Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – UNICEF and the Senate of Uzbekistan jointly organized a Round Table to discuss the current situation of children without parental care and/or at risk of deprivation of parental care and the way forward in the reform of the childcare system in Uzbekistan.

Official governmental data show that in 2018 there were 26,532 children living in various types of residential care institutions, of which the majority were children with disabilities. Thus, the rate of children living in residential care institutions is 255 per 100,000 child population. This is below the regional average but above the global average of 120 children per 100,000. The majority of children in residential care are children with disabilities.

“I would like to commend Government for its strong commitment to advancing the deinstitutionalization of children in Uzbekistan. For the continued reform process to be effective it is crucial to continue systematic and gradual closure of largescale institutions accommodating children, including children with disabilities and other vulnerable groups”, said Ms. Afshan Khan, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. “I believe it is important to ensure that vulnerable children have access to a diverse range of services and support, including community-based social work”, she added.

Child Rights Ombudsperson, senior officials of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, National Guard and NGOs representatives discussed the way forward on deinstitutionalization including how to enhance coordination, strengthen the legal regulatory framework, enhance capacities of relevant professionals, and establish community-based support services for vulnerable children and families.

“In Uzbekistan, progress has been made to formulate a solid deinstitutionalization policy, and we are taking very important steps to implement related action plan. To achieve our goal to leave no one behind, it is very important to enhance services intended to keep children within their families and communities”, said Ms. Diloram Tashmukhamedova, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Youth Affairs, Culture and Sports of the Senate.