Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan will host the Global Summit on Investment in Child Well-being in Samarkand on 21–22 October, with representatives from more than 100 countries expected to attend.
The summit was initiated by Uzbekistan in cooperation with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the World Bank.
The programme includes an opening plenary session, three thematic panel discussions, the Second International Congress on Childhood Cancer, side events and visits to institutions. Participants are expected to adopt the Samarkand Declaration, although its final status will be determined at the conclusion of the meeting.
The summit will address child health, social protection, education, safety and family support as interconnected areas. Its central principle is that improvements in a child's life should be assessed not through an individual benefit or service, but through the combined impact of healthcare, education, social protection and the family environment.
Materials prepared for the summit highlight the results of reforms in Uzbekistan. The number of types of social services available in the country has increased from 26 to 140, the child poverty rate has fallen from 21.5% to 5.4%, and preschool education coverage has risen from 27.7% to 78%.
Uzbekistan has 208 Inson social service centres and approximately 9,000 social workers. They assess families' needs, develop individual assistance plans and refer people to appropriate services. Data from the Social Register are used to target support. The approach shifts the focus from waiting for citizens to request assistance towards identifying risks early and providing support close to where families live.
Childhood cancer will be another major focus of the summit. According to the figures presented, the time between the suspicion of cancer and the start of treatment in Uzbekistan has fallen from 130–160 days to 10–18 days. The one-year survival rate for cancer patients has increased from 37% to 44.5%. The number of available antineoplastic drug types has risen from 89 to 194, while the availability of medicines has increased from 33% to 88%.
An exhibition based on the concept of “The World Through a Child's Eyes” will also open as part of the summit. It presents a continuous narrative covering care for expectant mothers, safe childbirth, early childhood development, family life, education and preparation for independent living. The exhibition comprises 13 thematic sections and interactive zones.
The “First 1,000 Days of Life” section focuses on maternal and infant health. The “Care” section covers early intervention, day care, rehabilitation and family support. The “Mahalla — Support Close to the Family” section illustrates cooperation between social workers, Inson centres and local services. Mother House resource centres are presented as part of efforts to prevent children from being separated from their families.
The “Children's Voices” and “Child's Manifesto” sections present reforms through children's personal experiences and rights. Visitors will also learn about coordinated psychological, legal and medical assistance for children who have experienced violence through information about the Najot centre, which is being established based on the Barnahus model. This approach is designed to reduce repeated interviews and prevent further psychological trauma.
The educational section covers the Aqlvoy mobile preschool education groups, the Mehrli Maktab hospital education system, Kelajak centres, presidential and specialised schools, and opportunities for inclusive education. The “Living Drawings” exhibition features artwork by children undergoing long-term treatment.
The Kemacha section focuses on comprehensive care for children with cancer, haematological diseases and primary immunodeficiencies. It presents the National Strategy for 2025–2030, a unified patient care pathway, bone marrow transplantation, genomic technologies and precision medicine. The Taskin and Safo children's hospices, palliative care and psychosocial support for families are also featured as components of the care system.
The Imkon network of rehabilitation centres provides assistance to more than 5,000 children annually. The centres offer individual rehabilitation programmes, speech development support, psychological assistance and training in self-care skills.
The exhibition will conclude with the “Achievements” section and the creative zone “1000 Pieces — A Thousand Parts”, both dedicated to shared responsibility for children's well-being.
