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Uzbekistan’s Senate Chairperson Tanzila Narbayeva met UNICEF Regional Director Eduard Beigbeder in Samarkand to discuss strengthening child protection systems, expanding social support and improving services for vulnerable children, including those with disabilities.
Beigbeder was in Uzbekistan to attend the World Summit on Investing in Children’s Wellbeing: A Path to Sustainable and Equitable Development for Future Generations, which provided the backdrop for the bilateral talks.
The two sides reviewed Uzbekistan’s ongoing legislative and institutional reforms aimed at reinforcing constitutional guarantees of children’s rights and improving social protection mechanisms. Cooperation with UNICEF was described during the meeting as a central element of those efforts.
Assessing how child protection law works in practice
A significant portion of the discussions focused on the implementation of existing legislation, including the law on protecting children from all forms of violence. The parties discussed the possibility of engaging UNICEF experts to assess how relevant legal provisions are being applied across different regions of the country, evaluate the effectiveness of assistance currently provided to children and develop practical measures based on those findings.
The meeting also addressed support for children’s individual development and talent, as well as practical assistance for professionals working with children and for parents navigating the system.
Family care and children with disabilities
Expanding opportunities for children without parental care to grow up in family environments was another focus. UNICEF acknowledged positive changes in Uzbekistan in this area, according to information shared at the meeting. Participants also discussed support for children raised in family-type children’s homes and assistance for families facing difficult circumstances.
Improving the availability and quality of services for children with disabilities was identified as a priority, alongside measures to ensure that existing social programmes are implemented effectively rather than remaining on paper.
The meeting concluded with both sides emphasising the importance of coordinating their work under UNICEF’s Country Programme for Uzbekistan covering 2026 to 2030, meeting the programme’s stated objectives and deepening practical cooperation in the period ahead.