On October 14, 2024, the 75th meeting of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) began its work at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
The meeting was attended by a delegation of Turkmenistan led by the Head of the State Migration Service and the Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the UN Office in Geneva.
In his speech, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Filippo Grandi expressed gratitude to the Turkmen delegation for successful completion of the #IBELONG campaign aimed at ending statelessness. He praised Turkmenistan’s efforts in eliminating statelessness, highlighting that the country’s experience serves as a model for other states. Mr. Grandi also expressed confidence that Turkmenistan’s humanitarian initiatives would continue.
During the meeting, the Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the UN Office in Geneva emphasized that Turkmenistan has been actively working to end statelessness, being a member of the key documents of the UNHCR.
The country’s experience in granting citizenship to stateless persons and its early accession to conventions on the equal treatment of refugees and stateless persons in Central Asia exemplify this commitment. All of these achievements have been realized within the framework of the UN’s 10-year Global Action Plan to reduce Statelessness, launched in 2014.
The Head of the State Migration Service of Turkmenistan further noted that the measures outlined in the “National Action Plan for 2019-2024 to End Statelessness” have been successfully implemented, demonstrating Turkmenistan’s firm commitment to fulfilling its international human rights obligations.
It was also announced that Turkmenistan, aiming to contribute to global efforts, will host a Regional Conference on Ending Statelessness on November 8, 2024, based on the experience the country has accumulated.
In response to Turkmenistan’s presentation, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees commended the country’s efforts in promoting safe, legal, and well-regulated migration, which aligns with the goals of sustainable development.
The meeting will continue its work until October 18.