UNESCO participates in Scientific-Practical Conference on “Establishing a Constitutional State: National Experience and Global Development”, in Turkmenistan

The Government of Turkmenistan organized a two-day conference on “Establishing a Constitutional State: National Experience and Global Development”, in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The conference brought together members of parliament from countries of Central Asia and the Caspian region to exchange ideas and experiences, AVA Diplomatic reports.

The Conference followed the adoption of Turkmenistan’s new constitution in September 2016.

During the first session of the conference, Ms. Esther Kuisch Laroche, Director of the UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office and UNESCO Representative to Turkmenistan, delivered a speech about the importance of building a constitutional state in line with the spirit and realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Ms. Kuisch Laroche emphasized education as a fundamental building block in that process. “Education should encompass values as peace, non-discrimination, equality, justice, non-violence, tolerance and respect for human dignity. Inclusive quality education is central to UNESCO’s approach to building citizenship and democracy”, said the UNESCO Representative.

She also talked about the notion of global citizenship and UNESCO’s efforts to support the creation of inclusive knowledge societies. “Knowledge societies must build on four pillars: freedom of opinion and expression; universal access to information and knowledge; respect for cultural and linguistic diversity; and quality education for all”, said Ms. Kuisch Laroche.

Following her intervention, Ms. Nurberdiyeva, Chairperson of the Parliament of Turkmenistan expressed the willingness of the Parliament of Turkmenistan to cooperate more closely with UNESCO in all of the Organisation’s domains.

She mentioned that the new Constitution of Turkmenistan includes the principles of the UN Conventions that the country has ratified, as well as clear references to the protection of human rights.

Representatives from Uzbekistan, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran talked about their experiences and congratulated the Government of Turkmenistan on the adoption of its new constitution.

At the end of the day, a 4th year student of the Faculty of International Relations of the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan concluded the conference by reading out a message on behalf of the participants to the President of Turkmenistan, H.E. Mr. Berdimuhamedov.

A one-day programme will follow the conference on 5 October when the foreign participants will visit the Mejlis of Turkmenistan and meet with the Institute of State and Law under the President of Turkmenistan. The delegates will also meet with the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan.