News

Turkmenistan accedes to the 1961 Convention on Reduction of Statelessness

Turkmenistan officially acceded to the 1961 Convention on Statelessness, becoming the first country in Central Asia which acceded to both Conventions on Statelessness. By acceding to the 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons and 1961 Convention on Reduction of Statelessness the country shows its big commitment in the humanitarian sphere and respect to human rights. UNHCR and the Government of Turkmenistan have closely worked for the last years on accession to the Conventions. During multiyear partnership UNHCR and the Government also developed an Action Plan within the Program on prevention and reduction of statelessness in the country. As a result of partnership, in December 2011 Turkmenistan acceded to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless persons and in August 2012 the Parliament of Turkmenistan adopted a regulation on accession to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

During the meetings with the Government conducted recently, Mr. Azam, Regional Representative/Regional Coordinator congratulated the Government of Turkmenistan on acceding to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. "We very much welcome adoption by the Parliament of Turkmenistan of a regulation on accession to the 1961 Statelessness Convention. By acceding to both Statelessness Conventions, Turkmenistan has made significant steps forward and made a convincing contribution to the efforts of the international community to address statelessness" - underlined Mr. Azam.

He emphasized that by solving stateless on the country level, the States not only ensure basic human rights but also contribute to stability and security of the country and of the region in whole. He underlined that example of Turkmenistan is very positive and successful and can be replicated in the region.

In August 4, 2012 a new Law on Refugees was adopted in Turkmenistan. It will serve as a vital instrument of ensuring rights and freedoms of asylum-seekers and refugees in Turkmenistan, providing for a possibility of obtaining citizenship by refugees in Turkmenistan. It also sets basis for creation of the Relief Fund to assist refugees. "We would like to call other countries to follow this positive example of Turkmenistan" - underlined Mr. Azam.
The 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness are key legal instruments in the protection of stateless people around the world and in the prevention and reduction of statelessness. While they are complemented by regional treaty standards and international human rights law, the two statelessness conventions are the only global conventions of their kind. Currently, there are 74 countries acceded to the 1954 Convention and the number of state parties to the 1961 Convention increased up 46.

*** Photo/UNHCR archive, was taken during the International Ministerial Conference on "Refugees in the Muslim World" conducted on May 11-12, 2012 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.