotion, disease prevention and management from the newborn period to adolescence. Its adaptation and use has continued in 2024.

92.Actions such as preventive vaccination, prenatal care and postnatal care and the improvement of critical care in accordance with international standards are continuing.

Reply to paragraph 10 (b)–(c) of the list of issues

93.Reproductive health services are provided at all levels of the health-care system, in accordance with Ministry of Health and the Medical Industry Orders No. 279, No. 280 and No. 212. In 2020, 15 clinical protocols for girls’ reproductive health and 8 clinical protocols for boys’ reproductive health were developed and implemented, in collaboration with UNFPA.

94.Information on sexual and reproductive health is included in the subject entitled “Life Skills”, which includes reproductive health topics on pregnancy, sexual transmitted diseases, genital anatomy, legislation relating to gender and decision-making skills.

Reply to paragraph 10 (d) of the list of issues

95.As at 1 January 2022, 45 social work specialists from among those who participated in the pilot project had been integrated into the social service institutions of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to provide various types of social services to persons who needed them.

96.Currently, in 18 etraps (districts) and cities, work is actively being carried out on the provision of social services by social work specialists, in cooperation with social organizations providing, inter alia, psychosocial counselling and rehabilitation and reintegration, including for children.

97.In their activities, social work specialists interact with the local public authorities and local self-government bodies and with health-care, educational and internal affairs (police) institutions, local civil society organizations and other relevant actors in the community, contributing their resources to support the most vulnerable segments of the population, including children, and, inter alia, children with disabilities.

Reply to paragraph 11 (a)–(b) of the list of issues

98.Work is under way to ensure the right of children to a clean and safe environment, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Education Act and the 2019 National Strategy on Climate Change. During the reporting period, activities were carried out to raise awareness of the impact of climate change on the country’s children and youth. In 2021, UNICEF, together with the United Nations Development Programme, conducted an awareness campaign among children in summer camps on the impact of climate change, using play to teach them about waste recycling and the impact of climate change.

99.Climate change adaptation topics have been integrated into primary and secondary education through the use of more than 14,250 teacher’s manuals on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. New components have been introduced in subjects such as natural history, ecology, geography, and basics of life.

100.A joint disaster risk reduction programme focused on children’s rights and needs and a multi-year action plan for 2023–2030 have been prepared and submitted. Adoption of the programme will ensure compliance with international standards in the protection of children’s rights and in meeting their needs in emergencies and disasters.

101.Teachers across the country have increased their skills and capacity in interactive teaching and learning on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, with a focus on children’s rights and needs.

102.In July 2023, the Ministry of Education received more than 1,000 climate change adaptation teaching aids from UNICEF, complemented by DVDs with a digital climate change adaptation curriculum for summer camps, to increase the resilience of the country’s children to the impacts of climate change.

103.A curriculum and a methodological manual on climate change adaptation for preschool education were developed to ensure consistency in integrating climate change adaptation into the country’s education system.

Reply to paragraph 11 (c) of the list of issues

104.Within the framework of a regional programme entitled “Strengthening Local and National Capacities for Emergency Preparedness and Response in the Countries of Central Asia with a High Risk of Earthquakes and Natural Disasters”, draft strategies on water supply, sanitation and hygiene in emergencies, focusing on the rights and needs of children, have been prepared and submitted for consideration.

105.A draft policy framework has been prepared and submitted for approval on the integration of gender in disaster risk reduction, focusing on the rights and needs of children in emergencies.

106.Over 1,043 students from 10 target schools in Ashgabat and in the provinces of Ahal, Daşoguz and Lebap improved their capacities for disaster risk reduction, for gender mainstreaming and for water supply, sanitation and hygiene management in emergencies and took part in earthquake simulation exercises.

107.More than 400 staff and volunteers of the National Society of the Red Crescent, as well as more than 200 principals and teachers from target schools in the country, improved their capacity for disaster risk reduction, for gender mainstreaming and for water supply, sanitation and hygiene management in emergencies and took part in earthquake simulation exercises.

Reply to paragraph 11 (d) of the list of issues

108.Taking into account that clean drinking water and proper sanitation are the main guarantees of sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population and also a factor for the prevention of infectious and parasitic diseases, special attention has been paid to this question.

109.In order to provide the population with clean drinking water and proper sanitation, modern water treatment facilities and sewage systems are being constructed in urban and rural areas. Water supply and sewage disposal lines are being laid and boreholes are being sunk to extract underground drinking water.

110.In order to achieve the objectives of improving access to drinking water and ensuring proper sanitation, a General Programme to Provide Clean Drinking Water for the period 2011–2025 has been adopted. The Drinking Water Act is effectively being implemented (https://minjust.gov.tm/)

111.The need for drinking water at places of residence is satisfied through the development of (priority) centralized or non-centralized drinking water supply systems, the establishment of reserve drinking water supply systems and State support, regulation and monitoring of the drinking water supply.

112.Guided by the Health Code, the State Health and Epidemiological Service of the Ministry of Health and the Medical Industry, through its 78 subordinate bodies’ certified laboratories, carries out continuous monitoring of the production and consumption of drinking water, applying State standard TDS 837–2016, entitled “Drinking water. Hygiene requirements and quality control”.

113.Various activities aimed at reducing the consequences of the Aral Sea crisis have also been carried out. The National Aral Programme for 2021–2025 envisages specific measures to improve the environmental situation in the country’s Aral Sea region.

114.According to data from the sixth round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), the proportion of the population using safely managed water services has increased significantly, from 82.8 per cent in 2015 and 2016 to 99.9 per cent in 2019. In the area near the Aral Sea, the percentage of the population with improved drinking water sources and the basic conditions for drinking water supply reached 100 per cent in Daşoguz Province and 99.8 per cent in Lebap Province. The Government’s systematic efforts led to significant progress in this area. The next regular MICS, MICS-7, is being completed in 2024 and its results are scheduled to be available in the third quarter of the year.

Reply to paragraph 12 (a) of the list of issues

115.At the beginning of 2024, there were 1,099 preschool institutions in the country, attended by around 214,803 children; 214 of these institutions were built and commissioned in rural areas and were attended by some 32,957 children.

116.Over the last five years, 28 preschool institutions (with 7,280 places) have been built in the country, 8 of which are in rural areas. They are equipped with the most advanced equipment, the latest computers and interactive multimedia boards.

117.Children at the country’s preschool institutions are brought up and educated on the basis of uniform curricula and programmes.

118.Improvements are made to the quality of education at the preschool institutions. In light of the requirements of the times, special attention is being paid to preparing the children for school and to mastery of the academic programme, which in turn contributes to the continuity and consistency of education.

Distribution of the number of preschool institutions in Turkmenistan and number of children, by area and gender

	2021	2022	2023
Number of preschool institutions at the end of the year	1 076	1 082	1 091
Including:
In urban areas	864	869	877
In rural areas	212	213	214
Number of children in preschool institutions at the end of the year	210 829	213 702	214 803
Including:
In urban areas	179 098	181 046	181 846
In rural areas	31 731	32 656	32 957
Girls in preschool institutions at the end of the year	100 576	102 563	1020

119.In order to bring the quality of education into line with international standards, improve the methodology used, introduce innovative approaches to teaching and significantly enhance the creative skills and professionalism of teachers, on 25 May 2024 the President of Turkmenistan signed a decision approving a policy framework for improving the methodology of education in general education programmes in Turkmenistan until 2028 and an action plan for its implementation.

Reply to paragraph 12 (b) of the list of issues

120.Under the new version of the Education Act, Turkmen citizens are guaranteed the opportunity to receive quality education throughout their lives, irrespective of their ethnic background, skin colour, sex, origin, wealth, official status, place of residence, language, attitude to religion, political convictions or other circumstances, age or state of health.

121.Under the Education Act, the State, in view of the growth of global social, environmental and economic interdependence, encourages citizens to acquire foreign languages, including the official working languages of the United Nations, at all types of educational establishments, regardless of their form of ownership.

122.According to statistics for the 2023/24 school year, in addition to instruction in the State language, foreign languages are also taught at 1,900 schools in the country, in particular Russian, Turkish and some subjects in English.

123.There are 72 schools with Russian-language instruction in the country, and Russian and English are taught as main subjects at all schools.

124.Turkmenistan currently has 213 specialized schools with advanced study of foreign languages, including English, German, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Farsi, Arabic and Turkish.

125.There are combination Turkmen-Russian and Turkmen-Turkish schools, where education is conducted in Russian, Turkish and English.

126.Ethnic minorities are not prohibited from using and studying their native languages, and the right to do so is guaranteed.

127.The lack of schools offering native-language instruction for small groups of ethnic minorities is attributable to difficulties in finding teachers and a lack of educational literature and financial prospects, among other factors. It is not prohibited for people to obtain education through various out-of-school courses, and all educational activities are subject to licensing by the Ministry of Education. It should be noted that since independence there have been no requests for the teaching of any of the ethnic minority languages.

Reply to paragraph 13 (a) of the list of issues

128.There are no refugee children from Afghanistan in Turkmenistan.

Reply to paragraph 13 (b) of the list of issues

129.As part of the cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the UNICEF office in Turkmenistan, an analysis of the country’s legislation on juvenile justice was carried out. It resulted in proposals for amendments and additions to certain articles of the Criminal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Penal Enforcement Code. Also, with the assistance of UNICEF, the first two child-friendly investigation rooms (in Ashgabat and Turkmenabat) were prepared and opened for use in pretrial questioning.

130.Measures to divert juveniles from the formal justice system and to use restorative justice are being explored by the relevant law enforcement agencies and social service providers.

Reply to paragraph 13 (c) of the list of issues

131.Deprivation of liberty – arrest, detention or confinement of a child in a correctional institution – is carried out in accordance with the law and only as a measure of last resort. Every child deprived of liberty is treated humanely. Minors sentenced to deprivation of liberty serve their sentences at educational institutions. The application of correctional measures to persons under the age of 18 focuses primarily on the restoration of social, political and civil rights (rehabilitation), return to society and family reunification (reintegration).

132.Convicted juveniles in penal institutions receive care, protection and all necessary individual assistance – social, psychological, medical and physical – and assistance in receiving an education and vocational training, in the interest of their full development. The administrations of young offenders’ institutions encourage and facilitate contacts between convicted juveniles and their close relatives, guardians and tutors. They establish the necessary conditions for this purpose and make them available to the young offenders. To the fullest extent possible, the institutions’ administrations ensure that telephone conversations and visits to juvenile inmates are conducted in an atmosphere of respect for the children’s privacy. Correctional institutions may grant State-funded financial support to close relatives, guardians and tutors who are unable to travel to visit a juvenile inmate, in order to ensure that the inmate’s right to family contact is respected, and convicted juveniles accompanied by a relative or other accompanying person are allowed to leave correctional institutions. Convicted juveniles are provided with improved living conditions, and increased nutritional standards are applied to them.

133.For the purpose of reforming convicted juveniles and preparing them for independent life, they follow an educational and training process designed to develop law-abiding behaviour and a conscientious attitude to work and study, and they receive compulsory general secondary and primary vocational education and training to raise their educational and cultural level. Their educational diplomas or certificates contain no indication that they received their education at a correctional facility.

134.As a rule, convicts who have reached the age of 18 remain in an institution for juvenile offenders until the end of their sentence, but not past the age of 21. Convicts who have reached the age of 18 and remain at institutions for juvenile offenders are subject to the same conditions of sentences, nutritional norms and material and domestic support as juvenile convicts.

Reply to paragraph 13 (d)–(e) of the list of issues

135.In its policy to ensure sustainable socioeconomic development, the Government attaches increasing importance to children’s issues and the fulfilment of the obligations included in the international treaties to which Turkmenistan is a party. Specifically, a legal framework has been established to regulate the realization of children’s rights, to protect children from economic exploitation, including through the use of violence, and to prevent situations that may pose a risk to their health or serve as an obstacle to their education. When any offences involving child labour are identified and reported, police officers conduct checks to verify the violation, and if confirmed, action is taken against the perpetrators, in accordance with the law.

136.An important and crucial step towards preventing child labour is the Government’s intention to cooperate with the International Labour Organization (ILO), as evidenced by the activities carried out in the framework of cooperation with ILO in recent years (2021–2024).

137.The cooperation resulted in the adoption of the Road Map of Cooperation Activities between the International Labour Organization and the Government of Turkmenistan for 2024–2025. The road map for the prevention of child labour calls for the revision of the list of types of work, professions and positions with harmful or dangerous (or especially harmful or dangerous) working conditions, in which the employment of persons under the age of 18 is not allowed, with the inclusion of activities related cotton harvesting.

138.Along the same lines, there is the development and implementation of activities to raise public awareness on the need to prevent the mobilization and use of child labour, targeting local public authorities, the social partners and the public.

139.Goal 5 of the National Action Plan for the Realization of Children’s Rights in Turkmenistan for the period 2023–2028 provides for measures to prevent the use of minors in work that is dangerous to their life and health (goal 5.6); consistent implementation of the provisions of the national legislation and the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) (goal 5.7); and stronger monitoring of children’s rights in cases involving child labour (goal 5.8).

Reply to paragraph 14 (a) of the list of issues

140.The purpose of the specialized military school is to prepare defenders of the homeland for further study at the country’s higher military academies. The preparation takes place through training and a mastery of basic military preparation, together with general secondary education, for minors aged 14–15 who wish to study the art of war and who have completed the seventh year of the 11-year educational programme or the eighth year of the 12-year educational programme.

Reply to paragraph 14 (b) of the list of issues

141.Cadets of the specialized military school have the right to make suggestions, file complaints and ask questions with the school’s directors.

Reply to paragraph 14 (c) of the list of issues

142.The new 2022 version of the Criminal Code has improved the norms establishing liability for involving a minor in prostitution and for the production or distribution of pornographic materials or objects of a pornographic nature, as well as for trafficking in human beings involving minors (https://minjust.gov.tm/).

Reply to paragraph 14 (d) of the list of issues

143.There have been no cases registered in the country involving the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other material involving child sexual abuse.

144.Respect for the rights of the child has always been and remains the most important aspect of national legislation. Under the Children’s Rights Act, which implements the Convention on the Rights of the Child and prohibits all forms of physical or psychological violence against children, the State takes measures to legally uphold and safeguard the rights, freedoms and lawful interests of the child, to protect the child’s life and health, to prevent discrimination against the child, to restore rights if they have been violated and to protect the child’s honour and dignity. It takes legal, economic, social and other measures to ensure normal conditions for the child’s life and development and a healthy and safe environment. The Act also provides for the child’s right to privacy, protection of the child from abduction and trafficking and protection of the child from exploitation at work.

145.The Ministry of Internal Affairs is working to protect children against all forms of violence, including bullying, by responding promptly to such acts, and to provide appropriate support to children affected by bullying. The work of the juvenile affairs units in the police departments is of a comprehensive nature; it is mainly aimed at preventing juvenile delinquency, in conjunction with members of the public and the education system.

Part II

Reply to paragraph 15 (a) of the list of issues

146.The main achievements in promoting the rights of children and adolescents include: amendments to the Children’s Rights Act, in 2014; adoption of a new version of the Education Act, in 2021; adoption of the new Social Services Act, in 2021, which places the best interests of the child at its core; and the introduction in the Migration Act (2012) of a section on migrant children and stateless persons.

Reply to paragraph 15 (b) of the list of issues

147.Pursuant to a presidential decree of 20 October 2022, a department for work with youth was established within the Ministry of Education.

Reply to paragraph 15 (c) of the list of issues

148.The following have been adopted: a national strategy for early childhood development and a programme for improving early development activities at preschool establishments and for improving the preparation of children for schooling, both for 2020–2025; the national strategy entitled “Healthy Mother – Healthy Child – Healthy Future” and the action plan for its implementation; the National Healthy Diet Programme for 2020–2025; the National Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons for 2020–2022; the National Action Plan on Gender Equality, 2021–2025; the National Action Plan on Human Rights, 2021–2025; and the National Action Plan for the Realization of Children’s Rights in Turkmenistan for the period 2023–2028.

149.The National Action Plan for the Realization of Children’s Rights sets the national agenda and priorities for advancing children’s rights over the next six years. It serves as a guide for ministries, agencies and other government structures and for public associations as they identify priorities and establish mechanisms to achieve them.

150.Its purpose is to ensure that all children and their parents understand and are empowered to exercise their rights to achieve the greatest good for the community and to provide developmental opportunities for every child, leaving no one behind.

151.The National Action Plan is a comprehensive document integrating all the strategies and plans developed by the Government and public organizations to improve the well-being of children. It aims to ensure that all State and local administrations, civil society and other partners in the private and public sectors integrate children’s issues into their programmes.

152.In accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and domestic law, the participation of children will be ensured in the discussions, implementation and monitoring of the Plan.

153.The National Plan of Action is based on the principles and provisions of the Constitution, the Children’s Rights Act, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and other United Nations international agreements related to the interests of children to which Turkmenistan is a party. The Plan’s adoption was also one of the recommendations issued by the Committee on the Rights of the Child and made during the country’s universal periodic review.

154.The Plan is a comprehensive, multisectoral document that sets out goals, objectives and strategies in all areas relevant to children’s rights.

155.It includes seven priority areas that define the main thrusts of the State’s policy on children:

(a)Strengthening evidence-based and quality data-driven legislation and policies, and improving results-based intersectoral cooperation, with more efficient use of budget resources;

(b)Ensuring that children, adolescents and their families have access to improved, diverse and comprehensive health services, proper nutrition and safe drinking water, maintaining a high level of hygiene;

(c)Ensuring that children, including children from the most vulnerable groups, such as children with disabilities, have access to modern education so that they can realize their full potential and acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for free and successful employment and increased social inclusion and resilience in a changing economy;

(d)Creating favourable conditions for the material upkeep and social protection of children and their families;

(e)Enabling all girls and boys in vulnerable families, residential institutions and in contact with the law to receive individualized protection from all forms of abuse and socioeconomic vulnerability;

(f)Bringing together private and public partnerships to ensure that all children and their families, especially those living in areas adversely affected by environmental factors, benefit from disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures;

(g)Creating an enabling environment where all children have opportunities to exercise their rights to participate in decisions affecting their lives, well-being and development.

156.In accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and domestic law, the participation of children is ensured in the discussions, implementation and monitoring of the Plan. Partnership with the media will be aimed at promoting greater participation of children in the Plan’s implementation.

157.A mid-term independent evaluation is planned for 2026. It will involve adolescents, parents and representatives of community associations.

158.The Plan is being implemented in partnership with UNICEF and other United Nations agencies.

Reply to paragraph 15 (d) of the list of issues

The ILO Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144)

The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled

The Convention against Discrimination in Education

The ILO Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122)

The Instrument of Amendment to the ILO Constitution

The Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications Concerning Higher Education in the European Region

The Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Relating to International Civil Aviation and its Protocol

The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

The International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations

The Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

The Agreement on the creation of the Global Green Growth Institute

The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods

The International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System

Part III

Reply to paragraph 16 of the list of issues

Annex

	Thousand manat
		Revised budget
2021	2022	2023
I	Health	2 584 814.83	2 511 177.44	2 831 051.65
1	Budget of the health-care system
2	Including the budget of specialized institutions for children with mental deficiencies	6 474.62	6 885.57	7 818.28
3	Including the budget of infant orphan homes	3 474.89	3 722.13	3 987.64
II	Education	6 117 300.62	6 691 480.33	7 823 850.63
1	Educational system budget including
2	Preschool institutions	1 961 852.63	2 186 415.89	2 499 338.93
3	Schools	3 100 777.58	3 460 075.01	4 170 002.65
4	Boarding schools	21 193.67	23 641.64	27 742.47
5	Special regime boarding schools (421/38)	15 613.89	17 099.30	19 974.34
6	Extracurricular educational institutions	42 183.69	45 907.45	51 628.11
7	Orphanages (449)	9 966.28	И 285 21	12 290.29
8	Rehabilitation centres ( saglygy dikeldis mekdep-intematlary )	68 666.42	76 508.66	86 769.45
9	Open-air schools	1 852.05	2 026.13	2 268.13
III	Culture including	196 452.97	213 620.96	237 542.11
1	School of arts	87 426.86	95 196.36	108 001.71
2	Music schools	8 125.76	8 932.89	9 948.28
3	Visual art schools	6 632.17	7 291.42	8 101.14
IV	Sports including	179 068.43	197 413.54	200 144.02
1	School sports	135 726.29	148 799.80	166 806.90
2	Boarding school sports	8 173.90	9 093.54	10 214.40
V	Media including	115 819.41	114 624.62	135 305.09
1	Television and radio ( Yashlyk and children ’ s channels)	5 551.95	5 896.96	17 761.90

Reply to paragraph 17 (a) of the list of issues

159.Pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act (https://minjust.gov.tm/), all persons have the right to appeal to administrative bodies on matters directly related to their rights and legitimate interests and to file requests and receive information from such bodies. The respective administrative body is obliged to make appropriate decisions on such appeals or provide information. The grounds for the initiation of an administrative procedure are:

(a)A statement or complaint from a physical persons or legal entity; or

(b)An initiative of the administrative body or, in cases provided for by law, an obligation of the administrative body to adopt an administrative act.

160.The administrative procedure starts from the moment of registration of the statement or complaint or from the moment of the first procedural action.

161.The administrative act must be concise, sufficiently clear and understandable in content, and must contain information about the addressee and the issues addressed. The administrative act is issued in writing and contains the following:

(a)The name of the body that adopted it;

(b) The surname, name, patronymic and address of permanent residence of the physical person, or the name and legal address of the legal entity, for whom the administrative act was adopted;

(c) The name of the administrative act, the date and place of its adoption and its registration number;

(d) The surname, name and patronymic of the official (members of the joint administrative body) who adopted it;

(e) The term and procedure for appealing against it;

(f) The means of addressing external influences that have specific legal consequences.

162.The administrative act must be signed by the issuing official (or members of the joint administrative body).

163.Over the past three years, the Office of the Ombudsman has received applications regarding children’s rights from children’s relatives. In 2023, there was one application from a minor, related to difficulties in obtaining necessary documents from government agencies. In a written application from a 17-year-old Turkmen male citizen from Balkan Province, the person requested assistance in resolving this issue. Thanks to the work done on this case, he was issued with all the necessary documents to resolve the problem raised in his application.

Reply to paragraph 17 (c) of the list of issues

164.Under article 15 of the Family Code, the minimum age of marriage is 18. The guardianship authorities may, in exceptional cases, at the request of persons wishing to marry, and if there are valid reasons, lower the age of marriage, but by no more than one year. In such a case, the person in question is emancipated from the date of marriage. The person’s legal capacity is preserved in full, even in the event of dissolution of the marriage.

Reply to paragraph 17 (e) of the list of issues

165.According to data from MICS-6 (2019):

The neonatal mortality rate was 22 per 1,000 live births

The infant mortality rate was 32 per 1,000 live births

166.The next regular MICS, MICS-7 (2024), is being completed in 2024 and its results are scheduled to be available in the third quarter of the year.

Reply to paragraph 17 (g) of the list of issues

167.There are no children living in extreme poverty in Turkmenistan.

168.Extreme poverty was eliminated in 2000. Turkmenistan is currently working to improve the measurement of relative poverty. The appropriate forms are being developed. According to MICS 2015, the multi-cluster poverty rate was quite low, at just over 0 per cent.

Reply to paragraph 17 (h) of the list of issues

169.Unaccompanied children: No information.

Reply to paragraph 17 (i) of the list of issues

170.Children recognized as stateless: No information.

Reply to paragraph 17 (j) of the list of issues

171.Asylum-seeking, refugee and migrant children: No information.

Reply to paragraph 17 (k) of the list of issues

172.Children in military schools and military academies.

Distribution of the number of Ministry of Defence military schools in Turkmenistan and number of children, by area and gender

	2021	2022	2023
Number of military schools in the system of the Ministry of Defence	4	4	4
Number of students	1 550	1 647	1 610
Including: girls	-	-	-
Number of students, by age:
13 years	37	22	14
14 years	376	459	456
15 years	401	386	429
16 years	367	420	370
17 years	369	360	341

Reply to paragraph 18 (a)–(b) of the list of issues

173.According to the Ministry of Health and the Medical Industry, the number of children aged 0–3 years in children’s homes was 5.9 per cent higher in 2023 than in 2022.

174.According to the Ministry of Education, the number of children in orphanages was 17.4 per cent higher in 2023 than in 2022.

175.Over the period under consideration, the number of institutions remained at the same level. At the same time, there has been an increasing trend in the number of children with disabilities in boarding schools. In 2021, there were 4,482 children, or 1.6 per cent more than in 2020. In 2022 there were 4,770 children, or 6.4 per cent more than in 2021, and in 2023 there were 4,864 children, or 2.0 per cent more than in 2022. This trend is a result of the fact that children’s disabilities are being detected at early stages, and regular surveys are conducted on the situation of children with disabilities covered by the country’s social protection system.

176.According to the Pension Fund, the number of recipients of State disability benefits under the age of 18 was 26,004 in 2023, or 4.0 per cent more than in 2022.

Reply to paragraph 19 (b) of the list of issues

Information on children with disabilities for 2021

	Total	Number of children
Total	including by gender and age:
boys	girls	from 6 to 17 years old	18 and over
Institutions for children with special needs - Total	17	4 482	2 760	1 722	4 390	92
Including:
Recreational educational and pastoral facility	6	2 317	1 386	931	2 257	60
Ashgabat	1	532	308	224	524	8
Ahal Province	1	402	277	125	396	6
Balkan Province	1	342	213	129	332	10
Daşoguz Province	1	300	172	128	293	7
Lebap Province	1	314	172	142	296	18
Mary Province	1	427	244	183	416	11
Auxiliary boarding schools	11	2 165	1 374	791	2 133	32
Ashgabat	1	185	98	87	185	-
Ahal Province	-	-	-	-	-	-
Balkan Province	1	131	82	49	131	-
Daşoguz Province	2	501	316	185	477	24
Lebap Province	3	748	462	286	740	8
Mary Province	4	600	416	184	600	-
In addition, the sanatorium and open-air school
Ashgabat	1	147	99	48	147	-

Information on children with special needs for 2022

	Total	Number of children,
Total	including by gender and age:
boys	girls	from 6 to 17 years old	18 and over
Institutions for children with special needs - total	17	4 770	3 000	1 770	4 675	95
Including:
Recreational educational and pastoral facility	6	2 436	1 473	963	2 366	70
Ashgabat	1	565	329	236	554	11
Ahal Province	1	418	288	130	404	14
Balkan Province	1	374	235	139	365	9
Daşoguz Province	1	300	172	128	285	15
Lebap Province	1	330	185	145	322	8
Mary Province	1	449	264	185	436	13
Auxiliary boarding schools	11	2 334	1 527	807	2 309	25
Ashgabat	1	291	187	104	291	-
Ahal Province	-	-	-	-	-	-
Balkan Province	1	139	86	53	139	-
Daşoguz Province	2	514	332	182	497	17
Lebap Province	3	782	500	282	774	8
Mary Province	4	608	442	186	608	-
In addition, the sanatorium and open-air school
Ashgabat	1	150	86	64	150	-

Information on children with special needs for 2023

Name of the institution	Total	Number of children
Total	including by gender and age:
boys	girls	from 6 to 17 years old	18 and over
Institutions for children with special needs - total	17	4 864	3 086	1 778	4 669	195
Including:
Recreational educational and pastoral facility	6	2 485	1 513	972	2 362	123
Ashgabat	1	588	346	242	573	15
Ahal Province	1	406	277	129	393	13
Balkan Province	1	381	248	133	375	6
Daşoguz Province	1	300	180	120	267	33
Lebap Province	1	348	196	152	315	33
	1	462	266	196	439	23
Auxiliary boarding schools	11	2 379	1 573	806	2 307	72
Ashgabat	1	317	203	114	317
Ahal Province	-	-	-	-	-	-
Balkan Province	1	152	94	58	152	-
Daşoguz Province	2	492	319	173	455	37
Lebap Province	3	828	547	281	793	35
Mary Province	4	590	410	180	590	-
In addition, the sanatorium and open-air school
Ashgabat	1	169	105	64	169	-

Information on children in the care system in 2021–2023

	Total	2021	2022	2023
Number of children from 0 to 3 years of age	Number of children from 0 to 3 years of age	Number of children from 0 to 3 years of age
Total	Including: girls	Total	Including: girls	Total	Including: girls
Residential establishments	4	133	66	135	69	143	66
Ashgabat	1	37	14	37	14	45	20
Daşoguz Province	1	25	11	18	6	22	10
Lebap Province	1	35	17	44	21	48	22
Mary Province	1	36	24	36	28	28	14

	Total	2021	2022	2023
Number of children from 4 to 18 years of age	Number of children from 4 to 18 years of age	Number of children from 4 to 18 years of age
Total	Including: girls	Total	Including: girls	Total	Including: girls
Residential establishments	1	328	110	324	118	336	126
Mary Province	1	328	110	324	118	336	126

	Total	2021	2022	2023
Number of children from 3 to 18 years of age	Number of children from 3 to 18 years of age	Number of children from 3 to 18 years of age
Total	Including: girls	Total	Including: girls	Total	Including: girls
Orphanages	2	555	217	557	214	654	262
Dovletliler Palace, named after the President of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan	1	287	118	300	120	361	144
Orphanage of the Balkan Province Department of Education	1	268	99	257	94	283	111
In addition: family-type care for orphans	1	-	-	-	-	10	7

Reply to paragraph 19 (c)–(d) of the list of issues

Distribution of the number of regular schools and number of children, by area and gender

	2021	2022	2023
Number of regular schools	1 875	1 882	1 901
Including:
In urban areas	636	640	659
In rural areas	1 239	1 242	1 242
Number of students	1 493 441	1 566 812	1 633 708
Including: girls	730 897	767 112	799 826

Reply to paragraph 19 (e) of the list of issues

Distribution of the number of Ministry of Defence military schools and number of children, by area and gender

	2021	2022	2023
Number of military schools in the system of the Ministry of Defence	4	4	4
Number of students	1 550	1 647	1 610
Including: girls	-	-	-
Of the total number of students, by age:
13 years	37	22	14
14 years	376	459	456
15 years	401	386	429
16 years	367	420	370
17 years	369	360	341

Reply to paragraph 21 of the list of issues

177.Special attention is paid to the development of children and young people in the Programme for the Revival of a New Era of a Powerful State: The National Programme for the Socioeconomic Development of Turkmenistan in 2022–2052 and in the President’s Programme for the Socioeconomic Development of Turkmenistan in 2022–2028.

178.Turkmenistan undertook to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and the implementation of those objectives is systematically monitored in the country. The country has established a working group on the Sustainable Development Goals at the level of the relevant ministries and agencies. It monitors achievement of the Goals annually, including with a focus on children. Also, in 2019 and 2023, Turkmenistan submitted Sustainable Development Goal voluntary national reviews that analysed indicators related to children.

179.Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) are also carried out, in which children’s development, health, nutrition and education are given a special place.

Reply to paragraph 23 of the list of issues

180.The priority areas of public policy are indicated in the responses to question 15 (c), above.