Students from Turkmenistan – young SDG ambassadors – took part in the Regional Case Championship “Youth of Central Asia Against Digital Violence,” held in the city of Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan, from December 2 to 3.
The regional case championship brought together 30 students from universities in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan to develop leadership, analytical, and communication skills while solving real-world cases related to gender and digital violence.
Representing Turkmenistan at the event were young SDG ambassadors – senior students from higher education and vocational institutions in the country. Among them were: Aysoltan Esenova (Turkmenistan’s Oguzhan Engineering and Technology University), Servi Nuriyeva, Yazgul Yazmammedova, Akmukhammet Annaberdiyev (International University of Humanities and Development), and Guvanch Janmammedov (Balkanabat Oil Vocational School).
Candidates for participation were selected from among the SDG ambassadors and participants of UNDP educational initiatives based on their outstanding academic abilities, proven contributions to the development of their communities, and commitment to sustainable development principles.
Over the course of the two-day training program, students participated in group sessions and lectures, as well as parallel sessions on analytical and critical thinking, storytelling and visual communication workshops, cybersecurity training, and practical applications of artificial intelligence.
Participants prepared thematic presentations under the guidance of experts from UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, and WHO.
At the event, mixed teams from Central Asian countries worked on a real-world case related to gender-based violence. The Turkmen team developed an AI-based chatbot capable of providing online support to victims of digital discrimination by offering ready-made instructions and connecting them with psychologists, lawyers, and law enforcement agencies. In addition, the national team prepared a draft code of conduct for schools and universities aimed at enhancing prevention and digital safety.
The case championship not only served as a platform for regional cooperation but also as an effective venue for developing practical solutions aimed at creating a safer and more inclusive digital environment.
The event was organized within the framework of the UNDP regional project "Strengthening the Resilience of Local Communities to Prevent Violent Extremism in Central Asia," with support from the Government of Japan.
The initiative for the case championship was presented as part of the global campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” and aims to promote youth involvement in the fight against gender-based and digital violence, strengthen regional solidarity and cooperation among young leaders, and launch the Central Asia Case Club for SDGs as a sustainable platform for knowledge exchange and youth participation.
