Uzbekistan presents child protection initiatives at Central Asian ombudspersons forum in Astana

Uzbekistan showcased its child protection initiatives at the Central Asian ombudspersons forum in Astana

Surayyo Rakhmonova, Uzbekistan’s Ombudsperson for Children, shared the country’s experience in safeguarding children’s rights at the 2nd International Forum of Ombudspersons for Children from Central Asian countries, which was held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The forum was held under the theme "Children's Voices: National Strategies and a Safe Digital Environment," and gathered representatives from Central Asian countries, China, Japan and international organizations. The talks centered on national strategies for protecting children’s rights, improving child protection mechanisms and broadening international cooperation.

The event brought together ombudspersons for children from Central Asian countries, China and Japan, as well as representatives of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC), UNICEF and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Najat Maalla M'jid, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, also took part in the forum. Participants examined ways to ensure equal opportunities for children, build inclusive environments and reinforce mechanisms for protecting children’s rights. Particular focus was placed on shielding children from risks in the digital environment and supporting their psychological well-being.

At the plenary session, Uzbekistan’s Ombudsperson for Children Surayyo Rakhmonova described the country’s approach to making the best interests of the child a priority. She said that protecting children’s interests is a long-term strategic objective for Uzbekistan.

Rakhmonova said that over the past five years, Uzbekistan has adopted key legislation on children’s rights, created specialized bodies and introduced new forms of social protection for children. During the forum, international organizations praised Uzbekistan’s national experience in protecting children’s rights and its commitment to this field.

As part of the forum, participants met with Elvira Azimova, Chair of the Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan. The meeting featured a presentation on constitutional reforms carried out in Kazakhstan and their importance for the state and society.

Participants were also briefed on new constitutional provisions designed to guarantee children’s rights and freedoms. The meeting offered a chance to exchange views on the experiences of Central Asian countries in constitutional justice.

The creation of a regional cooperation platform for representatives of Central Asian countries working in the field of children’s rights was first proposed by Uzbekistan. The first forum held under this initiative took place in Tashkent. The second forum in Astana carried forward discussions on protecting children’s rights, national strategies and cooperation among the participating countries and international organizations.