CRC UNITED NATIONS Convention on the Rights of the Child Distr. GENERAL CRC/C/TKM/CO/1 2 June 2006 Original: ENGLISH COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD Forty-second session CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 44 OF THE CONVENTION Concluding observations: Turkmenistan 1. The Committee considered the initial report of Turkmenistan (CRC/C/TKM/1) at its 1235th and 1237th meetings (see CRC/C/SR.1235 and 1237), held on 24 May 2006, and adopted at the 1157th meeting, held on 2 June 2006, the following concluding observations. A. Introduction 2. The Committee, while noting the delay of almost 10 years in its submission, welcomes the State party’s initial report. The Committee would have appreciated the participation of a broader delegation and regrets that no written replies were received to its list of issues. B. Positive aspects 3. The Committee welcomes: (a) The new country programme 2005-2009, in cooperation with UNICEF, focusing in particular on the well-being of children in the health and social sectors; (b) The adoption of the National Programme on HIV/STI Prevention in Turkmenistan (2005-2010), in April 2005; (c) The “Young People’s Right to Work (Guarantees) Act” of 1 February 2005 which inter alia forbids the work of school-age children in cotton fields. GE.06-42491 (E) 140606