Samarkand Declaration on investing in children's wellbeing adopted

The global summit "Investing in Children's Wellbeing" has concluded its work in Samarkand. At the closing session, Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, First Deputy Director of the National Agency for Social Protection under the President, announced the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration.

The document has four sections: a shared vision, commitments by countries, financing, and joint work. It recalls that children make up one third of the world's population. It states that overlapping crises, including climate change, conflict, forced displacement, economic pressure and technological change, are deepening inequality, and that children, who bear the least responsibility for them, suffer the most. Countries take on eight commitments, in line with national conditions, priorities and capacities, covering social protection, protection from violence, online safety, early years and education, health, childhood cancer, family support and youth preparation.

Edouard Beghin, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, said the declaration sets a common direction. Naji Benhassine, World Bank Director for Central Asia, said governments face limited resources and must choose how to spend them, so it is important to state that investing in children's wellbeing is a priority. Speakers identified the main challenge as the gap between commitments and their implementation.