Tashkent, February 13, 2025 – The Europe Today: A seminar on “Implementation of the International Commitments of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Field of Children’s Rights and National Mechanisms for Their Implementation” was held at the Human Rights House under the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The event was attended by deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, representatives of the Youth Parliament under the chambers of the Oliy Majlis, and international experts.
Organized by the National Center for Human Rights of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, the UNICEF Office in Uzbekistan, and the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia, the seminar opened with welcoming speeches by Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mavludakhon Khojayeva, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, Regina Castillo, Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Uzbekistan, and other officials.
In his remarks, Mr. Saidov emphasized that Uzbekistan is home to 13 million children under 18, accounting for about 35 percent of the country’s population. He highlighted the fundamental importance of ensuring children’s rights in the nation’s development agenda.
Uzbekistan’s commitment to children’s rights dates back to its accession to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on December 9, 1992, shortly after gaining independence. The country ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography on December 11, 2008, and the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflicts on December 12, 2008. Currently, Uzbekistan is evaluating the possibility of joining the Third Optional Protocol, which concerns the procedure for filing complaints, with preparations underway for parliamentary ratification.
Participants at the seminar were briefed on Uzbekistan’s international commitments in the field of children’s rights, national mechanisms for their implementation, key provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and recommendations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The discussions particularly focused on effective parliamentary oversight mechanisms to protect children’s interests and ensure their rights and freedoms.
