Civil Forum Held in Samarkand in Honor of International Day of Democracy

September 2026 has been rich in international events for Samarkand. Hosting major forums requires special attention, which is likely why the country’s leadership established the position of Deputy Khokim of Samarkand Region for Official Delegations’ Visits, to which Rustam Rajabboyevich Kobilov was appointed.

Among the international forums held in September were the 12th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Challenge Samarkand 2026 International Triathlon, and the 46th Chess Olympiad. Furthermore, on September 17, 2026, in observance of the International Day of Democracy, the Central Asian Civil Society Forum took place, themed “The Role of Civil Society Institutions in Democratic Development: The Experience of Uzbekistan and Central Asian Countries.” During the forum, representatives of government bodies, civil society institutions, international and regional organizations, analytical and research institutions, the expert community, and the media discussed pressing issues surrounding civil society development.

At the forum, which featured three parallel sessions, participants presented reports highlighting the importance of mutual learning from national experiences across Central Asian countries. They emphasized fostering partnerships between state authorities, civil society institutions, local self-governance structures, research bodies, businesses, and the media, as well as expanding professional networks and joint initiatives at the regional level.

For instance, during Session 2, “Cooperation of Civil Society Institutions in Promoting Environmental Culture and Initiatives in Central Asia,” Berkeli Atayev—Director of the “Tebigy Kuwwat” enterprise under the “Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan” public organization and a representative of the Aarhus Center in Turkmenistan—delivered a presentation. His topic, “Regional Experience in Developing Environmental Culture Among Youth,” covered state youth policy, the growth of volunteering, regional cooperation, and future prospects.

Based on the views, proposals, and recommendations expressed during the event, participants deemed it appropriate to support a Resolution outlining priority directions for the development of a democratic society. The priority directions defined in the Resolution are intended to support civil society institutions in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries, strengthen constructive interaction between the state and society, expand citizen participation in decision-making processes, foster the exchange of best practices, and further advance regional dialogue.

Berkeli Atayev.

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Today, a two-day workshop on the development of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and reporting under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) kicked off in the conference room of the Archabil Hotel in the capital. This initiative, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is aimed at continuing the process of updating the NBSAP and preparing reporting on the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

The event is being held within the framework of the UNDP/GEF project “Global Support Programme for Updating the NBSAP and Developing the 7th National Report to the CBD.” The workshop brought together about 60 participants from various relevant ministries, agencies, universities, public associations, international organizations and projects.

As defined in the first NBSAP, the main goal of the Strategy remains unchanged: to conserve, restore, and sustainably use the biological diversity of Turkmenistan for present and future generations.

National Goals:

Goal 1: Conservation of all biodiversity populations, ensuring the resilience and integrity of all ecosystems.
Goal 2: Sustainable use of biodiversity and maintenance of ecosystem services.
Goal 3: Maintaining a balance between human well-being and biodiversity in the development of all economic sectors.
Goal 4: Capacity building, strengthening scientific and technical cooperation, and ensuring access to resources, including financial resources.

Over the two days, the updated version of Turkmenistan’s NBSAP for the period 2026-2035 is planned to be presented and discussed, and participants will be informed about the progress of preparing the 7th National Report to the CBD. It is expected to gather detailed comments and proposals from key stakeholders to prepare the final text of the NBSAP and the 7th National Report.

Additionally, the workshop will present information on the fulfillment of obligations under the main CBD documents: the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources.

For reference: Turkmenistan ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1996. As a specific condition, Article 6 of the CBD stipulates that Parties shall prepare national reports, and develop and implement NBSAPs.

The first NBSAP was developed in 2000-2002, covering the period of 2002-2010. The document defined the main goal and 12 primary targets. The second NBSAP was prepared in 2015, designed for 2016-2020, and after revision, for 2018-2023. The document contained 5 goals and 13 targets.

Berkeli Atayev.