Ashgabat, 28 December 2018: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) together with the Youth Organization of Turkmenistan named after Magtymguly conducted a series of Roundtables for over 150 young men and women, graduates of foreign educational institutions in Ashgabat, Tejen, Mary, Turkmenabat, Turkmenbashi and Dashoguz.  The main objectives of the Roundtables included discussions of the matters of peace and security, as well as brainstorming the positive role of youth in peacebuilding and prevention of violent extremism in the world.

Special focus of the Roundtable was paid to the presentation, made by the Youth Organization on the State Youth Policy of Turkmenistan and SDG implementation at the national level as well as the proposal of Turkmenistan at the 73^rd Session of the UN General Assembly to declare the year of 2019 as the Year of Peace and Security.

The Roundtable followed a two-day Training of Trainers that were conducted for over 80 staff of the Youth Organization of Turkmenistan on developing facilitation skills and using interactive approach in working with youth. 

The Round table and the 2-day TOT were held within the framework of the UNDP Project on “Strengthening Community Resilience and Regional Cooperation to Prevent Violent Extremism in Central Asia”, which is financed by the Government of Japan.

The project’s overall objective is to mobilize youth’s energy, mobility, open-mindedness and dynamics as a potential positive driving force in countering violent extremist influences and narratives.  The project strategy is to improve social, political and economic inclusion of youth by supporting the development of their professional and business skills, as well as creating multilateral interactive platforms in collaboration with the existing youth councils, local governance bodies and civil society to enforce regular dialogue and engage more youth in the process.