The first technical consultation was held in Ashgabat with the participation of representatives of key government agencies and UNICEF, dedicated to Turkmenistan’s preparations for the Second Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence against Children.
The forum will be held November 18-19, 2026, in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, under the theme of large-scale violence prevention in the family, school, and digital environments.
The meeting was organized by members of the Interdepartmental Working Group, coordinated by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Turkmenistan, with the active support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The main goal of the event was to familiarize participants with the format of the Manila Conference, international experience, and mechanisms for national commitments (pledges), as well as to link the global agenda with the priorities of Turkmenistan’s National Program for Child Protection and Justice for Children, which is currently being developed.
Participants examined in detail four key areas of the national program: strengthening family institutions and family-based care, developing child-friendly justice, preventing violence and exploitation, and improving interagency coordination, data collection, and monitoring.
UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan Jalpa Ratna noted the high level of the government’s current work, while Ina Verzivolli, an expert at the UNICEF Centre of Excellence, presented best global practices. Expert discussions are planned to continue in September and October to thoroughly explore potential initiatives before their approval by the Government of Turkmenistan.
