In April 2025, a delegation of youth from Turkmenistan, led by Deputy Minister of Education Azat Atayev, visited New York City to participate in the Youth Forum of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Speakers at the forum emphasized that the need to create a more sustainable, inclusive and equitable future with a greater degree of youth engagement is now more important than ever.
During the visit, A.Atayev held a number of bilateral meetings, in particular with the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Felipe Paulier, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director Dien Keita, and the Director of the Bureau and UNESCO Representative to the UN Eliot Minchenberg. During the conversations, the parties discussed prospects for cooperation and Turkmenistan’s contribution to the development of youth diplomacy. Readiness to build up partnership through joint educational and innovative programs was expressed.
The delegation of Turkmenistan took an active part in the plenary sessions of the forum dedicated to combating climate change, eradicating poverty and ensuring access to education, as well as in parallel sessions organized by the State of Qatar, the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan.
The Turkmen delegation informed the Forum that the country’s youth actively participate in international initiatives, including UN, UNICEF and UNESCO programs. Young SDG Ambassadors represent Turkmenistan at global forums, such as the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, demonstrating the country’s contribution to achieving the global agenda.
Particular attention in the speech was paid to the use of the demographic dividend – a significant share of youth in the population of Turkmenistan. The delegation emphasized that under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the country is implementing functional mechanisms that direct the energy and knowledge of young people to achieve strategic goals.
On the sidelines of the youth forum, Turkmenistan organized an event dedicated to the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015) “Youth, Peace and Security”, during which an exchange of views took place on the role of youth in the region, the prospects for the participation of young people in building a peaceful and inclusive society, as well as strengthening the Dialogue of Youth of Central Asian Countries as a mechanism for long-term interaction.
The event participants were shown a video material that tells about the Dialogue of Youth of Central Asian Countries initiated by Turkmenistan in October 2023 in the city of Arkadag.
