Participants at the World Summit on Investing in Children’s Well-being, held in Samarkand on October 21–22, adopted a declaration calling for increased funding for children’s health, education and social protection, as well as stronger measures to protect them from violence and exploitation.
The summit brought together around 600 representatives from more than 100 countries, including first ladies, ministers responsible for social protection, health, education and finance, international organizations, civil society, academia and the private sector. Children and young people also took part in the discussions.
According to Podrobno.uz, the summit was organized at Uzbekistan’s initiative in cooperation with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the World Bank and Uzbekistan’s National Agency for Social Protection.
Shahnoza Mirziyoyeva, first deputy director of the National Agency for Social Protection, emphasized the importance of investing in younger generations.
“Investing resources, attention and technology in the younger generation is the best investment a country can make,” she said.
What does the Samarkand Declaration provide for?
The declaration reaffirms the participants’ commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the principle of prioritizing children’s best interests.
It notes that children account for around one-third of the world’s population and that investment in their well-being can improve healthcare and education, increase labor productivity, strengthen social cohesion and contribute to peace.
One of the main priorities is strengthening social protection systems, including expanding benefits and other forms of assistance for children and families, particularly during economic and humanitarian crises.
The declaration also calls for stronger measures to protect children from violence, abuse and exploitation, including online threats.
In healthcare and education, the priorities include supporting early childhood development, expanding inclusive education, improving access to medical services and strengthening efforts to combat childhood cancer.
Participants also stressed the importance of supporting parents and guardians and preventing children from being separated from their families without sufficient justification.
Another priority is preparing young people for changes in the labor market through digital and green skills training and better access to decent employment, including for young people with disabilities.
Countries will implement the measures according to their national circumstances, priorities and financial capabilities.
Declaration calls for increased funding
The document calls for a gradual increase in public investment in children’s well-being, greater transparency in national budgets and consideration of children’s needs when allocating public funds.
International financial institutions, development partners, charitable foundations and the private sector are also encouraged to increase funding for children’s programs.
Particular attention is directed toward low- and middle-income countries and states affected by armed conflict, climate change and natural disasters.
Children to have a greater say in decisions
The declaration recognizes children and adolescents as active participants in decisions affecting their lives, describing them as “agents of change.”
Participating states pledged to promote their safe and meaningful involvement in decision-making, including the development and implementation of measures under the declaration.
Implementation will take place through national programs and budgets, with each country determining its own timetable. Participants also agreed to report regularly on progress and reconvene to assess the results.
International network launched to support seriously ill children
On the sidelines of the summit, the establishment of the Global Network for the Support of Children with Serious and Life-threatening Conditions, including cancer, was announced.
Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, Uzbekistan’s first lady and chair of the board of trustees of the international public foundation Zamin, was elected to lead the network for a two-year term.
The initiative was announced by Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, vice president of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and director of its international program, St. Jude Global.
The network aims to bring together first ladies and spouses of heads of state to promote international cooperation, share expertise and support children with serious illnesses and their families. Its priorities include improving access to medical care, particularly for children with cancer.
The announcement came during the second International Congress on Childhood Cancer, titled “From Recovery to Quality of Life,” held in Samarkand as part of the summit.
The congress brought together representatives of health authorities from Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia, along with the World Health Organization, the International Society of Pediatric Oncology, the European School of Oncology and international university hospitals and medical centers.
“Disease and suffering recognize no political borders, nationality or income level,” Ziroat Mirziyoyeva said, calling on governments, scientists and humanitarian organizations to strengthen cooperation to ensure timely treatment for children and support for their families.
As part of the summit, participants also visited social facilities, inclusive centers and pilot projects in various regions of Uzbekistan.