Turkmenistan Participates in High-Level OSCE Conference to Combat Child Trafficking

2 Apr

Vienna, Austria — 1 April 2025

The Delegation of Turkmenistan participated in the 25th OSCE Alliance against Trafficking in Persons Conference, held from 31 March to 1 April 2025 at the Hofburg in Vienna, under the theme “Protecting Childhoods, Shaping Futures: A Call to End Child Trafficking.” This high-level international forum brought together policy-makers, international organizations, survivors, and practitioners to address evolving risks and responses to child trafficking.

Turkmenistan’s delegation included representatives from the Office of the Prosecutor General, the State Migration Service, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, underscoring the Government’s multi-agency commitment to strengthening national frameworks and international cooperation in combating human trafficking, particularly involving children.

During the two-day conference, Turkmenistan contributed to discussions in Session 1 – “Changing Landscape of Child Trafficking: Trends and Patterns”, and Session 2 – “From Vulnerability to Protection: Addressing Child Trafficking Risks.” The delegation presented national efforts and legislative advances undertaken in line with international obligations and outlined key developments, including:

• The implementation of the Law of Turkmenistan on Combating Trafficking in Persons, which designates the Prosecutor General’s Office as the national coordinating body for anti-trafficking efforts;

• The adoption of the new National Action Plan for 2025–2029, integrating gender and child-specific protections, training programs for frontline professionals, and enhanced victim identification procedures;

• The establishment of an Interdepartmental Commission in May 2024, tasked with leading coordinated efforts across prevention, protection, and prosecution pillars;

• Legal reforms within the 2023 Criminal Code of Turkmenistan, criminalizing all forms of child trafficking, including sale, exploitation, and forced labor;

• Ongoing partnerships with NGOs and international organizations, including the OSCE, UNODC, IOM, and UNICEF, in capacity building, awareness campaigns, and victim support.

Turkmenistan emphasized its commitment to strengthening victim protection systems, including access to safe housing, medical care, psychosocial services, and education for children affected by trafficking. Special focus was given to preventing trafficking through robust child protection laws, labor regulations that prohibit hazardous work for minors, and legal safeguards against child exploitation.

The delegation reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s openness to regional dialogue and experience-sharing with OSCE participating States, as well as its readiness to contribute to joint initiatives, technical cooperation, and research projects tackling child trafficking in all its forms.

In conclusion, Turkmenistan underscored that combatting child trafficking is not only a governmental responsibility but a shared societal obligation. The country remains committed to implementing international standards, strengthening domestic mechanisms, and building lasting partnerships to protect the rights and dignity of every child.