IOM, Eurasia Foundation and USAID organize Youth Forum to mark World Day against Trafficking in Persons

Turkmenistan has joined the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols including the one on countertrafficking in 2005. Since that moment Turkmenistan has created a national working group on countertrafficking and approved two National Action Plans to combat trafficking in persons.

Today’s forum gathered more than 60 representatives of active youth, representatives of Turkmenistan’s Government, public organizations and UN agencies to discuss the issues of countertrafficking, youth activism, participation, volunteerism, entrepreneurship, healthy lifestyle and environmental sustainability – all those components that comprise the successful, positively charged, and engaged youth.

The Government of Turkmenistan was represented by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Policy, State Migration Service of Turkmenistan, Ministry of Labor and Protection of the Population. UN Agencies that took part in the Forum included United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy (UNRCCA), United Nations Office for Counterterrorism (UNOCT). Public organizations that took part in the forum included the Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan, La Strada (Moldova), Yenme (Turkmenistan) and others.

“Recently Turkmenistan approved its Youth Policy for 2021-2025 that features a number of strategic goals and activities aimed at providing all necessary conditions for healthy, active, and successful youth, its positive involvement in social and economic life of Turkmenistan” – pointed out in his opening remarks Mr. Batyr Abdyev, the Head of International Relations Department of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Policy.

“Youth remains one of the most active and highly mobile segments of the population, which may increase their vulnerability. That is the primary reason we decided to mark International Day against Trafficking in Persons by organizing the Youth Forum to increase the awareness of the youth of the risks of irregular migration and trafficking” – said Mr. Azat Atajanov, IOM Head of Office in Turkmenistan. He added that “We highly appreciate our partnership with the Government of Turkmenistan in the area of countertrafficking. Only in partnership with the Government, public organizations, key international partners and with support of youth we can count on success in combating modern trafficking in persons.”