Population of women: 2,495,000/4,940,000 Life expectancy of women (at birth): 70.4 yrs School life expectancy for women: N/A
Adult illiteracy for women: N/A Unemployment of women: N/A Adult economic activity rate: 62%
last updated August 2, 2004
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Although there are no official statistics available, domestic violence against women is reported to be common. Nevertheless, the Criminal Code does not specifically address domestic violence. Furthermore, those women who have sought divorce in court proceedings based on domestic violence are often unsuccessful, as the court usually recommends reconciliation. The problem is not usually discussed in society, and the majority of the victims of domestic violence keep silent, because they are either unaware of their rights or afraid of increased violence from their husbands and relatives. U.S. Department of State reports that in 2003 “there were a few court cases and occasional references to domestic violence in the media.” There was also one official women’s group in Ashgabat and several informal groups in other regions that supported victims of domestic violence.
According to Article 134 of Turkmenistan’s Criminal Code, rape is illegal and the law against rape is enforced effectively. However, there are reports that in December 2002 authorities raped and sexually molested relatives of prisoners implicated in a November 2002 attack against President Niyazarov.
Article 18 of the Turkmen Constitution provides equal rights for women and men and imposes legal liability for violation of the provision. However, although sexual harassment exists in the workplace, there is no other law that specifically prohibits it. Prostitution is a growing problem due to the few educational and employment opportunities for women. The Criminal Code punishes prostitution by two years' imprisonment or hard labor. Involving a minor in prostitution or using force, threat or blackmail to involve someone in prostitution is punishable by three to eight years in prison. Articles 140, 141, and 142 of the Criminal Code prohibit prostitution-related activities, including keeping a brothel and pimping. Punishment is imprisonment for up to 5 years and possible confiscation of property or expulsion for the same period. Article 143 punishes sexual intercourse with a person under 16 years of age by imprisonment of two to five years. According to the U.S. Department of State, there were unconfirmed reports of women traveling to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to work as prostitutes. Although the Turkmen Government cooperates with the International Organization for Migration in educational efforts, there is no law punishing trafficking in persons or programs to counter the situation.
According to the U.S. Department of State 2003 report, there were only two officially registered women’s groups, one of which was headed by the Deputy Chairperson of the Mejlis and dedicated in honor of the President Niyazov’s mother. The Union of Women coordinates a network of some thirty NGOs throughout the country. According to the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, this network functions under the control of the Ministry of Education and its aim is “rather to spread propaganda than to offer concrete help.” Only a small number of independent women’s NGO’s exist, and most of them are not registered and lack resources to engage in any broader range of activities.
In October 2003, a new law on public associations was adopted (In Russian), making the registering procedure as well as the day-to-day operations of NGOs much more difficult. Registration made it possible for the government to interfere in the affairs of NGOs and to virtually control them. Non-Turkmen citizens are no longer allowed to found public organizations or to become members. According to the law, an NGO must have between 50 to 500 members to register. The authorities can also close down an NGO if it fails to submit specific data for registration, but the government is not obliged to specify what kind of violation has taken place. If an NGO wants to sign an agreement with foreign colleagues, it needs a permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Due to the government restrictions on freedom of speech, press, and association, it is extremely difficult for international organizations to investigate and criticize publicly the Government’s human rights abuses. According to the U.S. Department of State, in 2003 there were no international human rights NGOs with a permanent presence in the country.
Compiled from:
Turkmenistan: The Making of a Failed State, International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, 2 April 2004.
2003 Country Report on Human Rights Practices: Turkmenistan, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 25 February 2004.
2002 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Turkmenistan, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 31 March 2003.
Integration of the Human Rights of Women and the Gender Perspective - Violence Against Women, Addendum 1, Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 27 Feb. 2003. (PDF, 435 pages).
Women 2000 - An Investigation into the Status of Women's Rights in Central and South-Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States, International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, 2000. (PDF, 7 pages).