The Central Asian Forum united youth for a sustainable future

In Ashgabat, the results of the Central Asian Youth Forum were summed up. The forum was held under the motto "Health and Sustainable Development as a Path to Peace." The event, organized to discuss pressing issues concerning the younger generation, concluded with the adoption of important decisions and initiatives.

On the final day of the forum, participants discussed the use of digital platforms and artificial intelligence, opportunities for implementing youth startups, as well as the prevention of psychoactive substance use. The fruitful discussions were attended by representatives of public and youth organizations, specialists in education and healthcare, and university professors. Experts examined prevention strategies, cooperation development, and the digital transformation of the media space used to work with the younger generation.

According to the participants, solving youth problems requires combining efforts by using scientifically grounded programs and developing a joint strategy that takes into account the interests of Central Asian countries. It was noted that the voices of the region's youth were also heard at the recent Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC), which took place in the National Tourist Zone "Avaza." The forum emphasized the importance of actively involving youth in policymaking and initiatives to unlock their potential.

Guests of the forum, arriving from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and the European Union countries, expressed gratitude to Turkmenistan for organizing the event and providing an opportunity to discuss relevant issues.

Following the two-day forum, a draft roadmap was proposed, including a preliminary strategic plan for the project, visualizing the ideas collected at the Ashgabat venue. The document will be further refined by the participating countries.

CADAP 7 Director Ernest Robello emphasized:

– This roadmap is a collection of ideas and documents we gathered over two days. The CADAP 7 mechanism will conclude in the first half of November. We plan to process the information to include it in the action plan for the next phase. Our goals are to support Turkmenistan and Central Asian countries. In the next phase, we will formulate all ideas and continue regional and international cooperation.

The CADAP (Central Asia Drug Action Programme) is an initiative of the European Union aimed at supporting the development of effective policies to reduce drug demand in Central Asian countries. Its seventh phase (CADAP 7) is currently being implemented. The program is based on relevant UN conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and its implementation aligns with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The organization of major events such as the Central Asian Youth Forum demonstrates that Turkmenistan takes youth policy development and the strengthening of international cooperation seriously. Within the framework of the International Year of Peace and Trust, this is especially important because youth is the foundation of a sustainable future.

In 2023, the country approved the "Strategy for International Cooperation of the Youth of Turkmenistan for 2023-2030." This document, complementing the State Program on Youth Policy for 2021-2025, aims to develop international partnerships and enhance the participation of young citizens in cultural, scientific, educational, and sports activities at the international level.