Tashkent hosted a roundtable discussion on “Eliminating violence against children: global initiatives and perspectives of Uzbekistan”. The event is organized by the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in cooperation with UNICEF in Uzbekistan.

During the discussion, Uzbekistan officially confirmed its commitment to the Bogota Call to Action, an international initiative that unites more than 100 countries in the fight against violence against children. The document proposes a clear and systematic agenda aimed at preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against minors.

Addressing the event, the First Deputy Director of the National Agency for Social Protection, Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, emphasized the importance of the issue:

– Today, 13 million children live in Uzbekistan, 35 percent of the country’s population. On average, 3-4 children are raised in each family. Unfortunately, parenting approaches that include elements of violence are often used in families. The problem of child abuse remains one of the most acute social problems everywhere. To date, the issue of combating violence against children has become an aspect of state policy in Uzbekistan. We consider the protection of children’s rights as a key element of our country’s sustainable development. The Law “On the protection of children from all forms of violence” will enter into force in May this year, but this is the beginning of the path towards the intended goal: a society without violence. Many tragedies remain hidden from society, but the fate of every child whose voice has gone unheard is essential to me. Every child has the right to safety, protection, and support.

Issues of improving legislation in child rights protection, the introduction of effective early response mechanisms, and the implementation of strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals until 2030 were discussed at the meeting.

Special attention was paid to practical steps to implement the new law’s provisions. The participants also discussed proposals for creating specialized emergency response services and launching comprehensive support programs for affected children and their families.

                                        Aziza Alimova, UzA