The Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) and the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD), in collaboration with UNFPA Turkmenistan, conducted a programme to support the development of national legislation on the prevention and response to gender-based violence. Turkmenistan is the only country in the region without domestic violence legislation, though the parliament developed a model law between 2019 and 2021, with support from UNFPA. This programme, with the help of an expert, aimed to propose improvements to the model law, aligning it with international standards as much as possible, and to facilitate the Turkmenistan parliament’s understanding of the need to adopt domestic violence legislation through consultation meetings.

The consultation meetings, held on 18-20 February in the capital city of Ashgabat, offered an opportunity to review the current state of domestic violence in the country, supported by relevant statistical data. Presentations focused on the role of legislation in preventing domestic violence, highlighting gaps in services for survivors, as well as Turkmenistan's international human rights obligations related to domestic violence legislation and international best practices in this area. Approximately 30 participants, including parliamentarians and relevant organizations, took part in the event, engaging in active discussions and making proposals for amendments to the model law. They also recommended the formation of a working group to work on the legislation, with representatives from parliament, law enforcement, health services, NGOs, women's groups, and the education sector, to address this critical issue.

This programme was supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Japan Trust Fund (JTF), in cooperation with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).