Turkmenistan Weighs Steps to Expand Women’s Political Voice

Turkmenistan is taking new steps to strengthen women’s participation in public and political life, hosting a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-CEC roundtable and training workshop in Ashgabat.

The event focused on Temporary Special Measures (TSMs), including potential legislative quotas, as tools to expand women’s representation in politics, The Caspian Post reports via Turkmen media.

Representatives from electoral commissions and major political parties discussed international best practices, gained expert guidance, and reviewed draft recommendations on introducing TSMs in Turkmenistan. UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Turkmenistan Tomica Paovic emphasized that such measures, recognized under Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), help break systemic barriers and align with global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals.

The workshop forms part of Turkmenistan’s broader efforts to advance gender equality through its National Action Plan. UNDP pledged continued support for strengthening leadership development, monitoring mechanisms, and coordination among national institutions to ensure inclusive and gender-responsive governance.