Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 27 May, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, met with Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), who is on an official visit to the country. During the talks, they discussed the prospects for further expanding multilateral cooperation with this leading specialized agency of the UN system.

At the beginning of the meeting, the head of UNICEF conveyed warm greetings from the UN Secretary-General António Guterres to the President. High recognition was expressed for the reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan, alongside support for the national program aimed at ensuring children’s rights and expanding their opportunities.

Both parties expressed deep satisfaction with the level of cooperation achieved between Uzbekistan and UNICEF in recent years. With the Organization’s assistance, key legislative acts have been adopted in the country, including a law on protecting children from violence, as well as strategic documents in the fields of social protection and combating childhood cancer. UNICEF also provided significant support in countering the COVID-19 pandemic and developing the vaccination system.

Particular attention was given to the implementation of joint measures aimed at improving legislation, introducing modern care and support mechanisms for children, developing the social work system and training qualified personnel, enhancing the accessibility and quality of social services, as well as the development of national standards and the expansion of the social insurance system. The parties also discussed the development of inclusive education and other priority areas of cooperation.

During the meeting, an agreement was reached to develop and adopt a new Country Program through 2030, as well as to jointly conduct a series of international events dedicated to protecting children’s rights and promoting their interests.