In Turkmenistan, with technical support from UNICEF, work has begun on developing a National Programme on Child Protection and Justice for Children. This was reported by Turkmenportal.

The first meeting of the Inter-ministerial Working Group took place on 15 April in Ashgabat. The group was established by the Government of Turkmenistan. Coordination is being led by the General Prosecutor’s Office. The group comprises representatives from 10 government departments.

This is the first time such an initiative has been launched. The aim is to unite the efforts of different sectors and establish a unified approach to the protection of children’s rights and the justice system. The programme is based on the Constitution of Turkmenistan, national legislation on children’s rights and the National Action Plan for 2023–2028.

It also takes into account the recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2024) and the Universal Periodic Review (2023). The document is aligned with the UN Framework Programme for 2026–2030 and UNICEF’s country programme for Turkmenistan for the same period.

UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan Jalpa Ratna noted that the programme reflects the country’s commitment to children’s rights and will help build a more coordinated system for the protection of children and families.