Samarkand Session Examines Parliament’s Role in SDGs

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — A special open session on the role of parliaments in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was held in Samarkand on 5 September as part of the 12th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The session was opened by Tanzila Narbaeva, chairwoman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis and co-chair of the Parliamentary Commission for Monitoring the Implementation of National Goals and Objectives in Sustainable Development through 2030, the Senate’s press service said.

Young parliamentarians from different countries, representatives of international organizations and experts took part in the session. They discussed the role and capacity of legislatures in implementing the SDGs at the national level.

The session noted that Uzbekistan had achieved significant results in implementing the SDGs in the social, economic, environmental and institutional spheres in recent years.

In particular, the poverty rate fell from 17% to 5.8% between 2021 and 2025, while the unemployment rate declined from 10.5% to 5.1% between 2020 and 2025. The share of young people covered by higher education increased from 18.7% to 47.7%.

Participants said these results demonstrated the development of a systematic approach to implementing the SDGs across all areas of government policy.

The session highlighted the role of parliaments in improving the legislative framework, exercising parliamentary oversight over the implementation of state programmes, setting budget priorities and increasing public participation in decision-making, particularly among young people.

Particular attention was given to two UN General Assembly resolutions adopted at Uzbekistan’s initiative: “Strengthening the role of parliaments in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals” and “Strengthening the role of parliaments in accelerating social development.”

Participants also discussed the role of young parliamentarians in advancing the SDGs, mechanisms for cooperation between parliaments and young people, expanding youth participation in political and social processes, and interparliamentary cooperation aimed at accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

At the conclusion of the event, participants put forward proposals to support young parliamentarians’ initiatives in implementing the SDGs, exchange best practices and apply effective parliamentary mechanisms.