Gender equality in Turkmenistan in focus at OSCE–UNFPA roundtable discussion series
Promoting gender equality in Turkmenistan took the focus of a six-part roundtable discussion series organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan from 7 to 16 July 2021.
Representatives of the Mejlis, relevant ministries and law-enforcement bodies, research and educational institutions, the Bar association as well as representatives from the women’s and youth unions attended the hybrid online and in-person events. The events were held in all five provinces of the country and the capital city Ashgabat.
The purpose of the discussions was to enhance participants’ knowledge of national and international gender-related commitments and to support the implementation of Turkmenistan’s new National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2021-2025.
National experts, representing relevant national institutions, led discussions on implementation of the National Action Plan and promotion of equal rights and opportunities for women to participate in and advance through all levels of society.
“As an active participant in international relations, Turkmenistan has consistently improved its legal framework with due regard to the United Nations and OSCE instruments in the area of human rights and gender equality,” said Rune Castberg, Programme Coordinator of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “In accordance with its mandate, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat works closely with the Government of Turkmenistan across the human dimension security, which covers a wide range of issues, including combating trafficking in human beings, human rights protection, gender equality, rule of law and also provides expert assistance in the implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender Equality.”
The events were organized within the framework of the OSCE project, “Supporting the implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender Equality 2021-2025”.