Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - The Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the UN, Ambassador Bakhtiyor Ibragimov took part in the session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on 3 February, Dunyo news agency reported.

During the event, a new Country Cooperation Program of this organization for 2021-2025 for Uzbekistan was considered and approved.

Introducing the country program, UNFPA Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Alanna Armitage noted that the document was prepared taking into account the recommendations laid down in the outcome document of the Nairobi Summit on ICPD-25 (2019) and defined in the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development at period until 2030 of key goals and objectives.

According to the head of the regional office of the organization, the program was developed in close consultative cooperation with representatives of government organizations, civil society and the private sector, and is also fully consistent with national priorities for further socio-economic development.

According to the country cooperation program, “the new government of the Republic of Uzbekistan has launched transformative reforms in order to raise the country to upper middle income levels by 2030. At the same time, the state is properly provided with the necessary resources, demonstrates the political will for reforms, openly interacts with human rights structures and civil society, and maintains peace and security. "

The new UNFPA country cooperation program for 2021-2025, with a total budget of US$13.3 million, is aimed at supporting the ongoing measures of the Government of Uzbekistan to protect reproductive health, reduce maternal mortality, and empower women and girls.

In addition, the document focuses on improving the health care system, providing the population with universal services in this area, preventing gender inequality, and strengthening national demographic potential.

Outlining the main directions of the country program, the UNFPA regional director emphasized that an important aspect in its framework will be to assist the government of Uzbekistan in conducting the upcoming population census and providing the necessary assistance in collecting, analyzing and using demographic data.

In turn, speaking at the event, Ambassador Bakhtiyor Ibragimov expressed gratitude to UNFPA for its assistance in carrying out large-scale reforms in the country to improve the quality of life of the population and socio-economic development.

It was especially noted that Uzbekistan reaffirms its commitment to fulfilling the commitments outlined in the action program of the International Conference on Population and Development for the comprehensive support of women, ensuring gender equality and empowering them.

The participants were familiarized with the results of the practical steps of Uzbekistan in the areas of improving the health care system, strengthening maternal health, preventing mortality among the population, as well as protecting reproductive health, identified as one of the key directions of state policy.