In Turkmenistan, the final document of the International Conference “Year of Peace and Trust: Development of International Activities for the Sake of Children” was published. It was held in the city of Arkadag on March 29 in honor of the 4th anniversary of the establishment of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship.
In particular, the document states the following:
“We, the participants of the international conference, gathered in the city of Arkadag in the International Year of Peace and Trust, proclaimed in accordance with the UN General Assembly resolution of March 21, 2024,
Reaffirming their commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
Noting the need to implement the global strategies and programmes of the United Nations, in particular the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
Considering that children need special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection,
Emphasizing the importance of consolidating international efforts in the name of peace and well-being of children, creating the necessary conditions for providing them with social, medical, educational services, ensuring their interests in various spheres of life,
Based on the need to facilitate the implementation of children's rights and the consistent application of the principle of their best interests:
1. Recognized the need to further develop international activities to ensure the full protection of the health, well-being and expansion of opportunities for children, in accordance with the obligations arising from the universal international instruments in the field of the rights of the child;
2. Noted the importance of meeting the needs of children, with due consideration of their creative abilities, social and family support, access to education, health care, and high-quality reproductive health services;
3. Emphasized the importance of encouraging children to continue their education so that they are prepared for a better quality of life, in order to develop their human potential;
4. Noted the relevance of increasing the effectiveness of interaction between government agencies, as well as the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Care, with international humanitarian organizations such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization, UNESCO and a number of other organizations in the field of supporting motherhood and childhood, creating conditions for the comprehensive development of children, realizing their potential in education, creativity and sports, providing comprehensive assistance to children;
5. Particularly noted the importance of expanding international cooperation by taking effective steps to create socio-economic conditions aimed at meeting the needs of children through the use of inclusive education opportunities;
6. Emphasized that one of the main factors in reducing the impact of the negative consequences of climate change on life on the planet is the close interaction of the international community in the context of meeting the needs of the most socially vulnerable groups of the population, among which children occupy a special place;
7. Recognized that global warming, depletion of water resources, desertification, soil erosion and a number of other environmental disasters are problems for present and future generations. In this regard, emphasized that special attention should be paid to issues related to the protection of children's health, their environmental education, and providing them with the necessary material and moral support;
8. Were pleased to note that this conference provided an opportunity to raise awareness of initiatives aimed at child development, the strategies, concepts and innovative approaches used in child development, and also made it possible to strengthen international cooperation in the field of ensuring the interests of children in modern society;
9. Expressed deep appreciation and gratitude to the people, the Government of Turkmenistan and the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Care for organizing and holding the International Conference at a high level, as well as for the warm hospitality extended to the participants in the city of Arkadag."
