Good afternoon, distinguished guests, Honorable representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan and esteemed colleagues from the UN Resident Coordinator Office and UNICEF in Turkmenistan.

It is an honor to address you today at the launch of the Key Results of Turkmenistan’s Seventh Round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS7). 

On behalf of the European Union, I extend my congratulations to the State Statistics Committee of Turkmenistan, UNICEF, and all partners for this significant milestone in advancing evidence-based policymaking for children and women.

The MICS program, managed by UNICEF, stands as one of the world’s leading sources of internationally comparable data on the well-being of children and women. Globally, the European Union is proud to support this vital initiative, recognizing its role in shaping policies, monitoring progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and ensuring that no one is left behind.

Statistics and numbers can seem really boring and it is often questioned what they have to do with politics or social development. But, as previous speakers have already emphasized, it is not possible to implement practical solutions if we do not know what the problems are, how big they are, how many recipients need our help and support. And that is why enabling critical data collection, especially in a challenging context is so important. 

Here in Turkmenistan, the EU is deeply committed to supporting national efforts to enhance data collection, analysis, and utilization. Under the UNICEF-led project, “Strengthening National Statistical Capacity for Child Rights Monitoring”, the EU has provided €150,000 to support MICS7 and related activities. This funding, implemented from January 2024 to July 2025, has bolstered the State Statistics Committee’s capacity to conduct high-quality, disaggregated data collection across over 6,000 households nationwide. The resulting data, presented today, offers national and provincial insights, disaggregated by age, residence, and gender, enabling targeted policies to address the needs of the most vulnerable.

Our support extends beyond MICS to broader efforts in strengthening Turkmenistan’s statistical systems. Through this project, we aim to enhance sectoral management information systems, improve strategic planning, and empower institutions like the Office of the Ombudsman for independent child rights monitoring. These efforts align with the EU’s commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the SDGs, ensuring that reliable data drives equitable social policies and financial investments. https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/rights-child/eu-action-rights-child_en 

Today’s launch of the MICS7 Key Indicators Report and thematic snapshots marks a pivotal moment. The data you have produced will guide Turkmenistan’s development agenda, inform evidence-based policies, and strengthen the partnership between the United Nations, the Government of Turkmenistan, and the European Union.

As we move forward, the EU remains committed in its partnership with UNICEF and Turkmenistan to build a future where every child’s rights are protected, and every policy is grounded in robust evidence. Let us continue to work together to translate this data into action, ensuring a brighter, more equitable future for our children, which means also for all of us.

Thank you.

2 May 2025