OMM Newsroom
More than 600 participants from over 100 countries gathered in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for the World Summit on Investing in Child Welfare. They discussed how health care, education, social protection, support for families and protecting children from violence affect their future.
The summit was held at Uzbekistan’s initiative and co-organized with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the World Bank, AnewZ reported.
Discussions highlighted that separate programs are not enough to improve children’s welfare: health, education and social services must work together to provide effective, long-term support.
Uneven global progress on child welfare raises concern
The summit took place amid concerns over uneven global progress on children’s welfare. UN officials warned that conflicts, poverty, climate-related shocks and declining international aid are increasing pressure on children in vulnerable situations.
In a message delivered through UN Resident Coordinator Sabine Machl, UN General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman urged governments to focus on making a real difference in children’s lives rather than on procedures.
Rahman outlined four priorities: put children before processes, design services around their needs, reach those furthest behind, and support political commitments with funding, accountability and concrete deadlines. He stressed that these commitments should also be reflected in national budgets.
Only 36% of Sustainable Development Goal targets that can be assessed are currently on track or showing moderate progress.
Uzbekistan presents changes to social services
At the summit, Uzbekistan presented reforms aimed at strengthening its social protection, education and health systems. According to figures presented by the country, the number of available social services has increased from 26 to 140. Preschool education coverage rose from 27.7% in 2017 to 78% in 2026.
A network of 208 “Inson” social service centers and about 9,000 social workers operates to identify families in need and connect them with essential services.
Medical care for childhood cancer was also a key topic. The Second International Congress on Childhood Cancer, held alongside the summit, examined ways to improve early diagnosis, modern treatment and rehabilitation, as well as children’s quality of life after treatment.
According to summit materials, the time between a suspected childhood cancer diagnosis and the start of treatment in Uzbekistan has fallen from 130–160 days to 10–18 days. The one-year survival rate has risen from 37% to 44.5%.
The “World Through a Child’s Eyes” exhibition covered different stages of childhood, from the first 1,000 days to education, health care, protection and preparation for independent life. It also highlighted the interconnected needs of children and families: a child recovering from cancer may need psychological support, education and rehabilitation, while a child at risk of violence may require medical, legal and social assistance. A family facing poverty may need several services at the same time.
Uzbekistan’s First Lady Ziroat Mirziyoyeva welcomed Türkiye’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan, Kyrgyzstan’s First Lady Aygul Japarova, Serbia’s First Lady Tamara Vučić, Lebanon’s First Lady Nehmat Aoun and Zimbabwe’s First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, along with other prominent representatives. Azerbaijan was represented by Leyla Aliyeva, vice president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
Adrien Brody, the Oscar-winning actor from the film “The Pianist,” also attended the summit. He presented a painting he had created to Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva.
The summit concluded with the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration on Investing in Child Welfare. Rather than setting out a single financing agreement, the declaration defines shared priorities and practical approaches to improving children’s lives. Its impact will depend on whether the commitments made in Samarkand are translated into concrete policies, sustained funding and measurable improvements for children.
