UNICEF holds forum on child rights legislation for Turkmen officials and schoolchildrenAshgabat, Turkmenistan, 21 Sept 2005 – The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, working with the National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights, organised a forum on Wednesday for Turkmen officials and school children focusing on how international and national legislation seeks to protect the rights of the child. Some 25 children, aged 14 to 15, from a variety of schools in Ashgabat, joined members of Turkmenistan’s parliament, the National Institute of Democracy and Human Rights, the Ministries of Justice and Education, and the Youth Union, for a day of discussions looking at how national laws supplement the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most widely accepted rights treaty in history. “Yes, this seminar is useful. I would like to see more of these seminars so children know the local legislation and how they are protected under the law. I am 16 years old and this is the first time in my life to find out about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and know I am protected under the law,” said Guljamal Atasheva, one of the forum’s young participants. As well as familiarising the delegates with laws and treaties covering child rights, the forum also produced feedback which lawmakers can use in the drafting of future legislation. “UNICEF places a high priority on the participation of children and youths in decisions that affect them. This forum is a milestone event for initiating the consultation process that will allow children’s voices to be heard and their opinions to be taken into account,” said Mahboob Shareef, UNICEF representative in Turkmenistan. The forum took place with the full cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Shareef said he regarded the event as another constructive outcome of the joint collaboration between the Government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Children’s Fund. UNICEF remains committed to working with the government to help it fulfil its national priorities and international obligations covering children’s rights.
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