Involving youth in the evaluation of adopted national programs and plans is a good practice at the regional and global levels. Turkmenistan, as a country with a high proportion of young people in the population structure, seeks to increase their role in government decision-making, involving young people in the discussion and adoption of important national documents. Thus, Turkmenistan, together with UNICEF, invited informed youth to contribute to the promotion of children's rights in Turkmenistan by participating in the assessment of the National Action Plan for the Realization of Children's Rights in Turkmenistan for 2018-2022.
A press release released by the UNICEF Country Office says that during December, the Young SDG Ambassadors of Turkmenistan conducted online and mobile focus groups with children and families from all regions of the country to contribute to the assessment of the National Action Plan for the Realization of Children's Rights in Turkmenistan. for 2018-2022. They received the necessary knowledge and skills at the training on conducting focus group discussions with parents and children in order to evaluate national programs and support the UNICEF International Consultant Desislava Ilieva.
“It was such an unforgettable journey for us. In addition to being able to network with different people from different parts of Turkmenistan, we also acquired the necessary skill set in conducting research and assessment reports. I am glad to be a part of this important initiative and to contribute to the protection of children's rights, ”says Guncha Annageldieva, a student at the International University of Humanities and Development and a young LRC ambassador.
On December 21, UNICEF Turkmenistan Office and the Institute for State, Law and Democracy invited young SDG Ambassadors to the certification ceremony to highlight the value of the efforts and contributions they made to the assessment of the National Action Plan for the Realization of Children's Rights in Turkmenistan for 2018-2022. The talented young workers of change - the SDG Ambassadors were grateful for their cooperation, active support and constructive assessment of the work of the UN Children's Fund in Turkmenistan. According to Mohammad Fayyazi, UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan, youth involvement in the preparation of the National Action Plan will take the country to a new level in promoting children's rights, and UNICEF will continue to work with youth and the Government of Turkmenistan to create a platform where the voices of children and youth will be heard and reflected. in the accepted programs.
