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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.

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Berkeli Atayev.

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Yesterday, on 27 October 2025, the “Tebigy Kuwwat” enterprise of the Public Association “Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan” conducted a one-day seminar in the Mary city titled: “Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in the Context of Climate Change.” The event was dedicated to one of the most pressing global issues: climate change.

This seminar serves as the launch event for a series of similar workshops scheduled to take place in all regional (velayats) centers across the country. The project is being implemented with the financial support of the European Union (EU), underscoring international cooperation in tackling environmental challenges.

The seminar convened representatives from the regional civil society, including the Mary branch of the “Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan”, the Public Association “Mashgala,” the Economic Society “Dyap-Dessur,” with the online participation of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkmenistan.

Participants delved into current issues related to global warming and its impact on Turkmenistan. Berkeli Atayev, Director of the PAE “Tebigy Kuwwat”, opened the discussion by presenting a report on “Turkmenistan in the Context of Global Warming” and the current national situation, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

Meylis Rejepov, a Renewable Energy Sources (RES) specialist, focused his presentation on the anthropogenic factor in climate change, noting the critical contribution of humanity to climate change processes and the necessity of implementing policies to mitigate harmful environmental impact. In Turkmenistan, as globally, a genuine transformation is underway in the RES sector, where solar and wind energy are emerging as key tools for sustainable development.

A particular highlight was the online address by Zahira Ongarbayevna Begaliyeva, Director of the “ITeachMe” Competence Development Center and Advisor to the Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

She shared her country’s experience in adhering to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and elaborated on the linkages between climate change and the rights of people with disabilities, stressing that global challenges disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations.

“Climate crises exacerbate inequality,” Z. Begaliyeva stated. “We need to build an inclusive society where all voices are heard.”

“The problem of climate change is one of the most urgent issues currently occupying the attention of all humanity. Our project is aimed at increasing public awareness about climate change, its preventative measures, consequences, and strategies for counteracting climate challenges. We deliberately chose to augment the seminar’s theme with the vital component of climate change’s impact on the lives of people with disabilities, thus making our society more inclusive and democratic. The experience shared by Kazakhstan proved very valuable to the seminar participants,” commented B. Atayev.

The seminar concluded with a presentation by Ayna Atayeva, the Project Manager, who shared knowledge and experience regarding public participation, particularly youth engagement, in the fight against climate change across the country and the Central Asian region.

All participants and organizers expressed mutual gratitude for the keen interest shown in the topic, agreed to maintain follow-up communication, and committed to meeting again on various platforms to discuss relevant environmental issues.

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Ayna Atayeva.

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Today, the Central Asian Leadership Program (CALP) of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CARECeco) officially commenced. This year marks the 15th anniversary of CALP, bringing together 25 participants from 5 Central Asian countries. This year set a record for the selection of candidates from Turkmenistan, with 16 specialists from universities, state, private, international, and non-governmental organizations.

As in previous years, five participants are nominated from each country. From our country, two representatives from the Ministry of Environment Protection and three NGO representatives successfully passed the competition, including Nurberdy Atayev, a young ecologist from the public association enterprise “Tebigy Kuwwat.” Nurberdy is currently a second-year master’s student at the Kazakh-German University, specializing in Integrated Water Resources Management.

“I am fortunate to participate in CALP 15, which, in my opinion, is an excellent platform for young eco-leaders to build friendly and business bridges between Central Asian countries, exchange experiences, and generate ideas for the sustainable and rational use of natural resources. Undoubtedly, as a result of this program, I will expand my knowledge and certainly use it in my future career,” noted Nurberdy Atayev.

Over the next five days, until September 19, in the ecological pearl near Almaty, known as “Lesnaya Skazka” (Forest Fairy Tale), young environmentalists from Central Asian countries will develop their leadership and communication skills. The main themes of CALP 15 are:

• Climate resilience and water diplomacy;

• Sustainable natural resource management;

• The role of youth in promoting the green agenda;

• Countering disinformation and developing media literacy;

• Equality and inclusion in environmental governance.

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Yesterday, September 8, 2025, as part of her official visit to Turkmenistan, Ambassador Ms.Terhi Hakala, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s Special Envoy (Finland), met with representatives of non-governmental organizations at the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. The organizations included: “Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan,” “Tebigy Kuwwat,” “Aarhus Centre of Turkmenistan,” “Centre for the Support of People with Disabilities,” “Ynam,” “Yenme,” and “Keyik Okara.”

At the beginning of the meeting, Ambassador Ms.Terhi Hakala thanked everyone for their time and, before getting acquainted with the participants, introduced her delegation: Mr. Ilkka Räisänen, Rowing Ambassador of Finland for Central Asia; Ms. Annika Pelkonen, Senior Specialist, Task Force for the Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship; and Ms. Margot Araujo, PSO/ Central Asia Desk, OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre. The meeting was also attended by the organizers: Ambassador Mr.William Leaf, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, Ms. Olivera Zurovac-Kuzman, Economic and Environmental Affairs Coordinator at the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, and several other Centre staff members.

The distinguished guests were primarily interested in the general situation of interaction between Turkmenistan’s civil society and the OSCE, as well as their ideas, priorities, and vision for further cooperation.

During the meeting, representatives of the public organizations briefly spoke about their activities and their experience of cooperation with the OSCE. In a lively discussion, they emphasized the need for staff retraining, regional exchange of experience, and an increase in grant programs from the OSCE.

“This year, the OSCE turns 50, and the Helsinki Final Act was signed on July 31, 1975. Civil society is important for the OSCE—it is the third dimension of our organization. The current OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, pays special attention to youth policy, gender issues, and civil society in general. I remember the year when Turkmenistan joined the OSCE, and the OSCE office in Ashgabat, which has been operating since 1998, is a testament to developing cooperation and new expectations,” noted Ms. Terhi Hakala.ⁿ

It is noteworthy that for the first time this year, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat has initiated the inclusion of 2-3 representatives of public organizations in Turkmenistan’s delegation to the annual OSCE Human Dimension Conference in Warsaw. This initiative is driven by the need to involve all stakeholders in a developing democratic society.

At the end of July 2025, Sabir Agabalayev, Chairman of the “Keyik Okara” NGO, and Gulya Choreklieva, Chairperson of the “Yenme” NGO, took part in the OSCE Chairpersonship Youth Forum – “From Helsinki to the next 50 years” and briefly shared the areas they worked on in groups: gender issues, domestic violence, and call centers. They proposed a component on the use of digital technologies and social media in this area. An emphasis was placed on intersectoral cooperation and preventive work that requires holding informative events for prophylactic purposes.

Berkeli Atayev, Director of the “Tebigy Kuwwat” Public Association Enterprise, drew the attention of the high-ranking guests to his organization’s close cooperation with the OSCE and its Office of the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA). In particular, he noted OCEEA’s support in creating the website aarhusashgabat.org, as well as the participation of Tebigy Kuwwat staff in regional environmental forums, annual meetings of Aarhus Centres, and so on.

“The OSCE Centre supports various initiatives to improve the environmental literacy of Turkmen students and to develop legislative acts. Last year, a conference was held at the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat to mark the 25th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s accession to the Aarhus Convention, and in May of this year, the Centre hosted a presentation of the draft law “On Climate Change” and a seminar for students from leading universities in Turkmenistan on responding to climate change-related risks,” added B. Atayev.

Ambassador Mr.William Leaf concluded the meeting. He expressed his pleasure in participating in such a productive event in his new role as Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, thanked everyone, and expressed his commitment to further cooperation in achieving shared goals.

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Berkeli Atayev.

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In Turkmenistan, it has always been a strategic goal of the political course to create a spiritually rich, well-educated, intellectually and physically developed young generation that is true patriots of their country. This goal forms the very foundation of the country’s development in the epoch of the revival of the new era of powerful state.

The National leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, sees a bright future for the country in the young people. He has identified youth policy as a top priority, creating conditions for the harmonious development of the next generation of Turkmen citizens in terms of their spiritual, moral, cultural, intellectual, and physical well-being. Young people are seen as the driving force and foundation of the country.

As part of the implementation of these state goals, “Ynamly Egindesh” Economic Society actively promotes the development of young people’s potential. Recently, this organization successfully conducted two training sessions for residents of Mary Velayat, aiming to improve their skills and develop entrepreneurial abilities.

• On July 13th, the first training session was held on legislation and business registration. Participants gained valuable knowledge that will help them create and successfully develop their own businesses. The training was conducted by Leyla Toylyyeva, who has extensive experience in managing organizations. She is also a participant in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), where she studied best practices in the field of management.

• On July 14th, the second training session took place. During the session, issues related to effective communication, brand creation, promotion strategy development, and company image enhancement through digital marketing and other modern techniques were discussed in depth. The training was led by Serdar Agayev, who holds a PhD in Economics and is a graduate of the prestigious Fulbright Program.

These initiatives of the Economic Society “Ynamly Egindesh” are a great example of how local professionals actively contribute to the implementation of government policies aimed at supporting young people, their holistic development, and the raising of active citizens who can make a significant contribution to their country’s prosperity.

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In the era of the revival of a new and powerful state, which is essential for our independent and permanently neutral homeland, great achievements have been made in all areas of the national economy under the leadership of President Serdar Berdymuhamedov. These accomplishments are the result of a dedicated state policy aimed at fostering the prosperity of Turkmenistan and enhancing the well-being of its people.

In accordance with the Program of the President of Turkmenistan for the Socio-Economic Development of the Country in 2022-2028 and other government programs, the implementation of activities related to sectors of the national economy aims to improve the standard of living for the population, enhance social security, and ensure employment. These objectives are identified as top priorities of state policy. Special attention is paid to enhancing macroeconomic stability in the country, increasing its economic potential, and improving agricultural activities based on new scientific advances.

Private sector initiatives play a crucial role in assisting governments in achieving their objectives.” Ynamly Egindesh” Economic Society is actively promoting the development of the country’s agriculture potential. On July 24, 2025, the organization successfully hosted a seminar for residents of Mary Velayat’s rural areas to improve their skills in marketing and communication (advertising, digital marketing, public relations, and personal sales). The seminar also focused on meeting international food safety standards and developing entrepreneurial skills.

The seminar was conducted by Serdar Agayev, a PhD in Economics and two-time Fulbright scholar. He studied international trade agreements and international food safety standards within the World Trade Organization at Boston University in Massachusetts, as well as American stock exchange and international marketing at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. His extensive knowledge and experience gained from these leading educational institutions are now used to benefit the development of the agro-industrial complex in his country.

These initiatives of the Economic Society “Ynamly Egindesh” are a shining example of how local experts who have studied under exchange programs of the US Embassy in Turkmenistan are actively contributing to the implementation of government policies that support agricultural producers who can significantly contribute to the prosperity of their country. These initiatives help strengthen the economic potential of Turkmenistan and ensure sustainable development, leading to improved well-being for its citizens.

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