Uzbekistan and UNICEF Discuss Child Rights and Welfare

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Tanzila Narbayeva, chairperson of the Senate of Uzbekistan’s Oliy Majlis, met with Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF regional director, who arrived in the country to attend the World Summit “Investing in the Well-being of Children: Towards Sustainable and Equitable Development for Future Generations” in Samarkand.

The sides discussed protecting children’s rights, developing the social support system and expanding practical cooperation.

The meeting noted that Uzbekistan is implementing reforms aimed at strengthening constitutional guarantees of children’s rights, improving social protection mechanisms and safeguarding children’s interests. Cooperation with UNICEF plays an important role in these efforts.

Particular attention was paid to the implementation of legislation on child protection, including the Law “On Protecting Children from All Forms of Violence.” The sides discussed the possibility of working with UNICEF experts to examine how the relevant provisions are applied across the regions, assess the effectiveness of assistance provided to children and develop practical measures based on the findings.

The participants also considered ways to help children realise their abilities and talents, create conditions for their comprehensive development, and provide practical support to specialists and parents.

Another topic was expanding opportunities for children without parental care to be raised in family settings.

UNICEF has noted positive changes in Uzbekistan in this area, the meeting heard.

The participants exchanged views on supporting children living in family-type children's homes, assisting families facing difficult life circumstances, and improving the accessibility and quality of services for children with disabilities. They also discussed the effective implementation of social programmes.

The meeting concluded with an emphasis on the importance of coordinating efforts under UNICEF’s Country Programme for 2026–2030, fulfilling its objectives and further strengthening practical cooperation.