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.

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.

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.  

This year EIW is marked under the theme “Together for resilient immunization systems” within the “Central Asia COVID-19 Crisis Response – Phase 2, which is implemented in close cooperation with the European Union. The event is a pillar in what the World Health Organization is calling the year of ‘The Big Catch Up’ in which we must address a concerning decline in childhood vaccination rates across the world. As such, WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan, together with the EU Delegation, UN Agencies and the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan launches the European Immunization Week in the country. This year is special as WHO celebrates its 75th anniversary under the theme “Health for all”. Immunization is one of the most effective public health interventions. For the last years we have witnessed decline of global immunization coverage. Much of this decline can be attributed to impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but as we continue to fight the consequences of this devastating disease, it is important that we do not lose ground in our efforts to control and eliminate other vaccine-preventable diseases. Our public health systems must therefore remain vigilant to track and trace any cases of vaccine-preventable diseases, and we must remind the people that every vaccine and vaccine dose counts to save lives, protect ourselves, and protect those we love. Our aim is to reach the level of vaccination coverage to the level prior to pandemic period and this is absolutely possible. Since 2022 European region became a region free from polio thanks to immunization. “Turkmenistan has achieved significant progress in vaccine coverage - more than 95 % as recommended by WHO, which is a milestone towards increasing immunization rates. It is also important to note incorporation of HPV vaccines into the vaccination schedule in 2016 and both boys and girls have been offered the HPV vaccine to protect against cervical and other cancers. In 2019, there have been introduced pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines, which is another huge progress,” said Mr. Yegor Zaitsev, WHO Representative in Turkmenistan during the media briefing organized with the financial support of the EU. Working together with the Government of Turkmenistan, the UN agencies and EU we have seen great progress in Turkmenistan in improving and safeguarding public health, in large part due to the effectiveness of vaccines. Turkmenistan is one of five Central Asian countries to benefit from a 4-year project, jointly funded by the European Union and WHO, to strengthen immunization and the digitalization of health systems towards advancing universal health coverage. The project funds are used to develop and implement COVID-19 and routine immunization plans, train health care workers and professionals involved in vaccination and strengthen immunization information systems.  Given all of these achievements, we are confident that through continued partnership we will overcome the obstacles brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the progress we have made in each country and the region in protecting children and adults from life-threatening diseases will continue so that no one will be left behind.