OREANDA-NEWS. April 21, 2011. The two-day workshop organized by the Mejlis of Turkmenistan in collaboration with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was conducted at the Parliament of Turkmenistan. UNICEF Consultant Danius Puras participated in the workshop as an international expert.

The workshop agenda focused on the issues related to intensification of long-term productive cooperation between Turkmenistan and the UN Children’s Fund in the area of social protection for people with disabilities. In this regard it was noted that the Turkmen state demonstrated the most responsible approach to creating the conditions conducive to a dignified life and integrated development of all citizens, including people with disabilities, to the international community.

In his opening remarks UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan Samphe Lalungpa expressed belief that this meeting would mark a new step to intensify effective partnership between experts this authoritative international organisation and specialists of ministries and departments concerned.

As is known, the progressive policy pursued by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the fundamental principle of which is the concern for citizens, is embodied in the grandiose changes taking place throughout the country, in particular in the social sphere. This is illustrated by the success of the large-scale reform launched in the national health and education systems on the initiative of the Turkmen leader and modernization of the national legislation in this sphere.

Turkmenistan ratified the fundamental international conventions in the humanitarian sphere, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and continues to collaborate actively with the UN agencies, including UNICEF, in this field. In this context it was emphasized that Turkmenistan took consistent steps to meet its international obligations and implement international standards and recommendations in the national regulatory framework. During the meeting international expert Dr Danius Puras made the presentations on the best international practices in implementation of international conventions in the humanitarian sphere.