UNICEF welcomes Turkmenistan's law banning child labourAshgabat, Turkmenistan, 2 February 2005 – UNICEF strongly welcomes a decision by Turkmenistan’s parliament to adopt a law banning child labour and guaranteeing the rights of children to be free from economic exploitation. “This move can be seen as a translation of the will of the President to ban child labour. We at UNICEF strongly support this move,” said Mahboob Shareef, Head of the UNICEF office in Turkmenistan. The new law was adopted by the Turkmen parliament on Monday at the start of its new session. The text of the law, which was signed by President Saparmurat Niyazov, states the legislation is aimed at fulfilling the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the law of Turkmenistan “On the guarantees of the rights of Children” and other laws. “This move by the parliament comes after last year’s pledge by the president to outlaw child labour and it also follows from our close cooperation and ongoing dialogue with the government on the rights of children,” said Shareef. UNICEF regards this decision as another constructive outcome of the joint collaboration between the Government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Children’s Fund, Shareef said, adding that UNICEF remains committed to working with the government to help it fulfil its national priorities and international obligations covering children’s rights.
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