Strategic directions of the National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2021-2025 presented

The event gathered the members of the Interdepartmental Commission for Ensuring the Implementation of Turkmenistan's International Human Rights Obligations and International Humanitarian Law, government partners on central and velayat levels, representatives of the UN agencies and international development organizations, diplomatic missions, public organizations, academia, national mass media and young people.

“The Government of Turkmenistan adopted the National Action Plan for Gender Equality (NAPGE) for 2021-2025,” said Mr. Nuryev, Director of the Institute of State, Law and Democracy. “The second NAPGE is a comprehensive policy document, which identifies national goals, objectives, and priorities to continue advancement in the realization of gender equality in all spheres of people’s lives at national and local levels.”

The National Action Plan was developed with the support of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. It builds on the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, other international human rights obligations relating to gender equality, the assessment results of the first NAPGE for 2016-2020, and relevant SDG goals and targets linked to gender equality committed to by the Government.

“This year we are marking a year since the COVID-19 global pandemic, which unfortunately reversed many of the gains made in gender equality,” said. Ms. Christine Weigand, United Nations Resident Coordinator a.i. in Turkmenistan. “The National Action Plan on Gender Equality comes at an important time, and will help accelerate the progress in expanding the rights and opportunities of every woman and girl in the country, despite the challenges of the global crisis.” 

“Gender equality is well mainstreamed into the Cooperation Framework and all outcomes will drive the transformative change for improving the lives of women and girls in all spheres of lives, with strong focus on women and girls with disabilities, single parents, migrants, adolescents and other vulnerable groups,” Ms. Weigand added.

The seven strategic areas of new NAPGE include further enhancement of the legislation, ensuring gender-responsive healthcare, fostering equal access to education, prevention and response to gender-based violence, economic empowerment of women and girls; advancing women’s participation on all levels, including the political and social dimensions. The new Plan takes into account the socio-economic impact of the global pandemic on women and girls and outlines the measures to ensure that no one is left behind, including young girls and women with disabilities. 

The NAPGE for 2021-2025 will be implemented by state and local authorities with involvement of research institutions, civil society organizations, UN Agencies, other international organizations, as well as women and young people.

“UNFPA congratulates the Government of Turkmenistan on prioritizing gender equality in the national development agenda. Investments in gender equality will support the economic growth and sustainable development of Turkmenistan,” said Ms. Ayna Seyitlieva, UNFPA Head of the Office in Turkmenistan.  “UNFPA, together with other UN agencies and partners, stands ready to support the Government in the implementation of the NAPGE by ensuring reproductive rights, preventing and responding to gender-based violence, improving the legal framework in accordance with international standards, collecting and analyzing data from a gender perspective, and supporting programs aimed at improving the health of women and girls and expanding their choices in life.”

“Achieving gender equality is the prerequisite for realizing the Agenda 2030,” declared six Youth Ambassadors for Sustainable Development Goals at the meeting.  “We, the young people, invite you all to partner – the governments, international organizations, private sector and civil society, research institutions and mass media – only together we can accelerate the progress for the Agenda 2030.”

The UN Country Team in Turkmenistan will continue mobilizing broad partnerships for the key strategic areas of the National Action Plan on Gender Equality, as well as facilitating the exchange of knowledge and expertise both at the regional and global level.