On July 29, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized a seminar on “Youth participation in negotiations on climate, security and cooperation: OSCE best practices”, as reported by the turkmenistan.gov.tm.
The event brought together more than 30 students from leading universities in Turkmenistan, including the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering, the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas, the Myrat Garryev State Medical University of Turkmenistan and the Oguz Khan Engineering and Technology University.
The goal of the seminar is to develop practical skills in diplomatic communication and negotiation among young people who will take part in the UNICEF Youth Climate Summer School 2025.
The young leaders explored the OSCE’s environmental initiatives in the context of the organization’s comprehensive approach to security, and delved deeper into the integration of gender aspects into the OSCE’s strategic agenda aimed at promoting equality and inclusion.
The session was moderated by the finalists of the OSCE Young Women for Peace programme from Central Asia. Together with the participants, they discussed the importance of the role of youth in negotiations on climate, water and security issues, emphasizing the importance of the Central Asian region’s voice in global cooperation.
The students analyzed the interrelationships between climate, water and security in global negotiations, and explored opportunities for active participation in climate and security diplomacy. A session on developing negotiation skills provided them with practical tools, valuable recommendations and examples of successful practices.
At the end of the meeting, the participants jointly developed a draft youth statement. This document covers key priorities such as climate security, gender equality and regional cooperation. It is expected that this document will be included in the National Youth Statement for COP30, which will enable young people to contribute to the global climate and security agenda.
