OSCE Centre supports exchange of best legislative practices for lawmakers in Turkmenistan
ASHGABAT, 18 April 2014 – An OSCE-supported course for parliamentarians and lawyers on the contemporary techniques of drafting legislation concluded in Ashgabat today.
The four-day training course, organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, brought together 28 members of the Mejlis (parliament) of Turkmenistan and lawyers of the National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights under the President of Turkmenistan.
“The OSCE welcomes the legal reforms implemented in the country, and this course marks a successful continuation of co-operation between the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat and government in the area of advancing legislative practices,” said Ambassador Ivo Petrov, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “As the new convocation of the Mejlis has recently commenced its work, we hope that this course is a timely initiative to support the newly-elected MPs in building their skills on drafting legislation.”
The course addressed the importance of linking the policy cycle with law-making procedures in the national parliament. Topics such as policy impact analysis, data collection and stakeholder consultation as well as order, language and special provisions in legislation, were covered.
Blerim Vela, an international expert from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, who conducted the course, said: “Government departments in charge of drafting laws and the parliament can contribute to enhancing the quality of legislation by working together at the early stages of the law-drafting process, which later can lead to a better compliance of laws with international standards as well as their practical implementation.”
Participants had the opportunity to work in groups, which enabled them to review and discuss the templates of concept and assessment documents as well as to practice designing a consultation process and drafting a consultation plan. The international expert also presented best practices in the law-making process from selected OSCE participating States.