On the eve of the International Youth Day, which is celebrated on August 12, the online seminar "Peace, Trust, Youth - Towards the Full Realization of the Potential of Adolescents and Youth" was completed in Turkmenistan. The event, which was attended by over 150 young people from all regions of the country, was the Ministry of Sports and Youth Policy of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The online workshop was aimed at mutual exchange of experience and knowledge on the issues of peace, trust and security, as well as discussion of the needs, challenges in the life of the younger generation and recommendations for their solution. It provided a platform for dialogue between young people and representatives of ministries, departments and public organizations of the country.
The current generation of young people aged 10 to 24 is the largest in history. It makes up almost 60% of the population in the Asian region, including Central Asia. In this regard, there is a growing awareness around the world that young people are an important resource worth investing in.
By investing in the health and education of the younger generation, creating conditions and opportunities for them to realize their potential, countries contribute to social progress and economic development. Therefore, at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, Secretary General Antonio Guterres presented a new Global Strategy called Youth 2030, which aims to empower young people around the world. It encourages countries to step up joint action to meet the education, health, employment, gender equality, educational, health, employment, and gender equality needs of today's youth and youth's own right to participate in these goals.
Making up almost half of the country's population, young people in Turkmenistan are an important resource and investment for the future. In 2013, UNFPA, together with the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, took part in the development of the Law "On the State Youth Policy of Turkmenistan". And in January of this year, the Leader of the Nation approved the second State Program of Youth Policy of Turkmenistan for 2021-2025.
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International Youth Day is celebrated annually on August 12, since the UN General Assembly endorsed the recommendations of the World Conference of Ministers for Youth (Lisbon, August 8-12, 1998) in its resolution of December 17, 1999.
Aydzhakhan Ataballyeva
