Aarhus Centre of Turkmenistan Participates in Annual Meeting in Vienna

The annual meeting of Aarhus Centres took place on October 30–31, 2025, in Vienna, Austria. Organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), the meeting gathered over 30 representatives from Aarhus Centres in Southeast Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus.

At the meeting of the Aarhus Centres, traditionally held at the Hofburg Palace—one of the largest palace complexes in the world—the Aarhus Centre of Turkmenistan was represented by its Head, Yolbars Kepbanov, and Berkeli Atayev, Director of the public association enterprise “Tebigy Kuwwat”.

The experts’ meeting aimed to facilitate the exchange of experience and knowledge among the Aarhus Centres regarding the implementation of the Aarhus Convention. It also focused on capacity building course on Gender Mainstreaming, the protecting environmental defenders, strengthening access to justice in environmental matters, raising disaster risk awareness at the local level and promoting community-based disaster risk reduction.

The first day of the meeting was dedicated to the crucial issue of Gender Integration. Specifically, presentations were given on the link between gender and climate, national action plans, and the international Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, which recognizes the important role of women in conflict prevention, peace maintenance, and post-crisis recovery. Discussions covered topics such as the interconnection between gender-based violence and climate change, the gender-sensitive protection of environmental human rights defenders, including a review of ODIHR guidelines, gender risks and vulnerabilities, and resources for protection.

The moderators and presenters led the first day’s work interactively, with the active engagement of participants. Case studies were examined, group work was conducted, and opinions and visions were shared on improving the activities of the Aarhus Centres with a focus on gender and the safety of environmental defenders. The day concluded with presentations from participants sharing the experiences of their respective Aarhus Centres.

The second day of the conference began with welcome addresses from the following officials:

• Ambassador Bakyt Dzhusupov, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities
• Mr. Kimmo Laukkanen, Deputy Head of Mission, Head of the Economic and Environmental Dimension Unit, Finland’s 2025 OSCE Chairpersonship
• Mr. Marco Keiner, Director, Environment Division, UNECE (remote)

The day’s focus centered on the protection of environmental human rights defenders, strengthening access to justice in environmental matters, increasing local disaster risk awareness, and promoting risk reduction measures at the community level.

This meeting was held in anticipation of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Aarhus Convention, scheduled to take place in Geneva this November. Consequently, the outcomes of the Vienna meeting will be incorporated into the agenda of the upcoming COP.

Berkeli Atayev.