The delegation of Turkmenistan took part in the Regional Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence against Children, which took place on October 13–14 in Bucharest.

The delegation was led by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection. The delegation also included representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and UNICEF Turkmenistan.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity of Romania in cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children.

Turkmenistan presented key achievements and priorities, including the implementation of the National Action Plan on Children's Rights for 2023–2028, the development of interagency and interdisciplinary cooperation in child protection, and the creation of comprehensive family support services and a child-friendly justice system, according to a UNICEF press release.

In her speech, the head of the Turkmen delegation emphasized that protecting children from violence is not only the state's responsibility but also an investment in a sustainable, secure, and just future for society.

"The government of Turkmenistan places particular importance on the protection of children and their well-being. We are consistently improving legislation, strengthening institutions, developing a family support system, and implementing child-friendly approaches in the justice system and social services. International standards, partnerships, and the exchange of experience play a vital role in this process," she noted.

The Bucharest conference was a follow-up to the Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, which took place in Bogotá, Colombia, in November 2024. Ministers and representatives from more than 40 countries in Europe and Central Asia discussed progress and identified next steps.

The conference presented the first regional analysis of violence against children—an important step toward a thorough understanding of the scale of the problem and the development of more precise responses. The analysis confirmed the urgency of addressing this issue. Despite progress in the region – including the banning of corporal punishment in 38 out of 55 countries – nearly one in three children still experiences physical punishment at home, and psychological abuse by parents and caregivers is even more common, affecting between 40 and 69 percent of children in countries with available data.

Conference participants noted that violence against children can manifest itself in various forms, including the use of unacceptable parenting and discipline methods that cause serious harm to the child's emotional and psychological well-being.