The latest issue of the quarterly scientific and applied journal "Democracy and Law" has been published, prepared for printing by the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan.

Published in Turkmen, English, and Russian, the journal highlights the main directions of the homeland’s state policy, as well as international cooperation in the legal sphere.

The issue opens with the speech of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the first "Central Asia–European Union" Summit, held on April 4, 2025, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The head of state emphasized the special significance of this meeting — for the first time, Central Asian countries and the European Union held negotiations at the highest level in this format, demonstrating all participants’ understanding of the need to deepen relations, strive for rapprochement, and build strong partnership mechanisms.

The President highlighted that Turkmenistan particularly emphasizes achieving and maintaining regional peace, security, and stability among the most important tasks of joint work. Given the current conditions, political and diplomatic interaction between Central Asian states and the EU can have a noticeable constructive impact on the overall situation in the region and neighboring countries, supporting the global community’s efforts in this direction, primarily through the United Nations. Based on the shared vision of seeing Central Asia as a peaceful, economically attractive region — a territory of stability and predictability, not drawn into geopolitical conflicts and contradictions — Turkmenistan is ready to work towards these goals in accordance with its neutral status and international obligations.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov also stressed "Turkmenistan’s firm positive attitude towards continuing and intensifying partnership in the format of ‘Central Asia–European Union’ and its readiness to make a significant contribution to this undoubtedly positive and important process."

Also published in the journal is the speech of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov at the "Central Asia–China" Summit, held on June 17, 2025, in Astana, Kazakhstan. It notes that Central Asian states and China are key participants in continental and regional processes. This cooperation format necessitates systematic mechanisms for exchanging views, interaction, and coordination among foreign policy agencies, as well as carefully calibrated diplomatic steps at major international platforms and forums, primarily the United Nations and several regional structures.

"In the field of foreign policy, considering the current global situation, we propose paying close attention to Turkmenistan’s initiative to develop a Global Security Strategy under the auspices of the UN. The political, legal, and ideological foundations of this document that we have presented, I believe, correspond to the conceptual approaches and views of the participants in our format regarding the future development and prospects of global processes," emphasized the President in his speech.

Readers are also presented with the UN Resolution "Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan", adopted by consensus on the initiative of Turkmenistan at the 61st plenary meeting of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on March 21 of this year in New York, USA, under agenda item 61, “Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace.”

As is known, Turkmenistan consistently demonstrates the effectiveness of neutrality as a key tool for implementing preventive diplomacy at regional and global levels. Therefore, the third recognition of Turkmenistan’s neutrality and its positive experience at the UN clearly testifies to the triumph of the high culture of peace-loving of our people.

The journal also features an article by Jalpa Ratna, UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan, titled "Turkmenistan’s Commitment to Implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child." It highlights that Turkmenistan demonstrates a consistent and growing commitment to protecting children’s rights, clearly expressed through accession to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), extensive legislative reforms, and regular interaction with international mechanisms and partnership with UNICEF.

This publication reviews the historical and legal context of the CRC, Turkmenistan’s national obligations and programmatic actions for its implementation, and future agenda directions in the field of children’s rights.

Other materials of the issue include an article "National Legal and Organizational Basis of Relations in the Field of Information Activities" by M. Agageldiyev, Rector of the Institute of National Security of Turkmenistan, Candidate of Legal Sciences. The author notes that progress in information technology is reaching new heights daily. The 2017 and 2018 adoption of the "Concept for the Development of the Digital Education System in Turkmenistan" and the "Concept for the Development of the Digital Economy in Turkmenistan for 2019–2025" have laid the foundation for the consistent introduction of innovative technologies and ICT equipment in educational institutions and all sectors of the economy, meeting international standards.

Readers will also be attracted by the articles submitted to the contest "Creative Work and Human Rights." As is known, the Institute of State, Law and Democracy of Turkmenistan, through the journal "Democracy and Law", announces an annual contest aimed at bringing to the wider public the significance of the ongoing constitutional reforms and the status of our country’s permanent neutrality, as well as the celebration of freedoms and citizens' rights reflected in current laws. 

Thus, the publication features an article by G. Hanova, a lecturer at the Academy of State Service under the President of Turkmenistan, titled "Peace and Trust: Important Principles of Educational Work." It emphasizes that the international community’s third recognition of Turkmenistan’s doctrine of permanent neutrality serves as evidence of the world’s continuous attention to the country. Our main duty is to ensure that the bright ideas about neutrality are fully and correctly conveyed to future generations.

The next contest publication, "Harmonization of Turkmenistan’s Sports Legislation with International Standards," reveals the national policy in the field of physical culture and sports, the main goal of which is to promote a healthy lifestyle in society and to nurture physically healthy and morally upright generations. The sports legislation of the Homeland defines the legal guarantees necessary for the realization of the human right to sports.

The author of the article for the contest "Intangible Values of Cultural Heritage" notes that the ancient heritage of the Turkmen people, distinguished by its national color, is an invaluable treasure. It forms the foundation of the national culture and self-awareness, playing a key role in their development and enrichment, strengthening the spiritual connection between generations.

The publication "International Cooperation and the Implementation of Digital Technologies" notes the successful incorporation of international law norms into national legislation within the framework of Turkmenistan’s state policy. It also highlights the positive impact of digitalization on increasing the diplomatic activity of the Homeland. A vivid example of this is regular videoconferences, international forums, seminars, and online negotiations.

The latest issue of the journal concludes with the traditional section "Chronicle," which provides an overview of events, meetings, conferences, and other activities held in the country and abroad from April to June of the current year with the participation of representatives of authoritative organizations.