The capital of Turkmenistan is hosting the international scientific and practical conference “Milestones in the Development of Statehood, the Legal System, and Democracy in Neutral Turkmenistan.” The high-level forum coincides with a major institutional milestone: the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Institute of State, Law, and Democracy of Turkmenistan.
The event has brought together domestic lawmakers, legal scholars, government officials, and representatives from international organizations to evaluate three decades of legal modernization, democratic institution-building, and human rights advocacy under the country’s permanent neutrality.
Presidential Address: Upholding Rule of Law and International Standards
In a formal message to conference participants, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov extended warm congratulations, emphasizing that the human being is recognized as the supreme value in modern Turkmen society.
The President underscored that Turkmenistan consistently aligns its national laws with universally recognized international norms and conventions:
- Commitment to Global Standards: The state actively implements core international human rights treaties, working closely with United Nations agencies and international partners.
- Strategic Action Plans: Key initiatives highlighted include the implementation of the National Action Plan on Human Rights in Turkmenistan for 2026–2030, the National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2026–2030, and the National Action Plan on the Realization of Children’s Rights (2023–2028).
- Milestones in International Law: President Berdimuhamedov noted the historic significance of recent UN General Assembly resolutions adopted at Turkmenistan’s initiative, including the resolutions on the Role and Significance of the Policy of Neutrality and designating 2028 as the Year of International Law.
Three Decades of Institutional Growth
The conference pays special tribute to the evolution of the Institute of State, Law, and Democracy of Turkmenistan, which traces its roots back to October 23, 1996, when the National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights under the President was founded.
In July 2018, the institution was reorganized into its current form through the merger of the National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights and the Institute of State and Law. Over the past 30 years, the Institute has served as an essential intellectual engine for the nation by:
- Drafting, reviewing, and providing expert scientific assessments for proposed domestic legislation.
- Overseeing the coordination of national reports on human rights and international humanitarian law in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Mejlis (Parliament), the Supreme Court, and various law enforcement bodies.
- Conducting fundamental research on governance traditions, publishing academic journals (such as Democracy and Law), and fostering the professional growth of young legal scholars.
Forum Objectives and Expected Outcomes
Experts, diplomats, and practitioners attending the sessions in Ashgabat are focusing on several key thematic pillars:
- Harmonizing national legislation with international legal instruments.
- Enhancing public legal awareness and expanding academic research into statehood and civil society.
- Leveraging the moral and historical traditions of the Turkmen people to foster social unity, solidarity, and civic responsibility.
Organizers expect the conference to generate valuable recommendations to further strengthen Turkmenistan’s legislative framework and highlight the nation’s peaceful, constructive foreign policy on the global stage. /// nCa, 23 October 2026