United Nations Country Team in Turkmenistan kicks off UN Day celebrations 2015, highlighting the importance of supporting an inclusive approach to people with disabilities

Ashgabat, 03 October 2015: The United Nations agencies in Turkmenistan held the first 2015 UN Day celebration event on Saturday 3rd October with a number of Turkmen NGOs, who support people with disabilities. The event was organized to highlight the important role that NGOs have in Turkmenistan and the need for a greater focus on supporting people with disabilities and their families.

National partners Yenme, Keyik Okara, "Sports Club of Disabled", Agama, and the Union of Economists organized exciting and engaging competitions for participants and visitors. The competitions included races on special wheelchairs, table tennis, chess and checkers, wall climbing, family races.

The event was attended by UN staff, NGOs, representatives of the foreign diplomatic missions, as well as friends, and families. The event is a follow up to the meeting between NGOs and the UN- Secretary General during his visit to Turkmenistan in June 2015, and an event held with NGOs on 15th September to mark the International Democracy Day focused on creating space for civil society.

The UN agencies pay a lot of attention to creating opportunities for an inclusive approach for people with disabilities. The 3rd December of each year is celebrated as the international day of the People with Disabilities.