The Joint Statement of Turkmenistan and Brazil "On Encouraging the Valuable Contribution of the Olympic Teams of Refugees to the Promotion of Peace and Human Rights" adopted on September 15, 2017, at the 36th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR) in Geneva, Switzerland, on the initiative of the Government of Turkmenistan was supported by many foreign governmental and international experts in the field of human rights.
For example, on its online information portals, the US diplomatic mission in Geneva highly appreciated the efforts of Turkmenistan and Brazil for assembling the UNHCR member countries in the adoption of the Joint Statement, which highlights the valuable contribution of the Olympic sports teams to the promotion of peace and human rights. Also, the American side expressed gratitude to the Turkmen and Brazilian side for highlighting the importance of refugees in sports activities in order to expand their rights and opportunities, as well as their credibility. In addition, it is indicated that the United States, among the 27 other countries that supported this document, acted as co-author on the above-mentioned Joint Statement.
Simultaneously, Claude Marshall, coordinator of the UN High Commission for refugees (UNHCR), described the initiative of Turkmenistan and Brazil as "very impressive" and urged other countries of the world to follow the example of these countries.
