Juan Gasparini /HRT

The Human Rights Council rejected a resolution proposed on Tuesday (September 23) by the European Union countries, Canada, Switzerland and Uruguay to appoint an independent expert to follow human rights the situation in Turkmenistan.

In return the 47 Council members agreed to ask the High Commissioner for Human Rights to grant technical assistance to that country. For its part, Turkmenistan must supply information regarding the numerous individual complaints that have accumulated against the country since 2003. They relate to massive and systematic violations such as arbitrary detention, torture, assassination, disappearances sentencing without due process and limits on freedom of the press and opposition parties.

At its next session in March 2009, the Council will follow up on how to address these individual complaints under the confidential process known as 1503.

Translated by PT