Key principles of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the context of conflict and post-conflict situations were the focus of an OSCE-organized lecture course held in Ashgabat from 12 to 14 October 2026.
The three-day course took place at the International University for Humanities and Development (IUHD) and brought together 50 law students and faculty members from the IUHD, the Institute of International Relations (IIR) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, and the Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
International experts from Austria shared their expertise in international human rights law, international humanitarian law, international criminal law, and international refugee and migration law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of these legal frameworks and their relation with national legislation.
"The knowledge you have gained during this training course will be useful for your future professional careers and will help you better understand the links between international legal norms, OSCE commitments and their practical application," said William Leaf, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.
The lecture course also addressed the protection of women, children and other vulnerable groups; the treatment of detainees and prisoners of war; and the investigation of alleged cases of torture in accordance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law. Students also learned about international accountability mechanisms and approaches to addressing the consequences of human rights violations.
