On 14 April 2026, the delegation of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan is participating in the first day of the opening ceremony of the Youth Forum organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York, United States of America, as reported by the education.gov.tm.
The Forum is being held under the theme “Innovate, Unite and Transform: Youth Shaping the Road to 2030” and brings together young people, representatives of Member States, United Nations entities, and partner organizations with the aim of advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Turkmenistan is represented at this international forum by Gulnabat Gurdova, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, and Wepa Gutlyyev, Head of the Youth Policy Department.
The first day of the Forum is dedicated to the theme “Working with and for young people: shaping inclusive and sustainable solutions for the 2030 Agenda”. The programme began with the opening session in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, organized by UNDESA, MGCY, ICMYO, and the EYF Youth Partners Group. Held the opening segment featured the Opening Video for the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum, followed by welcoming remarks and messages from H.E. Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the Economic and Social Council, H.E. Ms. Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th Session of the General Assembly, H.E. Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Mr. Jaewon Choi, Executive Director of DMUN and Thematic Focal Point in the Financing for Development Children and Youth Constituency, MGCY.
A central part of the opening programme was the moderated conversation on “Youth-Led Innovations and Solutions to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, which brought together young leaders from different parts of the world. The discussion focused on the ideas, expertise, innovations, and practical solutions that young people are advancing in support of sustainable development. It also highlighted the importance of youth voices in addressing challenges, sharing best practices, and contributing actively to the development of integrated policies for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The dialogue continued under the moderation of Ms. Sinead Bovell, Founder of Weekly Advice for Young Entrepreneurs (WAYE). Speakers in this segment included Dr. Felipe Paullier, Head of the UN Youth Office and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Ms. Laura Valencia, Strategy and Partnership Coordinator at the Global Refugee Youth Network, Mr. Naveen Gautam, Senior Legal Researcher at the Global Forum for Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent – CDWD Youth Constituency, Ms. Laura Lock, Climate Justice Activist and Graduate Student at Columbia Climate School, and Ms. Nagma Shrestha, UN Representative of the International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (YSP-USA). The speakers shared views on youth leadership, inclusion, climate action, social justice, and the need to strengthen the participation of young people in global decision-making processes.
According to the official programme, today’s plenary discussions also include thematic sessions on SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. These sessions are devoted to such issues as universal access to water and sanitation, youth-driven innovations in sustainable water management, the role of young people in advancing affordable and clean energy, and the contribution of youth-led innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation to sustainable industrialization and resilient infrastructure.
The participation of the Turkmen delegation in the ECOSOC Youth Forum reflects Turkmenistan has continued commitment to strengthening international cooperation in the fields of youth policy, education, and sustainable development. The Forum serves as an important platform for exchanging views and experience on expanding the role of youth in public life and supporting their contribution to addressing contemporary global challenges in line with the principles and objectives of the 2030 Agenda.
