International Children’s Day in Turkmenistan: A Celebration for Cameras or Real Care for Children?

International Children’s Day in Turkmenistan: A Celebration for Cameras or Real Care for Children? Today, Turkmenistan will once again be filled with loud congratulations and festive performances. There will be concerts, dances, songs, children’s shows, gifts, balloons, games, and entertainment. State television will broadcast smiling children in traditional costumes, cheerful officials, and endless speeches about the government’s “care for the younger generation.” Everything as usual. Beautiful. Ceremonial. Performative. The world will once again be shown a carefully staged image of how much Turkmenistan supposedly loves children and builds a “bright future” for them. But behind the colorful decorations, it becomes harder and harder to hide the truth. And the truth is bitter. Children Growing Up Without Their Parents Because of mass labor migration, thousands of children in Turkmenistan are growing up without their mothers and fathers. Some do not see their parents for years. Others communicate only through phone screens. Some are left with grandparents, others with distant relatives, and many are effectively left to grow up on their own. The state speaks constantly about a “happy childhood,” but if that is true, why are parents forced to leave their children behind in search of work abroad? Because there are no decent jobs. No adequate salaries. No confidence in tomorrow. The consequences are devastating: psychological trauma; feelings of abandonment and loneliness; loss of trust and emotional connection; depression among teenagers; destruction of family bonds; growing social vulnerability among children. But none of this is mentioned during the holiday concerts and official celebrations. Ridiculous Child Benefits and Performative “Care” Financial support for children under the age of three is so small that it can hardly be called real assistance. These payments are nowhere near enough to provide a child with proper nutrition, clothing, medicine, or opportunities for development. Yet millions can still be spent on another grand concert, giant banners, and endless portraits of the “great and irreplaceable” leaders. In Turkmenistan, public performance has long become an entire industry. Childhood Depends on Where You Are Born In the capital, children may still be shown a polished image prepared for television cameras. But in villages and small towns, reality looks very different. In many rural areas: there are no children’s clubs or extracurricular activities; modern libraries are absent; safe playgrounds are lacking; children have little access to sports or creative development; schools and kindergartens operate under unequal conditions; educational opportunities increasingly depend not on talent, but on money and connections. How can anyone speak of equal opportunities when a child born in a village starts life with fewer chances from the very beginning? Virginity Testing as a Form of Humiliation Official speeches about “protecting children” sound especially cynical against the backdrop of virginity testing imposed on girls. Such practices are neither “tradition” nor “morality.” They are a gross violation of privacy, an attack on human dignity, and a form of psychological violence. International human rights organizations have repeatedly stated that such practices may amount to cruel, degrading, and inhuman treatment. Instead of protecting teenage girls, the system continues to control their bodies, thoughts, and behavior. Children Without a Voice In a country without freedom of speech, there can be no genuine protection of children’s rights. Because children’s rights begin with society’s right to speak the truth. How can children be protected when: parents are afraid to complain; journalists cannot work freely; problems are hidden; criticism is treated as a threat to the state; independent human rights defenders face pressure and persecution? Silence does not protect children. Silence protects the system. A Holiday for the International Audience So what is the real purpose of this holiday in Turkmenistan? To spend enormous amounts of money creating a beautiful image for the international community. To ensure that foreign guests see dances, smiles, and flags — and never ask uncomfortable questions. Everything must look perfect. Children must smile. Cameras must record. State television must celebrate. And reality? Reality can always be hidden behind music and balloons. “To serve would be a pleasure — listening is unbearable.” A timeless phrase that remains painfully relevant. The most important thing is that the international community once again erupts into applause for the latest “great and irreplaceable” ruling clan. And the children? The children will endure. They are already used to it. Because no country can build a future when society itself has been deprived of one. Real Protection of Children Is Not a Concert Protecting children is not about stages, ceremonies, or official reports. It means: the right to grow up with their parents; dignified living conditions for families; free and fair education; protection of personal dignity; equal opportunities; safety; freedom of speech; respect for the child as a human being. Until these rights truly exist, official celebrations remain nothing more than expensive decorations. And behind those decorations are children forced to grow up far too early.