National Program for Child Protection being developed in Turkmenistan

On April 15, the first meeting of the Interagency Working Group was held in Ashgabat to prepare the National Program for Child Protection and the improvement of the justice system in their interests. This strategic initiative is being implemented with the support of UNICEF, and the work of the group is coordinated by the Prosecutor General's Office. Specialists from ten relevant state institutions participated in the meeting. This was reported by the International Information Center of Turkmenistan.

The new National Program will be the first comprehensive document of its kind in the history of Turkmenistan. Its primary task is to coordinate the capabilities of various state sectors to elevate child welfare and the protection of children's rights to a new level. The legal foundations of the project are based on the country's Constitution and the National Action Plan for the Realization of Children's Rights for 2023–2028.

To ensure the document's content fully complies with international obligations and best practices, recommendations from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child will be incorporated. Furthermore, the program will be harmoniously integrated with the UNICEF Country Program for Turkmenistan for 2026–2030 and other sustainable development goals.

UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan, Jalpa Ratna, noted the significance of this step and highly praised the country's commitment to the interests of the younger generation. According to her, this initiative will greatly assist in the formation of a modern protection system that ensures the rights of every child and is based on family values.