BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 10. On December 10,
an international conference titled “The Role of Women in Modern
Society: Promoting International Cooperation for Sustainable
Development” was held in the Awaza National Tourist Zone in
Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, Trend reports.
Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva
participated in the conference.
The guests first toured an exhibition showcasing Turkmenistan’s
rich cultural heritage and today’s achievements. The exposition
included stands visually presenting the country’s successes in
various fields and highlighting women’s active participation in
state-building, the economy, science, education, and
healthcare.
The conference brought together representatives of international
organizations and experts to discuss key initiatives on
strengthening the role of women and promoting the global
sustainable development agenda.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Oguljahan Atabayeva,
Vice-President for Medical Activities of the Gurbanguly
Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in
Need of Guardianship, expressed confidence that the conference
would be held in an active and constructive dialogue environment.
She noted that the event would serve as an effective platform for
promoting initiatives based on the idea of commitment to humanism.
“It is women who teach our children the values of life and instill
a culture of peace and respect. Their support is fundamental for a
humane society. It is necessary to establish an international
network of centers supporting women and children to ensure
comprehensive assistance. Providing medical and psychological help
to children, social and legal support to women, rapid humanitarian
aid, and the formation of mobile medical teams are among the
important issues,” Oguljahan Atabayeva emphasized. She also spoke
about the importance of women’s active participation in social,
political, and economic processes.
Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva Tatiana
Valovaya noted that this year marks three important anniversaries –
the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the 30th anniversary of
the Beijing Declaration, and the 30th anniversary of the
international recognition of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality
status. “Turkmenistan’s neutrality status forms the basis of the
country’s foreign policy aimed at dialogue, mediation, and the
development of cooperation. Women in Turkmenistan play a
significant role in these processes. They represent the country at
the UN and other international organizations, participate in
negotiations, and contribute to the expansion of multilateral
dialogue. Women also actively participate in parliament on issues
of education, science, culture, youth policy, social protection,
and healthcare,” the Director-General highlighted.
Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Administration of the President
of the Republic of Uzbekistan, noted that women’s rights are
protected in their country and stated that free master’s programs
for girls and women, as well as scholarships for studying at the
world’s leading universities, have been established. Currently, 35
percent of students studying abroad with state funding are women.
“We have also created a unique accelerator program that provides
women entrepreneurs with quality financing, mentoring, and access
to global experience,” she said.
Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva
noted in her speech that women’s leadership, knowledge, and
experience are crucial for the sustainable development of society.
Leyla Aliyeva provided information about the activities of the
Heydar Aliyev Foundation, including its international projects.
“The Foundation has implemented school construction and
reconstruction projects in a number of countries, including China,
Georgia, Egypt, Russia, Romania, Vietnam, and the Netherlands.
Programs for the reconstruction of a girls’ school and school
infrastructure in Pakistan, as well as the supply of information
technology equipment in Kenya and Rwanda, have been carried out.”
She also highlighted projects in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and
Honduras supporting girls’ education and development. Expressing
satisfaction that women hold a special place in modern society, the
Vice-President of the Foundation stated that they are guardians of
family values and cultural traditions.
Leyla Aliyeva noted that the Foundation’s activities cover
important areas such as science, education, healthcare, culture,
and ecology, and that local and international projects have been
implemented in these areas over the past period. During her speech,
she also addressed the problem of the significant drop in the
Caspian Sea level, a shared concern: “The decrease in the Caspian
Sea level seriously affects the lives of marine creatures such as
sturgeon, golden fish, and seals. Pollution of the Caspian waters
continues to worsen their condition. This is a global problem that
we must address together, and I believe we can save our sea.”
Other speakers discussed the role of women in society, noting
that they are the main bearers and guardians of cultural values,
customs, traditions, and moral norms. Emphasizing the importance of
maximally involving women’s potential in political and economic
life to achieve sustainable development, the speakers noted that
such conferences are an important platform for multilateral
dialogue. The necessity of strengthening partnerships between state
institutions, civil society, and international organizations to
eliminate obstacles preventing the full realization of women’s
potential was highlighted.
The conference continued with panel sessions.
