Mother’s Day in Turkmenistan: The Right to Be Close to One’s Children

Mother’s Day in Turkmenistan: The Right to Be Close to One’s Children Today, the entire world celebrates mothers on Mother’s Day. It is a bright, kind, and deeply meaningful holiday — a day of love, care, gratitude, and respect for women who give life, raise children, protect their families, and sacrifice so much for the future of their children. We sincerely congratulate all mothers around the world and in Turkmenistan. We wish them health, happiness, peace, respect, and the opportunity to be close to their children. However, on this day, it is impossible to remain silent about another side of reality. Today, the fate of thousands of mothers from Turkmenistan is in the hands of the country’s authorities. Due to years of ineffective social and economic policies, thousands of women have been forced to leave their children behind and go abroad in search of work. And this is happening in a country that possesses enormous natural resources and is considered one of the richest countries in the world. Many mothers from Turkmenistan did not leave because they wanted to abandon their children. They were forced to make this painful choice in order to provide the most essential things for their children — food, clothing, education, medicine, and basic living conditions. Thousands of women are now raising their children from a distance — through phone calls and video chats. Thousands of children are growing up without a mother’s warmth. Thousands of mothers live every day with the pain of separation. Because of this, many women have been deprived of one of the greatest joys of motherhood — the ability to watch their children grow, to be there during difficult moments, to hug them every day, and to fully participate in their lives. We would like to address the authorities of Turkmenistan: Do everything possible to ensure that mothers truly have a choice. So that women do not have to leave their homeland simply to ensure their family’s survival. So that they can earn a decent living in their own country while remaining close to their children. The state has all the necessary resources and opportunities to achieve this. We call on the authorities of Turkmenistan to: provide citizens with decent salaries and stable employment opportunities; create real social support programs for families; increase child benefits and provide support for children until the age of 18; establish crisis centers for women experiencing domestic violence; ensure equal and dignified conditions in maternity hospitals and medical institutions; create equal educational opportunities for all children; guarantee freedom of movement and respect citizens’ right to leave and return to the country freely; respect freedom of speech and human rights; promote patriotism toward the homeland and the people, rather than a cult of power; uphold the Constitution of Turkmenistan and international law. Making mothers happy means caring for the future of the country. Real care for women and mothers is not about slogans and celebrations on one day of the year. It means ensuring a dignified life every single day. A strong state begins with respect for women, mothers, children, and families. Equality must exist not only on paper, but in real life. May every mother have the opportunity to be close to her children — not only in dreams and phone calls, but at home, with her family, in her own country, in safety, and with confidence in the future.