The two-day global summit titled "Investing in Child Welfare" has officially concluded in the historic city of Samarkand. During the closing ceremony, Shahnoza Mirziyoyeva, First Deputy Director of the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of Uzbekistan, announced the formal adoption of the Samarkand Declaration. The comprehensive document is structured around four main sections, detailing shared visions, national commitments, financial frameworks, and collaborative actions aimed at securing a better future for children worldwide.

The opening sections of the declaration are anchored in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Participants highlighted that overlapping crises such as climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and economic pressures disproportionately affect children, who bear the least responsibility for these global challenges. Consequently, participating nations outlined eight core commitments, encompassing expanded social protection, safeguards against violence and cyberbullying, internet safety, early childhood development, inclusive education, and targeted healthcare initiatives including pediatric oncology care. *

The subsequent sections address critical matters of funding and multilateral cooperation, emphasizing that political pledges must be matched with tangible budgetary resources. International representatives, including UNICEF Regional Director Eduar Beigbeder and World Bank Country Director for Central Asia Naji Benhassine, pointed out that the primary hurdle remains bridging the gap between stated commitments and practical execution. The summit concluded with an address by Academy Award-winning actor Adrien Brody, who stressed the profound moral obligation of protecting vulnerable youth and presented Ms. Mirziyoyeva with an original artwork symbolizing marginalized individuals.

Source: www.gazeta.uz