In a bold bid to build on both global and national momentum on ending violence against children, Uzbekistan today announced its National Pledge to the global Bogota Call to Action on Ending Violence Against Children.

The national pledge follows a series of decisive legal and institutional steps nationally by Uzbekistan in the last two years. The most recent being, the promulgation of “The Law on the Protection of Children from all forms of violence,” which came into force on 15th May.

The national pledge bridges political will to actual implementation of the new law through a multisectoral strategy and action plan.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said: “Uzbekistan’s national pledge under the Bogotá Call to Action and its aspiration to become a Pathfinding Country are powerful signals of commitment, not for leadership’s sake, but for shared responsibility, peer learning, and real results for children.”

In addition, she said UNICEF looked ahead to the finalization and adoption of a Multisectoral Strategy and Action Plan for the Prevention and Response to Violence against Children 2025–2035, which will lay the foundation for translating this law into practical, sustained change across sectors and systems.

Uzbekistan’s also announced its aspiration to join the Global Pathfinding Alliance initiative and invited ambassadors from other Central Asia countries to unify efforts to end violence against children and enable a deep exchange of promising practices and lessons learned across the region.

“Every child should be protected from violence - from any of its manifestations. In this world, there are no "other" children - just as there is no other child's pain. Today, more than ever, it is important to hear the voice of the children themselves. We call on everyone to pay attention to the "great pain of little hearts" and give children the opportunity to be heard. They have the right to speak”. - said Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, First Deputy Director of the National Agency for Social Protection.

The national pledge was announced at a high-level event attended by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva, Director of the National Agency for Social Protection Mansurbek Olloyorov and First Deputy Director of the Agency Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva.

The event also included a presentation of a multi-sectoral strategy and national action plan for child protection, a screening of the short film “I have the right” promoting children's rights, and a signing ceremony of the national pledge within the framework of the “Bogoto Call to Action”.

This event will serve as an important platform for demonstrating our country's strong position in child protection issues, developing practical solutions and sharing international experience.

The event was convened by the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (NASP) and the United Nations Children's Fund - UNICEF. The event was attended by heads of government agencies, representatives of the judicial system, education and health care, civil society organizations, youth, as well as ambassadors of foreign countries in Central Asia.