Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev notes the great demand for the United Nations, especially at the present time, when the world community has to activate all its forces and capabilities in order to adapt to new realities.

This was stated in the message of the head of state addressed to the participants of the International Forum on 26 June 2020, dedicated to the cooperation of Uzbekistan and the United Nations in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This forum, held in an online format, was the first event of the Global Discussion Cycle “The 75th Anniversary of the United Nations: A Look into the Future,” organized by Uzbekistan as part of the UN-75 international initiative, proclaimed by the United Nations on the year of its anniversary.

The idea of Uzbekistan to organize the Global Discussion Cycle was supported by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and this was also noted in the welcoming speech of the President of Uzbekistan, who expressed sincere gratitude to the UN head for such attention to the initiative of our country.

“Uzbekistan fully supports the efforts of Secretary General Antonio Guterres to reform the UN in accordance with the requirements of the time. Today, the Organization is faced with urgent tasks of crucial importance for all of humanity. This is the settlement of conflicts, the fight against international terrorism and extremism, overcoming the effects of climate change, countering the spread of epidemics and pandemics, ensuring sustainable socio-economic development,” the message of Shavkat Mirziyoyev says.

At the beginning of the forum, a video message from the UN Secretary General Antoni Guterres was also heard. In this greeting to the participants, he notes that the anniversary date is an incentive to intensify the international dialogue on what measures can contribute to building a better world, despite the many challenges that face. To overcome these problems, the countries of the world, their societies need to join hands. At the same time, different opinions and visions about ways to improve the lives of people on earth are important.

The forum was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan (NCHR), the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, and the UN Office in Uzbekistan.

The forum was attended by high representatives of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, including UNESCO, ILO, WHO, IOM, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Organization of Islamic Cooperation , other partner organizations, leading experts, heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Uzbekistan.

From the Uzbek side, the forum was attended by deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, members of the Senate, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Center for Human Rights, ministries, departments, public organizations and the media.

In total, about 150 people took part in the work of the Web Forum.

Exactly 75 years ago, on 26 June 1945, the UN Charter was signed in San Francisco (USA), according to which 193 member states made a solemn commitment to work together to prevent war, protect fundamental rights and achieve development. This was recalled in his speech by the participant of the forum, Fabrizio Hochschild, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on preparations for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Organization. He noted that Uzbekistan, since 1992, for almost thirty years, has chosen its own path as a full member of the UN.

“Over the past few years, Uzbekistan has significantly accelerated its international cooperation, both regionally and globally. In today’s polarized world, we can learn from Uzbekistan - how you find your way to multi-party democracy and pluralism, your experience of working at the regional level to solve common problems, such as protecting the environment and recently Covid-19,” emphasized in his Speech by the UN Secretary General. He also praised Uzbekistan for the adoption of the ambitious National Human Rights Strategy.

The initiatives put forward by Uzbekistan from the UN high rostrum have found full support from the world community and make a significant practical contribution to strengthening the global non-proliferation regime, ensuring universal peace, stability, sustainable development and regional solidarity. This was stated by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov in his speech at the forum.

“Thanks to the UN, we have the opportunity to consolidate efforts in solving the most pressing problems affecting the interests of both all of humanity and individual regions, and nations,” the Foreign Minister stressed. He also emphasized that over the past three years, Uzbekistan’s interaction with the UN has intensified significantly, largely thanks to the established regular dialogue at the highest level, during which three meetings of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres took place.

And this forum, according to Abdulaziz Kamilov, is another evidence of Uzbekistan’s strong commitment to multilateral cooperation with the UN and its specialized agencies.

In the structure of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a parliamentary commission on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been created and is active. This was noted during the forum by the Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis Tanzila Norbaeva. In accordance with the recommendations of international organizations, the Commission on Gender Equality started its work, the Committee on Gender Equality and the National Commission on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Forced Labor were formed in the Senate. The modern parliament of Uzbekistan attaches great importance to the implementation of international obligations in the field of human rights, UN recommendations in this area, the adoption of laws in accordance with the recommendations of international organizations, for example, such recently adopted regulatory acts as the law on citizenship, cancellation of registration, the establishment and election of a children’s ombudsman.

The world importance of the UN was noted in his speech at the forum by the First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, Director of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan Akmal Saidov. He emphasized that the protection of human rights around the world is a UN priority, along with the promotion of cooperation in achieving international peace and security, sustainable economic development and social progress.

The UN Charter was the first treaty in the history of international relations that enshrined the obligation of states to observe and respect fundamental human rights and freedoms, A. Saidov noted. He devoted his speech to the analysis of the global results in the field of human rights that have been achieved over the 75 years that have passed since the creation of the UN, as well as to the tasks that have to be addressed in this area.

During the forum, speeches and opinions of the UN Deputy Secretary General Tatyana Valova, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Central Asia, the head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Natalia Gherman, the Regional Director of the UN Population Fund for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Mirjana Spolyaric Egger were made and other participants.

We add that the whole cycle of events organized by Uzbekistan “75th anniversary of the UN: a look into the future” includes 4 thematic discussions.

The ideas formulated by participants in various meetings around the world will be brought up for discussion by world leaders and the UN leadership in September 2020. The series of online discussions organized by Uzbekistan is a response to the call of the head of the UN and the country’s contribution to the global initiative.