UNFPA Country Director Mr. Ronny Lindstrom concluded his official visit to Turkmenistan. The purpose of the visit was to take part in the UN Senior Experts’ Mission to Turkmenistan on Census, as well as discuss priorities of partnership with the Government in the areas of women and adolescent reproductive health and rights, gender equality and population dynamics. This is the first visit of Mr. Lindstrom, newly appointed UNFPA Country Director to Turkmenistan.
During his weeklong visit, Ronny Lindstrom had series of high-level bilateral meetings with government partners.
UNFPA Country Director met with Mr. Muhammetgeldi Serdarov, Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan. He commended the Minister for the efforts in the establishment of the Joint Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goals Financing in Turkmenistan. UNFPA reiterated its support to provide advisory support to the Group in fulfilling its commitments under Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing the SDGs at the national level, specifically in leveraging reproductive health and family planning financing mechanisms so that all women can have equitable access to universal reproductive health services, especially those vulnerable.
At the meeting with Mr. Nurmuhammet Amannepesov, Minister of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, UNFPA Country Director commended the Ministry on the rollout of the National Strategy “Healthy Mother - Healthy Child - Healthy Future.” UNFPA works with the Ministry on costing the basic package of maternal health services and ensuring sustainable financing for the reproductive health and family planning commodities in Turkmenistan’s healthcare budget. The sides discussed that the advancements towards more sustainable and universal access of women to reproductive health services would indeed make further progress in maternal health in the country.
UNFPA Country Director also mentioned the Health Ministry’s role in the implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2021-2025, in particular in ensuring the reproductive rights of women and further strengthening the capacity to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls through comprehensive policies and primary healthcare services.
During the meeting with Mr. Yagmyr Nuryev, Director of the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan, Ronny Lindstrom commended the Institute for completing the Survey on the Health and Status of a Woman in the Family in Turkmenistan, an important work that would support the implementation of the National Action Plan on Gender Equality and guide the national programme on the subject. He also reiterated UNFPA’s support in the preparation of the sixth Periodic National Report to Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women Committee, which is due in July this year. UNFPA Country Director recognized the work of the Institute in the further progress with the comprehensive law to prevent gender-based violence and strengthen positive family relations, and assured that UNFPA stands ready to support the country in this advancement. Mr. Lindstrom stressed the importance of safeguarding the progress achieved by the country within the realization of the second National Action Plan on Gender Equality and building on these assets to align the national legislation, policies and practices with the international standards and norms.
UNFPA Country Director also held series of meetings with the United Nations Country Team and the development partners, and participated in the Press Briefing on the results of the UNFPA Senior Level Expert Mission to support the Population and Housing Census 2022 in Turkmenistan.
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For more information:
Ene Tuyliyeva,
UNFPA Communications Analyst
www.instagram.com/unfpa_turkmenistan
imo: +99362 833158
