Women’s Diplomacy and the UN Agenda Take Center Stage at International Forum in Avaza
On October 7, the International Dialogue "The Role of Women in Maintaining Peace and Achieving Sustainable Development" was held in the Avaza National Tourist Zone. This major event brought together leaders and representatives from the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, parliamentarians from CIS countries, Turkey, and Iran, as well as heads of specialized UN agencies. The discussion focused on strengthening the role of women in peacebuilding processes, public administration, and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Opening the forum, Dunyagozel Gulmanova, Chairperson of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan, emphasized that ensuring gender equality and providing comprehensive support for the legal status of women are priority areas of the country's state policy. Turkmenistan is successfully implementing the "National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2026–2030," and national legislation is being systematically harmonized with key international legal instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Forum participants paid special attention to the practical implementation of UN Security Council resolutions regarding the "Women, Peace and Security" agenda. International guests noted in their remarks that the active involvement of women in preventive diplomacy, conflict prevention, and strategic decision-making directly impacts long-term stability and socio-economic progress in the macro-region.
During the plenary session and thematic sessions, delegates exchanged experiences regarding systemic transformations. UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Xiaojun Grace Wang highlighted the exemplary nature of the Turkmen model for supporting women's initiatives and noted the synergy between global objectives and the initiative to declare 2028 the Year of International Law. Representatives from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Belarus, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan presented national strategies aimed at fostering women's entrepreneurship, developing digital projects, and ensuring maternal and child health.
Following the thematic sessions dedicated to the environment, innovation, and international law, a final document was adopted. This document affirmed the participants' commitment to strengthening multilateral partnerships, developing regional platforms for women's dialogue, and promoting the expansion of women's economic and social opportunities within the framework of the 2030 Global Agenda.
