International Forum on Protection of Children’s Rights and Interests Opens in Tashkent

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Today, the capital of Uzbekistan hosted the opening of an international forum dedicated to the protection of children’s rights and interests.

The event was attended by Tanzila Narbayeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, along with representatives of international organizations and foreign countries.

In her opening remarks, Tanzila Narbayeva emphasized that ensuring children’s rights and fostering their comprehensive development is the foundation of sustainable progress for any society.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has established a solid legislative and institutional framework for child protection. Key laws include the “On Guarantees of the Rights of the Child,” “On Education,” and the region’s first law “On Protecting Children from All Forms of Violence.” An independent Office of the Commissioner for Children’s Rights operates within the parliament, and regional ombudsman practices and commissions on children’s affairs have been introduced under the leadership of the Prime Minister and hokims.

During the discussions, participants highlighted that the future of states depends directly on how effectively children’s rights are ensured and how conditions are created for their upbringing, education, and health. Particular attention was given to international cooperation and the exchange of experience.

The Senate Chairperson also noted that the Consultative Meetings of Central Asian Heads of State have become an effective platform for interaction, giving rise to the Interparliamentary Forum, the Women Leaders’ Dialogue, the Youth Dialogue, and other initiatives. In this context, the creation of a Regional Platform for Children’s Rights Commissioners is considered a significant step for the entire region.

The forum aims to establish an effective regional platform for children’s ombudsmen in Central Asia, enabling the exchange of experience, the development of unified approaches to common challenges, and responses to transnational threats.

The agenda includes conducting national monitoring of children’s situations, ensuring digital safety, creating effective mechanisms to prevent all forms of violence, and expanding children’s access to justice.