Rabab Fatima: Turkmenistan’s Support Enabled Civil Society Participation in LLDC3
The participation of civil society organizations in the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) marked a historic event, according to Rabab Fatima, UN Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, and Secretary-General of LLDC3, in an interview with ORIENT.
Fatima expressed gratitude to the Government of Turkmenistan for facilitating civil society’s involvement in the event.
“This is a historic event. Civil society participants from around the world have gathered here to be part of this important process,” she said.
According to Fatima, civil society representatives not only took part in the conference but also made significant contributions to the preparation of the Awaza Programme of Action. She emphasized their key role in advancing and implementing the program at the local level — within communities and among the people.
“Their participation in the forum and the call to action that will be adopted will make an important contribution to the implementation of the Awaza Programme of Action,” Fatima added.
She noted that civil society organizations are well-structured both at the community level and within their countries, and stressed the necessity of “localizing” global decisions.
“Decisions are made at the global level but implemented locally. This is precisely where civil society plays a crucial role,” she said.
Fatima also stated that the UN will continue cooperating with advisory and extended groups of civil society representatives from LLDC countries. She highlighted their important role in monitoring, advocacy, and partnership with national governments to ensure effective implementation of the Awaza Programme of Action.
ORIENT
