Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - More than 200 participants from 40 countries discussed the organization of continuous, inclusive and quality education in the context of a pandemic at a web forum held on 19 November 2020, on the eve of World Children’s Day.

The event was organized by the Zamin International Public Foundation, the UN Office in Uzbekistan, UNICEF Office in Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

- Children’s rights, enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the adoption of which we celebrate today, of course, are of key importance for the future of children. But they are also of prime importance here and now and for the future of our communities, countries and humanity itself, was emphasized in the address of the First Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Amin Mohammed to the participants of the event.

Speaking at the web forum, the chairman of the board of trustees of the Zamin Foundation Ziroat Mirziyoyeva said: “It is important to ensure that children with disabilities receive a full and high-quality education by creating a barrier-free and inclusive environment, which is one of the most effective ways to realize children’s rights. Every child is a person. Children and their rights must be equal. Therefore, it is necessary to find an individual approach to each child in the educational process, not to neglect either a boy or a girl. It is important that parents, teachers, government agencies, the private sector, the media and civil society activists act unanimously and proactively with the direct involvement of children to effectively address the challenges we face today.”

- World Children’s Day gives us the opportunity to purposefully discuss and support actions to build a better world for children. I welcome the organizers’ initiative to focus this discussion on education. The right to education is an inalienable right of every person. In adopting the 2015 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN member states have prioritized the interdependence of all goals, be it poverty eradication, decent work or gender equality. At the same time, it is high-quality education that ensures upward socio-economic mobility and is the key to getting rid of poverty and preventing conflict, which contributes to the implementation of other global goals, stressed Tatyana Valovaya, UN Deputy Secretary General, Director General of the UN Office in Geneva.

- In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, the measures taken and the lessons still being learned, our generation has the opportunity to rethink the vital place of education in the development of humanity. This reboot contributes to decision-making in favor of reorienting investments in digital literacy and infrastructure, creating new forms of education, including traditional and non-formal ones, with the widespread use of digital technologies and modernized curricula that allow access to lifelong learning throughout life, said Natalya Gherman , Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Central Asia, Head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia.

- On World Children’s Day, the whole world unites to celebrate the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This year, at the height of the pandemic, we have the opportunity to rethink the world to be more just and inclusive for every child. Let’s rethink education in the same spirit, remembering that education is not only a fundamental right, but also an enabling right that relates to the realization of all other rights. Let’s move forward with courageous, innovative and collective action to leave no child behind, Afshan Khan, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, said.

“We believe that education remains one of the key priorities in establishing a strong modern partnership between the EU and Central Asian countries to ensure sustainability and prosperity. Education is a cornerstone in creating new jobs and transforming our economies. Given the large number of young people in Uzbekistan, there is a huge economic potential that can bring great prospects for further modernization and development,” Peter Burian, Special Representative of the European Union for Central Asia, noted.

As a result of the event, the participants adopted a resolution of the web forum on strengthening global cooperation in the field of education.