Klaus Beck, Deputy Regional Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, visited Turkmenistan this week, Turkmenportal.com reports.
During his visit, Beck participated in the Central Asian Climate Change Conference (CACCC) and held meetings with national and development partners to advance UNFPA’s agenda in the areas of reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and youth empowerment.
At the conference, he took part in a panel discussion on climate justice, highlighting the principles of just transition, social inclusion, economic equity, and support for vulnerable groups.
In this context, Beck emphasized the long-term impacts of climate change—including extreme heat, air quality deterioration, and climate-related natural disasters—on the health and well-being of women and girls, especially their reproductive health and rights. He drew attention to risks such as adverse pregnancy outcomes, childbirth complications, and newborn health issues.
He also presented adaptation strategies to mitigate these impacts, aligning them with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0 and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) processes, aiming to harmonize regional efforts with the global climate agenda and international commitments.
Beck further underlined the critical intersection of climate change, reproductive health, gender equality, and youth empowerment, reaffirming the importance of UNFPA’s mission in Turkmenistan.
During meetings with national stakeholders and development partners, opportunities for expanded collaboration with UNFPA in Turkmenistan were discussed.
His program also included site visits to healthcare institutions, including the Ene Myahri Maternal and Child Health Research and Clinical Center and Health House No. 10 in Ashgabat, to assess the effectiveness of ongoing cooperation in the area of reproductive health.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
May 16, 2025