Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan, Kristin Weigand, addressed congratulations to the residents of Turkmenistan. The text of the greeting was published today on the pages of the state newspaper "Neutral Turkmenistan".
Dear children, I congratulate you on the International children's day! I wish your health, happiness and great achievements in life.
The first of June is celebrated in many countries of the world as a holiday for children. It means not only the first day of summer and long school holidays, but also something more significant for the future younger generation.
The protection of children's rights is a prerequisite in many international instruments and resolutions to which Turkmenistan has acceded, including the Convention on the rights of the child. It addresses the basic rights of children, such as the right to survival, the right to full development, the right to protection from harmful influences, neglect and exploitation, and the right to participate fully in family, cultural and social life.
Turkmenistan ratified the Convention on the rights of the child in 1994. Since then, UNICEF has worked closely with the government of Turkmenistan to achieve positive changes in children's lives in the areas of health, education, social protection and child protection, and climate change.
One of these areas is early development of the child. We have established close partnerships in this area, which is key to ensuring that children get the best start in their lives and reach their full potential.
UNICEF is proud to have supported the development of two recently adopted program that will define the role of all partners in early child development. These include the national strategy for early child development for 2020-2025, which His Excellency the President of Turkmenistan approved at the end of 2019, and the Program for improving the activities of preschool institutions in the field of early development and improving the preparation of children for school in Turkmenistan for 2020-2025, adopted last week.
I would like to thank the government of Turkmenistan for its continued efforts to provide a solid policy framework for achieving results in early childhood development and education, and to confirm the readiness of UNICEF to continue to support this work.
The Turkmen state has every opportunity to promote the child rights agenda. Since 2017, Turkmenistan has been a member of the UNICEF Executive Board. In 2018, the government of Turkmenistan adopted a national action plan for the implementation of children's rights. This year, marked by the 25th anniversary of the country's permanent neutrality, Turkmenistan will submit its next periodic report to the Committee on the rights of the child.
We are proud to partner on these important initiatives, and I look forward to expanding our collaboration for the benefit of all children.
A beautiful Turkmen proverb says: "Bal süýji, baldan-da bala" ("honey is sweet, but a child is sweeter than honey"). Children are our future. Let's work together so that they are healthy, can enjoy their rights and opportunities, learn something new every day and be in close relationship with their friends and family! Let's unite so that our children enjoy their childhood!
Once again, on behalf of UNICEF, I sincerely congratulate all children and parents of Turkmenistan on the International children's day!
Kristin Weigand,
UNICEF representative in Turkmenistan.
