Delegation of Turkmenistan participated in the High-Level Meeting in Astana

On February 6, 2025, the delegation of Turkmenistan headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Myahri Byashimova participated in the High-Level Meeting “Five Years to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Central Asian Perspectives on the 30th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action held in Astana.

The event was attended by heads and representatives of relevant ministries and agencies of CA countries, including those specializing in gender equality issues.

The purpose of the high-level meeting was to create a platform for high-level representatives of Central Asian countries and other key stakeholders to accelerate progress on the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In her speech, Ms. Byashimova emphasized that since the first years of independence, Turkmenistan is pursuing an active gender policy aimed at strengthening the principles of equal participation of women in all spheres of social and political life. Gender development issues are reflected in all national socio-economic development programmes, and the further integration of women in the socio-economic and cultural development of Turkmenistan is an important focus of these programmes.

The adoption by Parliament of the Law on “State Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men”, which implements the provisions of the relevant international conventions ratified by Turkmenistan, was noted as a major achievement.

The high-level meeting provided an opportunity for participants to discuss key issues such as the Beijing +30 Regional Review, progress on SDG 5 in Central Asia, and financing for gender equality.

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On the margins of the High-Level Meeting, M. Byashimova met with Belén Sanz Luque, Regional Director for UN Women Europe and Central Asia. The interlocutors exchanged views on the development of cooperation in the field of improving gender policy, empowerment of women in general.

It was also noted that emphasizing the role of women in promoting and achieving sustainable development, Turkmenistan plans to hold a number of major events of regional and international importance, including the Forum of Women of Central Asia and the EU, as well as the Dialogue of Women of Central Asia and the Russian Federation.

M. Byashimova invited Belén Sanz Luque to participate in the events to be held within the framework of the International Year of Peace and Trust.