UNHCR Organizes First Gender and HIV/AIDS Seminars in Turkmenistan

Ashgabat, 24 July 2007 (nCa) --- The first round of gender and HIV/AIDS prevention training/seminar was organised with the involvement of NGO Keik Okara, the old partner of UNHCR Turkmenistan, in 2 former refugee settlements of Akhal province.

Trainings were supported by the Turkmen Government and with assistance extended by MFA and local authorities UNHCR enabled to start implementation of this initiative.

Trainings raised great interest among the local population and collected participants aged from 15 to 60 years old.

The seminars were facilitated by 2 qualified trainers who applied different techniques including lecturing, interactive situation games accompanied by demonstration of audio, visual and video materials.

Based on the discussions, the participants were making spontaneous presentations on topics discussed.

The seminar facilitated increase of public awareness on gender issues and HIV/AIDS prevention along with the international Conventions and national Laws of Turkmenistan (Constitution of Turkmenistan, Labour Law of Turkmenistan, Criminal Law etc) with reference to protection of women and children and their rights.

It is planned that 28 more trainings will be organized within this year.

The Trust Fund for Human Security was established in the United Nations Secretariat in March 1999 at the initiative of the Government of Japan. Since then, total contributions have reached approximately 31.5 billion yen (US$ 279.7 million). The Trust Fund has supported more than 160 projects from UN agencies, each one addressing various threats to human life, livelihood and dignity, from the perspective of human security.

The joint UNHCR/UNFPA Project funded by the UN Trust Fund for Human Security “Improvement of the quality of reproductive health and social services for refugees and host communities” is implemented by the UN agencies and the Government of Turkmenistan. The agencies are working on the enhancement of the quality of reproductive health and better access to social services for new citizens, refugees and host communities through improved infrastructure, developing their skills and implementing up-to-date reproductive health protocols mainly relating to construction of boreholes and purifying water systems, rehabilitation of roads and rehabilitation/construction of Medical aid posts, as well establishment of Vocational Training Workshops and conduction of Reproductive Health trainings. [Write up UNHCR Turkmenistan]