TURKMENISTAN

PERMANENT MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS

STATEMENT

by the Head of the Delegation of Turkmenistan,

Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan

to the United Nations

Mrs. Aksoltan ATAEVA

at the 23rd United Nations Special Sessions of the General

Assembly entitled "Women 2000: Gender Equality,

Development and Peace in the XXIst century"

New York, 8 June 2000

 

 

Mr. President,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Permit me to greet all the participants of the current session, all those who made a contribution to achieving progress in the implementation of the Beijing Platform of Action.

Having gained independence, pondering over our history and traditions and by organically linking them to the present-day realities we have elaborated our own model of statehood which corresponds to our national mentality and traditions of the Turkmen people as well as to the universal principles of mankind. They have become the basis for building a democratic, law-governed secular state, an independent and neutral Turkmenistan.

Issues of the family and women's social and economic status hold a special place in our country, they acquire a new prominence and relevance under the impact of modernization processes that are under way in the world.

In spite of the diverse and exceptional complexity of the tasks facing our newly independent state President of the country Saparmurat Niyazov and the Government have identified women's problems, their constitutional status, support of motherhood and protection of the family as a top priority in the policy of the state.

Development of all social institutions raging from state governance to scientific and social organizations and further democratization of society are inseparably linked to ensuring women's equality. The Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women has been implemented in a number of state-wide programs relating to education, health and social and economic status of women in Turkmenistan. The Constitution and laws of the country grant women equal rights with risen in all the spheres of economic, political, cultural and social life. They guarantee women not only equal but often times even preferential.

For many centuries the Turkmen people kept high the authority of the institute of the family and therefore dissolution of family is considered as an extraordinary event. The family helps to form high moral principles that are traditional for the Turkmen people: modesty, tenacity, respect for the mother and elders in the family.

Laws of the country guarantee women equal opportunities for realizing their aspirations in running the affairs of the state as well as public and economic matters. The 1999 elections to Medjlis of Turkmenistan and local organs of power have become a testimony of democratic processes under way in the country. Their results show that women account for 26 percent of all elected officials.

In December 1995 Turkmenistan adopted the Declaration on International Obligations in the Field of Human Rights and Freedoms and brought its legislation in line with the international acts by ratifying and acceding to the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Convention on the Political Rights of Women and others. The system of standards ensuring the legal status of women is based on the democratic principle of the rule of law. This key principle of a democratic society forms en indispensable element of equality of all citizens regardless of their gender.

Turkmenistan has created a large-scale and diverse system of material and social benefits to support matherhood and children, women who have many children and single mothers. These benefits include payment of social subsidies to families with many children, sale of foodstuffs at state-subsidized prices, free use of electricity, gas and water, the lowest possible rent for apartments, free secondary and higher education, additional paid maternity leave, paid leave to take care of the children etc. The state allocates 40 to 50 percent of state budget for the social sphere that enhances the effectiveness of social programs.

Considerable progress has been achieved in providing education to women. 98 percent of women have education, including 41 percent of women with higher education. Access to education is open because it is free. As private property and entrepreneurship take root in the country it becomes necessary to teach women the basics of business, new technologies and alternative forms of education. For this purpose numerous business schools and education courses have been open, including computer classes. UNDP and National Women in Development Bureau are providing considerable help in this sphere.

The state system of public health financed almost entirely from the country's budget ensures implementation of the majority of programs comprising all aspects of women's health. They are the State Health Program, programs for protection of motherhood and children, joint programs with UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA aimed at promoting a healthy way of life, prevention of deceases, breast-feeding and reproductive health.

Environment is one of the important factors in improving people's health. The Government of the country adopted a program for providing the people with safe water and steady implementation of this program has helped to reduce the incidence of infectious deceases and liquidate hotbeds of infections as well as to reduce mortality among children.

We cannot consider the problem concerning the role and place of women in the country as exhausted completely. Radical transformation of the social system, change of social guidelines and incentives create certain difficulties.

Genuine freedom, involvement of women in complex processes, their active role in building a democratic society, realization of programs aimed at turning the 21st century into a golden age of Turkmenistan and good governance of the country presuppose high level of social and legal culture, formation of a pro-active stand so that women would be able to counter old stereotypes regarding the role and place of women in the family and social life.

Women's social movement formed in the new democratic conditions contributes to the enhancement of the public role of women and their authority. It is working together with non-governmental organizations, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, USAID and others

Reaffirming his commitment to the Beijing Platform of Action the President of Turkmenistan guides the policy of enhancing women's role in society towards achieving those goals. As Saparmurat Niyazov said: "Our people dearly respect the honor and dignity of our women. It is our duty before mothers, wives and daughters to ensure dignified life, stability and prosperity to our women".

Thank you for your attention.