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29 May 2023
OHCHR holds second training for youth with disabilities within the School on Human Rights and Advocacy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
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25 May 2023
Central Asia reaches milestones in connecting small businesses to European markets, facilitating international trade
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25 May 2023
OHCHR continues building capacity of young leaders of Turkmenistan in the area of human rights
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Turkmenistan
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Turkmenistan:
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29 May 2023
OHCHR holds second training for youth with disabilities within the School on Human Rights and Advocacy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
“I am happy that I had the opportunity to know another world, my rights, increase self-esteem, and replenish my knowledge. Thanks to the School, I received a ticket to the future life, where there are no restrictions for me in the implementation of my ideas and talents. The training allowed me to find not just friends, but like-minded people with whom it is pleasant to share ideas, communicate and share positive emotions,” said Begmurad, a young leader of the Yenme NGO, a member of the School of Human Rights.
18 young people with different forms of disabilities were trained on the main provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, held practical sessions on the right to participation, involvement in local communities and advocacy for the rights of people with disabilities.
“Studying and understanding the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is essential for the effective promotion and fulfillment of human rights”, - Erkin Isakulov, National Program Coordinator, OHCHR ROCA.
The school is being implemented as part of the Global Awareness Campaign on 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which will be celebrated on December 10, 2023. The UDHR 75 initiative is coordinated by the UN Human Rights Office and its partners.
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25 May 2023
Central Asia reaches milestones in connecting small businesses to European markets, facilitating international trade
During three regional events, the International Trade Centre (ITC) demonstrated the results of its European Union-funded Ready4Trade Central Asia project, highlighting the continuous efforts for intraregional and international trade in five Central Asia countries. They focused on:
The efforts in transparent cross-border trade and removing regulatory and procedural barriers.
The development of a Cross-Border Management Curriculum to strengthen business’ compliance with cross-border formalities.
The results and success factors of the gender-responsive trade facilitation initiative and the way forward to ensure sustainable progress.
The first regional event allowed Central Asia policymakers and business representatives to discuss opportunities offered by the launch of the Info Trade Central Asia Gateway
The Central Asia Gateway aggregates the information from each national Trade Facilitation Portal in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan and gives operators easy access to product-specific information on cross-border trade formalities.
The platform leverages the power of all national portals across Central Asia to help connect the region to international markets. Developed with ITC’s and the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s technical support, trade facilitation portals were implemented in 30 countries around the world, contributing to achieving the goal of trade facilitation embedded in Article 1.2 of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.
In Kazakhstan, the Portal already reduced the time and cost of doing trade across borders. Since its launch on 4 July 2022, the platform (developed by QazTrade Center for Trade Policy Development JSC under the Ministry of Trade and Integration) has so far serviced more than 5,000 users with its audience rapidly expanding.
The second regional event allowed ITC partners to connect and reflect on the Cross-Border Management Curriculum in the region.
To promote regional and international trade, ITC designed and delivered free courses for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in each country. Over 4,500 SME representatives benefited from both online and in-person learning, covering procedural and regulatory cross-border requirements. These courses form a complete and up-to-date Cross-Border Trade Management Curriculum and are designed for future exporters and company executives to improve their skills. Courses range from international trade rules to export procedures, transit routes, quality and compliance standards, as well as specific requirements of the European Union market.
The third regional event allowed Women Business and Customs Broker Associations as well as government and other private sector representatives to take stock of the achievements of Gender Responsive Trade Facilitation initiative, to pave the way for the future.
To understand the constraints that women face when conducting cross-border trade and provide tangible solutions, ITC conducted a survey with more than 1,500 women across five countries in Central Asia. More than 600 border officials were trained on how to develop fair, ethical trade facilitation practices for creating a gender responsive border environment, while more than 350 women entrepreneurs improved their understanding of customs legislation and international regulatory frameworks, specifics of negotiations with customs brokers, as well as rules, rights and obligations while crossing the border.
Youri Sakskevitch, Programme Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan, said leading up to the events: “The launch of the Info Trade Central Asia Gateway is an important milestone for the whole Central Asian region. It is also in line with the EU’s plan to support smart investments in quality infrastructure. The second initiative – the Cross-Border Management Curriculum – is key to unlocking the potential of the Central Asian private sector and moving towards export diversification.”
“Transparency in cross-border trade and private-sector capacity are both crucial for international trade,” explained Pierre Bonthonneau, Senior Trade Facilitation Advisor at the International Trade Centre. “The Central Asia Gateway and Regional Export Management Curriculum of the Ready4Trade Central Asia project and its partners provide a handy response to the needs of the private sector, in particular of small businesses.”
Nurlan Kulbatyrov, Deputy Director at the JSC “Center for Trade Policy Development” QazTrade said: “The QazTrade Academy is a unique platform that allows aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs and exporters to better understand the rules of international trade and their practical application to develop their businesses and enter new markets. In turn, Kazakhstan's Trade Portal serves as an informational reference tool, where anyone can easily find step-by-step information on export, import and transit procedures for priority commodities for Kazakhstani business.”
Kholbibi Eshonboboyeva, a young start-up owner commented on the project’s gender component, saying: “I am more confident in my abilities to trade internationally. I learned relevant rules and regulations, know my rights and how to act in unexpected situations at the border. The practical advice I received at the training was especially useful.”
Ready4Trade Central Asia is a four-year EU-funded project implemented by the International Trade Centre in close collaboration with national partners, designed to contribute to the overall sustainable and inclusive economic development of Central Asia by boosting intra-regional and international trade in the countries of the region. Beneficiaries of the Ready4Trade Central Asia project include governments, small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular women-led enterprises, and business support organizations.
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26 May 2023
OHCHR continues building capacity of young leaders of Turkmenistan in the area of human rights
The UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (Regional Office for Central Asia – OHCHR/ROCA) has organized a workshop to enhance the capacity and knowledge of young people on human rights, including the right to participation, non-discrimination and the role of UN Human Rights Mechanisms (Treaty Bodies, Special Procedures, Universal Periodic Review).
The training involved young leaders, students of the Turkmen State University, the Institute of International Relations, the International University for Humanities and Development as well as young SDG Ambassadors and alumni from the Preventive Diplomacy Academy of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA). The training provided them with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge in international relations through group discussions simulating activities of different UN committees and their interaction with Member States.
"Knowledge of human rights helps young people to develop respect, and a sense of civic responsibility towards their peers, communities, and the planet. We leveraged all of these principles in our interactive exercises and simulations throughout the training” said Shukurgeldi Myradov, Coordinator of Young SDG Ambassadors in Turkmenistan. "I commend OHCHR/ROCA for organizing this crucial training for students and youth participating in Model UN, as it equips us with the knowledge necessary to advocate for human rights and make a positive impact on our communities and beyond".
“An important aspect of the training was to educate participants on the concepts of participation in decision-making processes at various levels: in the local community, at the university, in youth organizations. This new knowledge will contribute to the further development of the leadership potential of young people,” said Iulia Votslava from OHCHR/ROCA.
The workshop is organized as a preparation stage within the joint initiative “Turkmenistan-Ashgabat Model UN”, which will be held fall this year with support of OHCHR ROCA, UNODC, UNRCCA and USAID/Winrock project.
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05 May 2023
UN RC in Turkmenistan, UNECE Deputy Executive Secretary and SDG Ambassadors Discuss the Role of Transport in Sustainable Economies, Peace and Stability
On May 3, 2023, the 2nd International Conference and Exhibition "International transport and transit corridors: interconnection and development - 2023" hosted a panel discussion titled "Transport as an enabler of sustainable economies, peace and stability: A youth perspective." The panel, which centered around the role of transport in promoting sustainable economies, peace and stability, featured the perspectives of Turkmen youth, namely young SDG Ambassadors, on the subject following the conceptual introductions made by Mr. Dmitry Mariyasin, UNECE Deputy Executive Secretary, Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko, the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, Vepa Myalikgulyev, Country Manager of the USAID funded project.
The panelists emphasized the critical role that transport plays in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 9, which aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
During the discussion, Mr. Shlapachenko emphasized the need for greater investment in sustainable transport infrastructure to support economic growth and social development. He also highlighted the importance of engaging young people in the decision-making process to ensure that their voices are heard and their perspectives are taken into account.
Mr. Mariyasin stressed the need for international cooperation to improve transport connectivity and efficiency. He also highlighted the potential of emerging technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence to transform the transport sector and promote sustainable development.
The SDG Ambassadors shared their experiences and insights on how young people can contribute to sustainable transport, climate change and promote peace and stability. They emphasized the importance of education and awareness-raising to encourage young people to engage with transport-related issues and advocate for sustainable solutions.
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28 April 2023
Meet Merjen striving to unleash the power of women and girls in Tech
Merjen Saparmyradova graduated from the International Turkmen-Turkish University with a degree in software engineering and system administration. She believes that knowledge in technology and increased participation of women and girls in the development of digital solutions can play an important role in building a sustainable future. “Technology affects everyone's life in one way or another. Being a technical engineer means constantly acquiring new skills and expanding knowledge,” said Merjen. “My academic background in engineering and my rich IT experience empowers me to make an impact in my community through the implementation of innovative projects that help women and girls embrace technology”.
Right now, Merjen is developing the "Sepgit" website, which will be featuring inspiring stories of women and girls informing the world about the achievements they made and challenges they face in the path of their development. “I hope that this initiative will build self-confidence in women and girls, motivate them to actively participate in all spheres of life,” Merjen said. “Sepgit focuses on promoting gender equality and human rights, which are key to building sustainable and just future for all”.
Last year, Merjen initiated and successfully implemented the project "Launch Life" Coding Bootcamp, the first-ever free Bootcamp in Turkmenistan for women and girls established with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan. The main goal of this project is to help girls and women, especially from the most vulnerable groups, overcome socio-economic challenges by increasing their digital literacy and enhancing opportunities for their employment and career growth in technology. “Initiating the project, I strived to introduce women and girls to digital employment opportunities through training and development. My goal is to enable change through education to get more women into technology and strengthen and continue these important efforts in Turkmenistan,” noted Merjen.
Launch Life Coding Bootcamp attendees, learned how to develop websites and mobile applications from scratch during the six-month long programme. Merjen acted as a director of the Bootcamp and hold sessions on coding and programming classes to improve technical skills of women and girls, which in the long term should ensure their financial stability and independence. As a result, 40% of Bootcamp participants started their careers at local IT companies, while about 30% went on to study in IT and started their technical experience by working as freelance developers.
Last year, Launch Life Coding Bootcamp attendees became the participants of Turkmenistan’s first ever Women’s Hackathon themed “DigiWomen STRIVE”, which provided a platform for about 35 women and girls to work together to create tech-driven projects that generate innovative ideas and digital solutions. During a two-day digital marathon, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly with the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan, nine teams focused on web and application development addressing issues of gender equality and women’s empowerment through increasing employment and learning opportunities.
In line with the UNDP mandate on gender equality the “DigiWomen STRIVE” Hackathon aimed to empower women and girls with digital skills, provide a platform to create innovative ideas and showcase their newfound technical talents, as well as encourage more women developers to pursue careers in IT.
“This event was a great experience for me. It showed that my small steps can lead to success and the realization of my goals. It gave me the belief that I am doing something very important,” said Merjen with a proud smile on her face, demonstrating a sense of deep pleasure derived from the impactful results of her significant projects. “As we continue to support girls and women in STEM in our community, we must understand that they need support to make a difference. They need mentors, leaders, influencers, and role models to create a supportive environment where every woman and every girl will feel empowered to break stereotypes and find a place in a STEM career”.
In implementing solutions that work for both women and men, Merjen often uses the STEM4All platform, initiated by the UNDP/UNICEF on a global level to promote women and girls, share knowledge, raise awareness, and break gender stereotypes in STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The platform helps accelerate gender equality and the representation of women and girls in STEM in the countries of Europe and Central Asia removing underlying barriers that impede women and girls from pursuing professions that were traditionally considered the domain of men. “I find this resource very helpful. This is a great opportunity to learn from the experience of other countries and see how women and girls around the world challenge gender stereotypes and make a significant contribution to innovation and development,” said Merjen highlighting the vital importance of this joint initiative aimed at ensuring that all people harness the power of digital technology.
Current trends within the overall effort to achieve gender equality and women's empowerment in STEM include the desire of society to call for effective action to achieve impressive results. However, Merjen doesn't just call on everyone to help women and girls develop in areas that are usually dominated by men, but she acts decisively and persistently to achieve visible results. Merjen's work has an impact on girls' lives, significantly affecting their future and increases chances for unlocking their full potential for the benefit of the whole society. She is among women champions standing up at the forefront of efforts to ensure a rights-based and gender-responsive approach to innovation and technology and build a more equal digital age. The results of Merjen’s impressive work contribute to thwarting stereotypes that hinder women’s progress. Her story inspires others and gives a hope for a more innovative, inclusive, and just digital future for all, the future where digital gender divide will be bridged, and no one will be left behind.
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Press Release
22 May 2023
Medical specialists of the sanitary and epidemiological services and medical institutions of the MoHMIT complete a training on “Health-Care Waste Management”
The training was held in the framework of “COVID-19 Response in Turkmenistan” project funded by the World Bank and implemented by UNDP in Turkmenistan together with the MoHMIT to prevent, detect, and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness in Turkmenistan. The main aim of the training was to improve the capacity of the national medical specialists on the ways of managing health care wastes sustainably.
The participants of the training included the representatives of the MoHMIT, WHO CO in Turkmenistan, UNDP Turkmenistan, medical company "Seda Medical", Department of medical and preventive care of the MoHMIT, Department of Particularly Dangerous Infections of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service of the MoHMIT, Sanitary and Epidemiological Services of Ashgabat and Arkadag cities, as well as Ahal, Balkan, Dashoguz, Lebap and Mary velayats and medical institutions of Balkan velayat.
At the beginning of the training the participants took a pre-test on health care waste management to check their level of knowledge prior to the training. Then they had a learning session, which covered WHO Strategies for the Safe Management of Wastes from Health-Care activities, National Decrees and Regulatory Guidelines for the Safe Management of Wastes from Health-Care activities, World Bank Environmental and Social Framework implementation and Bertin Sterilwave Medical Waste Disposal Equipment instructions and specifications.
Following the training, the participants took part in Q&A session and took post-training test to assess their skills on the safe management of wastes from health-care activities after the training. Concluding the training, the participants were awarded with the certificates for successful completion of the training from the MoHMIT, WHO CO in Turkmenistan and UNDP Turkmenistan.
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Press Release
08 May 2023
UN and the Government of Turkmenistan held the seventh meeting of the Joint Expert Group
The purpose of the meeting was to review the progress achieved in the implementation of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) for SDGs financing in Turkmenistan, as well as to discuss the INFF roadmap itemization, considering the recommendations from the Development Finance Assessment report (DFA).
The meeting also reviewed a step-by-step guidance on the development of INFF financial strategies, possible SDG accelerators for which financial strategy development would trigger changes in other development areas with some experiences of other countries, and discussed elements of a strategy for Turkmenistan. In addition, the meeting provided an overview of the insurance market in Turkmenistan, which is an important component of the country’s financial landscape.
Finally, participants discussed the major elements of the Group's Biennial Work Plan for 2023-2024 and agreed to prepopulate it by the next meeting of the group.
Experts proposed to invite the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, as well as the State Development Bank to join the group, underlining the importance of involvement of a wider range of stakeholders in support of the SDG financing agenda in the country.
The United Nations and the Government of Turkmenistan remain committed to work together to achieve the SDGs and build a more sustainable future for all.
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Press Release
15 May 2023
Tripartite joint mission to support the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan in the operationalization of “One Health” approach in Turkmenistan
The Regional tripartite mission includes representatives of WHO Europe, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Organization for Animal Health in Central Asia.
The mission aimed at providing advisory and technical support to the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, as well as to stakeholders in strengthening national capacity for the implementation of One Health approach in Turkmenistan.
During the mission, the experts had meetings with the WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan and the representatives of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, where they discussed the process of implementation of One Health approach, as well as the main objectives and the outcomes of the mission including existing mechanisms for One Health cooperation and identify enabling and constraining factors for operationalizing the One Health concept in Turkmenistan, share experiences and good practices for the operationalization of the One Health approach in other countries.
They also had several meetings with the representatives of the Center of Public Health and Nutrition, Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, State Veterinary Service and Central veterinary laboratory and discussed the legislation, mechanisms, and procedures along with other relevant issues for the implementation of One Health approach in the country.
The experts also convened a meeting with the representatives of the UN Agencies, as well as seminar on the implementation of One Health approach at UN Building for the representatives of involved ministries and departments, including Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Center of Public Health and Nutrition, Turkmen State Medical University named after M. Karryev, Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Justice of Turkmenistan and UN Agencies and partners.
Based on the results of the mission visit, it is planned to develop recommendations on the identification and prioritization of activities and elements of the One Health operationalization, which will be used in the development of the National Health Security Action Plan and other relevant strategies, such as the key strategic results outlined in the Roadmap for health and well-being in Central Asia (2022 -2025).
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Press Release
08 May 2023
WHO Europe expert mission to support the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan in the harmonization of national food standards in accordance with the Codex Alimentarius standard
The mission aims to facilitate and provide technical support to implement the activities under the Codex Alimentarius Codex Trust Funds project, address food safety issues and provide advisory and technical assistance in the preparation of national food standards in accordance with international requirements.
During the meetings of Dr. Jeronimas Maskeliunas with the representatives and healthcare specialists of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan the main objectives and expected outcomes of the mission were discussed.
The expert held a technical work on the Codex Contact Point and discussions on the progress of the implementation of the Codex Trust Funds project with the National Interagency Working Group on Codex Alimentarius, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan, State Service “Turkmenstandartlary”, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, the Center of Public Health and Nutrition of Turkmenistan and State Veterinary Service. The participants of the meeting have also discussed the development and finalization of the national food standard draft in accordance with the Codex Alimentarius standard.
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Press Release
04 May 2023
WHO Europe to support the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan in preparation to accreditation of National influenza Center
The visit was organized in the framework of implementation of the Biennial Cooperation Agreement between the European Regional Bureau of the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan for 2022-2023, as well as by WHO initiative "Better Labs - Better Health” and Pandemic Influenza preparedness (PIP) project in Turkmenistan.
The visit is the 9th mission of WHO Europe to support the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan in providing continuous mentoring support to improve the quality of laboratory activities, as well as the practical implementation of a quality management system based on the ISO 15189 standard in the Virological Reference Laboratory of the Public Health and Nutrition Center, which is the National Influenza Center in the country recognized by WHO.
Based on the results of the mentoring support provided by WHO, the next step is to conduct accreditation of NIC in accordance with ISO 15189 standard, an international standard that defines the requirements for a quality management system specific to medical laboratories.
The events will be held at Virological Reference Laboratory of the Public Health and Nutrition Center of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan from May 1 to May 5, 2023.
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