In October, Samarkand hosted the First International Conference “The role of the mahalla in raising the standard of living of the population”.

The event was attended by representatives of international organizations such as the United Nations Office in Uzbekistan, the UNDP, the UNICEF, and the UNFPA, as well as ambassadors of foreign countries to Uzbekistan, representatives of more than 20 countries, and employees of ministries and agencies.

The participation of the mahalla in the development of entrepreneurship, employment, poverty reduction, social assistance and other issues in Uzbekistan, the activities of the Mahalla Seven, was discussed in detail.

The UN Representative Office in Uzbekistan and other partner international organizations signed the final declaration.

Recently, representatives of 194 countries at the UN Headquarters adopted this declaration as an official document.

The declaration noted the need to familiarize the world community with the unique Mahalla system in Uzbekistan, as well as strengthen cooperation with international self-governing organizations, support the employees’ activities of the mahalla system from the state and society. It is noted that there is a need to strengthen cooperation with international organizations and diplomatic missions in Uzbekistan to strengthen peace, interethnic friendship, and tolerance.

The document also underlines that in today’s rapidly changing and dangerous world, UNICEF considers the mahalla a powerful platform for implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UNDP Representative Office in Uzbekistan recognizes the mahalla as an important element of civil society and supports it through programs based on equality.

G. Khasanov, UzA