Conference dedicated to International Children's Day

On June 1, 2024, a conference dedicated to International Children’s Day was held at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

The holiday began with a visit to the exhibition dedicated to International Children's Day, as well as watching performances by children participating in the celebration.

During the conference, speeches were made by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahri Bashimova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the European Union to Turkmenistan Beata Peksa, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko, Acting UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan Alexandru Nartea, Head of the OSCE Center in Turkmenistan John McGregor, Authorized Representative for human rights in Turkmenistan Yazdursun Gurbannazarova, doctor of the Scientific and Clinical Center for Maternal and Child Health Allanur Saryev.

According to the speakers, one of the priority areas of Turkmenistan’s state policy is the protection of the constitutional rights of children. State protection of childhood, raising children, caring for their health, development, education is a constitutional norm, according to which the fundamental rights and freedoms of children are ensured and protected in the country, all conditions are created for their comprehensive development and a decent, happy life.

The participants placed special emphasis on the role of creating the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Care. It is noted that the fund’s activities are multifaceted and cover a variety of aspects – from financing complex medical operations and purchasing high-tech equipment for hospitals to financial assistance to boarding schools and orphanages.

As it was emphasized, the result of a fruitful dialogue that meets the ideological principles of universal well-being and progress has resulted in successfully implemented and currently ongoing projects and programs together with UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, UNFPA, OHCHR, OSCE and others. These projects and programs are aimed at solving priority tasks of state development, including in the field of child protection, and are also closely related to the SDGs. Turkmenistan has acceded to a number of important UN documents designed to protect the rights of women, mothers and children. In this context, together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), programs and plans are being implemented to comprehensively develop the younger generation, improve family well-being, education and healthcare, and popularize the principles of a healthy lifestyle.

Then an Address was adopted to the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov on behalf of the conference participants, expressing gratitude for the state policy in the field of childhood, designed to ensure the full physical, intellectual, spiritual, moral development of the younger generation.