Uzbekistan’s Children’s Ombudsman held a working meeting with Regina Maria Castillo, the newly appointed UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan on September 10. The meeting focused on strengthening joint initiatives aimed at improving child welfare and addressing key issues related to child rights and protection.
In recent years, Uzbekistan’s collaboration with UNICEF has expanded, with significant projects being implemented in areas such as child education, healthcare, and social protection. These efforts aim to enhance the effectiveness of educational conditions, ensure access to qualified medical services, and provide robust social protection for children.
During the meeting, both parties discussed several key initiatives, including:
- Promoting children’s legal literacy within state preschool and school institutions.
- Reaching an agreement to provide systematic support in training specialists working in child justice, alongside efforts to improve their qualifications.
- Developing mechanisms to remove minors involved in legal conflicts from the justice system, focusing on restorative legal and social measures.
- Enhancing teacher and educator communication with children in educational institutions, with specific attention to organizing training on preventing harassment and violence.
Castillo also highlighted her interest in conducting joint monitoring visits with the Children’s Ombudsman to assess the conditions in closed institutions where minors are held.
The discussion also covered the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) in Uzbekistan, an in-depth study that reviews the current status of children’s rights. This survey aims to identify weaknesses in child welfare systems. Both parties acknowledged the importance of continued collaboration with UNICEF to address these issues and improve the overall well-being of children in Uzbekistan.
