United Nations in Uzbekistan

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Uzbekistan:

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17 June 2020

Launch of Decade of Action to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in Uzbekistan

UN in partnership with the Senate of Oliy Majlis and nationwide movement “Yuksalish” has launched Decade of Action to achieve the SDGs in Uzbekistan by 2030

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Press Release

01 July 2020

UN in Uzbekistan and OCHA deliver inter-agency humanitarian assistance to Sirdaryo region

The UN Office in Uzbekistan handed over humanitarian relief items includingCOVID-19 protection items to the khokimiat of Sardoba district following the breach of the Sardoba reservoir dam in the Sirdaryo region in May 2020. The humanitarian assistance. worth USD 30,000, was purchased by United Nations in Uzbekistan with funds allocated by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and includes disposable masks and gloves, hygiene items, buckets for drinking water, cooking pots, wash bins and other first necessity products. “I am pleased to hand over this humanitarian assistance, which will provide needed support to people of Sardoba. In addition to replacing items that people lost in the crisis, we are also providing personal protection items to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Clearly, a long-term, safe and dignified solution for tens of thousands of people, many of whom have lost their homes, is needed to make sure no one is left behind,” said Helena Fraser, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan. About United Nations in Uzbekistan The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Uzbekistan currently comprises 14 resident and 10 non-resident UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes who work together to advance national development priorities in line with the Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals. Currently, the cooperation with the UN agencies and the Republic of Uzbekistan is carried out under the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for 2016-2020, aligned to the Action Strategy 2017-2021. Priority areas of cooperation include: ·Inclusive economic development, with a focus on employment and social protection; ·Quality health and education, to fully realize human potential; ·Environmental protection, to ensure sustainable development; ·Effective governance, to enhance public service delivery and the protection of rights. About OCHA OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies.

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Speech

24 September 2020

Statement by the UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Helena Fraser on the Speech by the President of Uzbekistan at the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly

On behalf of the UN Country Team in Uzbekistan, I would like to express my appreciation of the President’s speech at the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. I commend President Mirziyoyev’s clear assessment of global and regional challenges, and welcome his concrete proposals and initiatives to address them. The President tabled a number of new proposals, while others were already familiar, such as the Convention on Youth Rights and the proposal for a special General Assembly resolution the on the Aral Sea. The speech clearly reflected Uzbekistan’s increasing role as a regional leader in many areas, including in supporting peace and socio-economic development in Afghanistan, in promoting regional cooperation for transport and connectivity, in tackling climate change and counter-terrorism. I also welcome the special emphasis given in the speech to gender equality and women’s participation. I took careful note of the President’s proposal for a special resolution of the General Assembly on parliaments’ role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and human rights. It is indeed true that parliamentarians can – and must – play a vital role in adopting laws compliant with SDG commitments and human rights obligations. They also play an extremely significant part in monitoring the effective implementation of UN human rights bodies’ recommendations and of national SDG targets in areas as diverse as anti-corruption, environmental protection, labour rights, disability inclusion. Parliaments can also play a leading role in facilitating inclusive dialogue between state institutions and civil society. The President’s proposal is significant because Uzbekistan’s Parliament has developed important experience in advancing sustainable development and human rights in recent years. Specifically, I welcome the increasing oversight exercised by the Oliy Majlis on important international commitments, including through the national Commission on human trafficking, the Commission on gender equality, and the bicameral Commission on SDGs. This latter Commission exists to scrutinize Government agencies’ implementation of formal national SDG targets, and also reviewed Uzbekistan’s first Voluntary National Review on this topic, which was presented at the UN High-Level Political Forum in July this year. The Oliy Majlis is also playing an important role in analyzing draft legislation, and in this connection I welcome the increasing engagement of international experts in parliamentary hearings in Uzbekistan. Such experts can provide important insights on alignment to human rights obligations. The UN Country Team, including among others UNDP, UNICEF, UNDP, ILO, UNODC, OHCHR, WHO and UNESCO, is already working actively with the Oliy Majlis in to promote further engagement on the SDGs and on human rights, and we look forward to supporting Uzbekistan to share this experience on the global stage. In closing, let me note that this year’s General Assembly is a historic occasion. It is 75 years since the Organisation was founded to ‘save succeeding generations from the scourge of war’. And this General Assembly is happening at a time when the world is facing unprecedented threats from several sources – geo-strategic tensions, the climate crisis, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges transcend borders, and only through global solidarity and multilateral approaches can they be effectively addressed. It is therefore a very positive sign that the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan referenced his strong support for the United Nations and for multilateralism in his statement to the General Assembly. I am happy to note that the people of Uzbekistan have also voiced such support! Earlier this year, the UN Secretary-General launched a global conversation, the “UN75” campaign, to ensure the UN uses the occasion of the jubilee year to listen to and learn from the voices of the people we serve. The UN75 survey reached more than a million people around the world, with a special focus on the voices of youth. It’s a testament to Uzbekistan’s strong commitment to the UN, that over 34,000 people from Uzbekistan have so far joined this conversation – placing us in the top ten survey responding countries! Moreover, with support from the Oliy Majlis, over 33 UN75 dialogues were conducted across the country, with around 3,000 people from all walks of life, from Parliamentarians to the most disadvantaged. All these people shared their fears and hopes for the future, and one common thread unites their feedback: international cooperation is vital to deal with today’s challenges. Now, more than ever, multilateralism matters.

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Story

20 April 2021

A career with interruptions: Laziza’s story

Though it might sound a common accomplishment, in real life working women experience unique barriers to reconcile their carriers and family life. Laziza’s story illustrates hurdles women face to access their rights to paid maternity leave: although employed with a formal labour contract she was not able to effectively access all rights. t thanks to her hard work/, she was able to overcome them and achieve her goals. Today she is one of the best HR specialists and an important employee of her company. However, obstacles in realisation of the right to maternity protection are often insurmountable for many. This is despite the fact that Uzbekistan ratified ILO Convention on Maternity Protection, 1952 (No 103), which enshrines the right of women employed in industrial undertakings, non-industrial, agricultural occupations and women wage earners at home, to maternity leave, medical and cash benefits. These benefits should be tailored to maintain the health of mother and child, as well as their living standards. Job search Close to graduation from her master’s studies, Laziza started applying to various vacancies and taking job interviews. Since she was newly married, many organizations refused to hire her, expecting that she would have to take maternity leave soon after. In one organisation, she went through all recruitment stages, and in the end, she was asked to sign a declaration, committing herself not to take a leave from work for five years due to pregnancy and maternity. She had to refuse. “I could not make such a long-term commitment at that time, and this was the only reason for the rejection of that offer,” remembers Laziza. First job and first child After her studies, she started teaching a foreign language in a public school. She enjoyed teaching and working with children. A year into her job, she realised that soon she would become a mother. Joy and excitement filled her in anticipation of the firstborn. The whole family was rejoiced after accepting this news. However, unpleasant news awaited her at school. The school administration directly told Laziza that she could take (maternity) leave, but she would not receive any maternity benefits. So, her leave was officially registered, according to which she had a right to maternity cash benefit, but as she was informed earlier, she did not receive it. Having decided to defend her rights, Laziza entered into an unpleasant conflict with the school administration. In the end of the day, the employer agreed to hand over the money that they received as maternity benefit from the public budget but decided to conceal from Laziza to use it for themselves. “After the maternity leave, I could not return to this school, although I loved my job. The attitude of the administration has deteriorated so much that it was uncomfortable for me to work in that environment,” says Laziza. “Maternity benefit is a significant help for a young family that is getting ready for childbirth and for covering expenses in the first months after the birth.” “Common practice in the private sector” After her second son's birth, Laziza decided to return to the labour market and started working in a private company as an office manager. During the recruitment process, the management warned her that in that company, as elsewhere in the private sector, there is no practice of paying maternity benefits. This did not discourage her from joining the company as she liked the work and the team. After working for a couple of years at that company, Laziza was about to become a mother for the third time. This time there she was prepared in advance that the company would not pay her maternity benefit. The company terminated the employment contract with Laziza but promised that the contract with her would be renewed as soon as she decided to return to work. “According to the current legislation, private companies must pay maternity benefits from their own budget, and I understood that it is an additional financial burden for employers. Therefore, I did not demand payments from my company. Since I was already an experienced mother, I was ready to return to work after 6 months after my daughter’s birth. The team warmly welcomed my return,” recalls Laziza. During her third maternal leave, Laziza received social benefit for childcare (intended for families living with low incomes), financed from the state budget and delivered by local self-government bodies/mahalla. This benefit intended for families living with low incomes helped cover the cost of daily necessities despite their small size. Laziza's story is not unique. Many women in Uzbekistan face similar problems in their professional life. According to Laziza herself, many of her friends from the university were unable to start their careers because of discrimination based on possible pregnancy. Others had to quit their jobs when they became mothers. Few have managed to find a way to combine both career and motherhood. Lack of access to rights in case of maternity contributes to gender inequality at work, and income insecurity that is vital in for maternal and child health. Maternity protection in the workplace gives women a chance to fulfil their professional potential and contribute to their families and society as a whole. Commentary from the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Uzbekistan: The lawyer of the Federation of Trade Union confirms that Laziza’s story is very topical and understands how difficult combining personal and professional life for women could be. According to Article 233 of the Labour Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 1995, all women formally employed in public and private sectors are entitled to maternity leave of seventy calendar days before childbirth and fifty-six calendar days after it with payment of state social insurance benefits. Any practices from employers about non-granting the official leave and non-payment of benefits are illegal. However, it should be noted that current procedures of maternity benefit provision violate the Labour Code. According to the charter on the provision of state social benefits dated 08.05.2002, in for-profit/private entities maternity benefits are paid from the own funds of enterprises. Commentary from the National Gender Commission on Gender Equality under the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan: The National Commission on Gender Equality has scrutinised the national legislation to check for the conformity of women's labour and entrepreneurial rights with social security standards. To prevent discrimination and unfair treatment like Laziza faced, the Commission is proposing amendments to Article 24 of the Law “On equal rights and opportunities for women and men”. ‘We think the state must guarantee rights to maternity and paternity leaves, and maternity benefits must be paid from the state budget. – stated the member of the Gender Equality Commission. Improving the national legislation in line with international standards The UN Joint Programme on Strengthening Social Protection in Uzbekistan supports the Government and social partners to increase their understanding of international social security standards for workers with family responsibilities, and their application into national legislation, policy and practice. Maternity protection and paternity leaves are integral parts of these standards. The first step towards realisation of the right to maternity protection in Uzbekistan would be to ensure effective access to women to health, maternity leave and cash benefits in line with provisions of Maternity Protection Convention, 1952 (No. 103). The National Gender Commission and the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance are already undertaking the next step – review of national legislation in line with up-to-date maternity protection standards, that is Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No.183). Up to date maternity protection standards provide for maternity benefits ensuring that women can maintain themselves and their child in health and at the suitable levels of living standards. These standards prohibit discrimination based on maternity: employers are not allowed to terminate the employment contract during pregnancy or maternity leave. Importantly, the scope of coverage with rights includes women in formal employment (both private and public sector) and women in non-standard forms of employment; while benefits are financed from worker’s and employer’s contributions as well as from general budget.

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Story

22 February 2021

Skills to last a lifetime

“I’m originally from a small desert town called Uchkuduk,” says Malika, age 14. “And like a lot of other girls, I took dancing and singing classes and never thought about technology,” she says. That’s a common refrain. In many places around the world, the so-called “STEM” subjects—science, technology, engineering, and math—are dominated by boys. But schools in Uzbekistan are trying to get girls more involved, too. Things changed for Malika when her family moved to Tashkent, the capital city. “I missed my friends back home so much,” she says. But she also found exciting new opportunities and started taking courses in graphic design, movie making, and other technologies. One weekend, Malika saw an announcement calling on girls to take part in something called the “Technovation Challenge Uzbekistan.” The challenge is part of a global nonprofit called Technovation that helps girls solve real-world problems through technology, and is supported in Uzbekistan by multiple United Nations agencies and other organizations. Malika and several other girls formed a team in 2019 and talked about what issues they might address. “Back in my hometown,” Malika told her teammates, “a lot of kids’ fathers or other relatives had to leave Uzbekistan to find work.” Other girls had similar stories. They were noticing on a local scale what is a national trend: hard economic times are driving more and more Uzbekistanis to migrate to Russia, Europe, East Asia and beyond in search of work. “This was personal for us,” Malika says. “We wanted to help migrants have safer journeys.” Malika’s team met with staff from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to brainstorm about how to use technology to help. The team created a mobile app called “Plov Time,” which gives information on migrant labor laws in different countries, how to apply for a migration card, and how to deal with emergencies such as when they are detained. “This project was a double-win,” says Sanjarbek Toshbaev, country manager of the IOM in Uzbekistan. “Migrants win because they get a really useful app in Plov Time. And girls also win, because they get involved in technology and other STEM topics. Both of those are good for the country.” Made with Love and a Smile It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon in Tashkent, and two teenage sisters, Nastarin and Sevinch, are playing hide-and-seek with their 8-year-old brother, Akhmadjon, at a local museum. “My brother was born with Down syndrome,” Sevinch explains. “There are limited opportunities for early childhood education for kids with Down Syndrome. So we did some research. We found that many organizations use the ‘Ages and Stages’ questionnaire to screen for Down Syndrome and help young people progress.” For the Technovation Challenge in 2018, the sisters and two other teammates developed the “Sun Child” app, which uses the questionnaire to help parents evaluate the skills of a child born with Down Syndrome. “When doctors told me that my son Rustam was born with Down Syndrome, I was shocked and I didn’t know how to cope,” says Aziza Karimova, family care coordinator of Umnichka, an education NGO. “I wish I had had a tool like Sun Child. I think this app can really help all parents and children to start their development pathways.” Inspired by the Technovation Challenge, Nastarin continued exploring further opportunities in the tech sector. She and some friends received a tech award in South Korea in 2019, when they presented an app that helps include children with disabilities in regular classrooms. Her sister Sevinch is now a student at Inha University in Tashkent, which specializes in technology and business. “This programme provides an important catalyst to get more girls into STEM,” says Helena Fraser, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan. “They learn skills that will last them a lifetime. All it takes is some support and encouragement. And by providing that support, we tackle inequalities and innovate for change.” Progress for families means progress for Uzbekistan Since its launch in 2017, the Technovation Challenge has backed more than 500 young programmers across Uzbekistan—all of them girls—and focused on such issues as education, health, and poverty. Girls were provided with mentors and publicity support from several UN agencies, including IOM, UNICEF, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). Projects like the Technovation Challenge have spurred a growing interest in STEM subjects among girls and women. For example, the Challenge’s academic partner, Inha University in Tashkent, has seen a dramatic increase in the number of women students—from 8% in 2016 to 35% in 2018, and still climbing. Such progress in line with Uzbekistan’s national goal to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. “The Technovation Challenge helped me to become more confident, improve my public speaking skills, and work in a team,” says Malika. “Now my dream is to create something cool that will help as many people as possible.” Malika looks at her watch. She has to rush off to her coding class at Inha University. “I am a girl,” she says, confidently. “Who says I can’t make it?” Produced by UN Uzbekistan. Story by Anvar Meliboev, UN Information Officer, UN Uzbekistan, with editorial support by Paul VanDeCarr, Development Coordination Office.

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Story

22 February 2021

“This journey is just starting—see you at UN100!”

There are 10 years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. That’s the ambitious to-do list for prosperity and peace that the countries of the world agreed upon at the United Nations in 2015. In Uzbekistan, the United Nations and the government decided to take the pulse of the country and its priorities. This exercise would enlist thousands of people across the country, collecting their stories and perspectives on what should be next for the UN in their country. The UN in Uzbekistan held 49 dialogues with people nationwide, bringing together more than 5,500 people, including those most vulnerable to poverty, poor health, and other such indignities. Another 35,000 people have taken the #UN75 survey. Several of them spoke about COVID-19 and the need for relief from the pandemic, which has lasted since at least 15 March, when the first cases were recorded. Nilufar: “Take care of the future” Nilufar is a single mother, a university student, an employee of the regional Ministry of Health—and she volunteers by collecting and distributing food in her community. “At times I would ask myself, ‘why I am doing this, putting my life and health at risk?’ However, whenever I delivered aid to the elderly, people with disabilities or needy people, I would get my answer. I’m educated, I speak several languages. Friends said to me, why don’t you leave, for your own safety? I replied, “if people like me leave, who’s going to take care of the future? The notion of leaving no one behind matches perfectly with my belief in a better future. We need to be more collaborative, more passionate and to help each other.” Rajab: “It’s a long road” Rajab is a 19-year-old student in Western Uzbekistan. At age 13, he lost his leg in a car accident. “After the car accident, I went through a deep depression, but with support of my family and relatives I decided not give up on my dreams and studied hard to enter university. Before COVID-19, I’d meet my friends every day, we’d talk for hours. Life was different. Now, during the lockdown, it’s hard to be in isolation, not seeing friends, not being able to talk to them offline. On top of that, during the lockdown, both my parents lost their jobs, which threatened our ability to pay for things. The future should bring new opportunities, with accessible and affordable healthcare, affordable access to digital technologies, respect for human rights and decent employment for youth. It’s a long road, but you have to keep walking. See you at #UN100! It’s hard to imagine, but I will be 44 in 2045. Let’s cross our fingers that we all be will be better off.” Muborak: “What will be their future?” COVID-19 took a lot of people by surprise, including 48-year-old Muborak, a banker from Tashkent. “At the beginning of July, I contracted coronavirus and was hospitalized. In my hospital ward, there were two elderly women with me. Despite my anxiety, uncertainty, and depression, hope was the only way to stay positive. We always tried to help each other, sharing happy memories and plans for future. I am sure that it was showing kindness to each other that helped us all to make it through; kindness healed us and brought us a glimmer of hope. Looking at my children, I often catch myself thinking, what will be their future? Will they be able to find a decent job? Will the rule of law be observed and what will the environmental situation in Uzbekistan be?” Ruslan: “Recovery will take some time” Ruslan is a 43-year-old businessman in Tashkent. 2020 was marked by the birth of his second son, and an end to all his plans for the year—including opening a new auto parts store. Ruslan is active in a virtual community of businesspeople, helping to buy food and medicine for seniors in Uzbekistan. “My business was on the verge of collapse, it was psychologically difficult to stay at home and not be able to communicate in person, especially not to see my parents. We will defeat the invisible enemy (of the coronavirus), and we need to show kindness and support each other, especially the elderly. My most recent photo with my parents dates back to 2011 and I blame myself for not spending much time with them. The pandemic has brought me closer to my parents, it’s made all of us stronger. It’s too early to relax though. Recovery will take some time. The international community should strengthen solidarity between nations and people and make a priority of universal access to healthcare.” Produced by UN Uzbekistan. Story by Anvar Meliboev, National Public Information Officer, UN in Uzbekistan, with editorial support from Paul VanDeCarr, Development Coordination Office.

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Story

05 November 2020

"I knew that someday I would get my family back". The story of Timur

My dad left for Russia to work in 2011, and since then, I have not seen him again. After my dad left, my mom found it difficult to raise me and my two brothers all by herself. We lived in our grandparents’ house, but they were seriously ill and later died. I needed leg surgery because of a burn I got when I was little, and my brother had been infected with TB. We had no money. We had nothing to eat, and my mom had to separate us. My 9-year-old brother was taken away to a boarding school for tuberculosis patients, and I was sent to the Mehribonlik orphanage. I was 10 years old when I first arrived at the orphanage. I was treated well there. I made friends and after a month I got used to the new place and the new environment. However, I missed my mom and brothers a lot. We were well fed over there, I even had my own bed. I made friends and attended classes. However, Mom rarely visited me because she was working far away. She got 40,000 sums a day for washing dishes in a canteen, but dad did not send us any money at all. Mom cried a lot; she missed us a lot, since we had always lived together. During those two years, my elder brother Azam lived with my aunt. At the age of 16, he started to earn money during the summer holidays, but this was not enough to help our mother. We were growing and our clothes were getting small. We needed a home to live together again. Now things have changed. Today is my twelfth birthday. I'm an adult now. Mom took me and my brother back from boarding school. We were given some land and now we are building a three-room house. We only have to finish building the roof, floor, and ceiling. My mom, my brothers and I are temporarily living at my uncle’s house. The government helped me to have my leg surgery in Germany and now I am feeling better. Mom works, and Azam works part-time loading goods at our aunt's store after school. He has begun to communicate with dad once a month, but it is still not enough. During the quarantine, we are studying at home by watching lessons on TV, and my aunt is helping us with our homework. UNICEF brought us pens, notebooks, educational books, and games to cheer us up during this difficult time. Our local community committee sometimes collects money, food and clothing for us. My mom has become more confident and happier since we started to live together again. My younger brother and I dream of finishing school and entering college. I want to become a doctor, and my brother wants to be in the military. My elder brother Azam wants to become an entrepreneur and help our family and mom dreams of creating a comfortable new home as soon as possible. However, my brothers and I have an even more important dream which we are not able to achieve. We want our parents to be together again and never leave us. However, the love and harmony we have in our family is a strength that neither boarding school nor poverty can destroy. We have gone through many difficulties and are now reunited to continue our life's journey together. After the labour migration of parents, family ties can break. Children can suffer from a lack of love and care from relatives, from loneliness, or they might have to start working at an early age to support their families. Fortunately, thanks to the cooperation and combined efforts of the community, the local city hall, and social workers, Timur's family was reunited. Now he is on his way to making his dreams come true. The story of Timur illustrates work carried out within the framework of the interregional project “Protecting children affected by migration in Southeast, South and Central Asia”, funded by the European Union and UNICEF.

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Story

13 October 2020

Life lessons for girls – Anastasia’s story

For me, as a female, this is a very important date, because girls need special care, attention and protection. Unfortunately, a woman may not always be heard. She cannot always count on help and support. Her parents will not always be alive, she may not always have the chance to get married successfully or have a reliable spouse nearby. Everything can collapse in one moment, and she must be ready to be strong and take it on the chin. Then, these life lessons will serve as a test of endurance for the girl and lay a solid foundation. My parents supported my choice of future profession; I clearly knew where I was going and what I wanted to do. I was brought up in a traditional family. My mom is a teacher, and Dad is a doctor. My family values were traditional: getting a higher education; marriage, childbirth, career growth. My parents supported my choice of future profession; I clearly knew where I was going and what I wanted to do. Back in my school years, my chemistry teacher made me fall in love with their subject, this powerful science, which is embedded in our most necessary vital resources and processes. In pursuit of my goal, I entered the Academic Lyceum, where I could prepare to enter university to study for a degree in oil and gas processing. I got married at 21. However, after the birth of my son, for some reason, my family broke up. This can happen in a woman's life. It was the fall of 2017, a crucial time, when I was graduating from the Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology. During that difficult period for me, the dearest and most understanding person in my life, my mother, stood by me. She took all the material and moral difficulties on her shoulders. I remember nights when I stood with my notes on oil refining in one hand, holding my son and breastfeeding him with the other one. It was getting a higher education that prevented me from breaking down during this difficult time. My notes were followed by presentations, term papers, engineering drawings, a graduation qualification thesis, preparation for entrance examinations for a master's degree and then obtaining that degree. However, my interests were not limited to the study of chemistry. I have always tried to learn something new. With the support of my mother, from the age of 10, I was a junior reporter for the national children's newspaper “Klass!”, and from the age of 12, I participated in various projects run by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). This is what contributed to my development as a person. One of those projects was related to photography. I was fortunate enough to meet the Italian photographer Giacomo Pirozzi, who taught children from Uzbekistan the basics of photography. Thanks to this fateful meeting, I made good friends from around the world. Over the years my hobby of photography has grown into a serious occupation. I was admitted to a professional school, a studio at the Tashkent House of Photography. Photography has become a means of self-expression for me. I am very glad that I’ve had the opportunity to share my story with girls around the world! I want to repeat once again that being educated means being self-confident, of interest to those around you and to your family and lets you pass on the knowledge you’ve gained to the younger generation.

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Press Release

28 July 2021

Key principles of gender-responsive budgeting were discussed in Uzbekistan

The United Nations Join Programme Strengthening Social Protection in Uzbekistan conducted the sixth on line webinar addressing gender equality. This time members of the Uzbek parliament, government agencies and ILO’s social partners got acquainted with the concept of gender-responsive budgeting, tools and international practices and discussed the ways of it can be applied into the budget and policy-making process in Uzbekistan. The webinar offered comprehensive insight of the concept of gender-responsive budgeting and international practices and tools based on collective experiences of UN Women, International Labour Organisation, UNICEF and UNDP. According to UN Women Gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) is an approach to systematically integrate gender equality objectives into government policy, planning, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation, and audit. It does not mean simply developing a separate budget for women. It is a comprehensive policy that also includes the collection and allocation of public resources to empower both women and men by considering diversity of their rights, needs, interests, educational, geographical, ethnic, income and dis/ability backgrounds throughout the lifecycle and minimising negative aspects of gender inequality. Currently, Uzbekistan is developing three major strategies until 2030 on social protection, employment, and poverty reduction. It is important to mainstream gender equality in these strategies to ensure that no one is left behind. It is gratifying to observe increased attention to existing gender problems in Uzbekistan that has translated into two laws specifically targeting gender equality. These thoughts were shared in the welcoming speech of Ms Gulnora Marufova, First Deputy Minister of Makhalla and Family Support and the member of Gender Commission under the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. She also expressed her confidence that capacity building activities on GRB would help to improve the quality of legal acts and promote gender equality in Uzbekistan. Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Jamshid Abruev shared the progress of collaboration with international development agencies in promoting gender equality. Particularly in the field of GRB, the Ministry of Finance is developing an action plan with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank. This action plan will enable the Ministry of Finance and other line ministries to integrate gender equality principles in their budgeting processes. Gender audit, analysis of gender issues based on sex-disaggregated data are an inherent component of GRB. Academia and research centres play a vital role in providing the evidence base for tailoring policies. Ms Victoria Alexeyeva, Deputy Director of Ijtimoiy Fikr Research Center, highlighted research projects on gender issues conducted by the centre she leads and how this think tank was supporting the government in tackling genderbased inequalities. In her presentation, Ms Margarita Ozonas Marcos, ILO International consultant, shared the main principles of GRB, and illustrated its importance using real-life examples. She also explained key tools and methods of GRB and the role each government agency and civil society organisation play in the successful introduction of this approach in the policy-making process. The presentation was followed by brief polls to help the participants to assess their learning. In the Q&A session, the participants discussed models of GRB in different countries and the ways of its integration in Uzbekistan. Video materials shared during the presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mquOclPJYPs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVW858gQHoE

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Press Release

22 July 2021

SILVERLEAFE Joins the United Nations Global Compact as the First from the Agro-Industry Sector in Uzbekistan

Silverleafe, LLC (Silverleafe), an Uzbek-American joint venture providing an innovative model of mechanized agricultural clusters since 2018, has joined the United Nations (UN) Global Compact initiative— a voluntary leadership platform launched in 2000 for the development, implementation, and disclosure of responsible business practices. On 14 July 2021, Silverleafe became the first organization in Uzbekistan from the agro-business industry to become a member of the United Nations Global Compact. Silverleafe, established in 2018, mainly operates in the areas of agriculture, irrigation, and textiles. In the last three years, Silverleafe has played an important role to modernize agricultural reforms in Uzbekistan with the introduction of new technology as well as digitalization of agricultural data. Particularly, their contribution to improving the efficiency of cotton cultivation, a major industry in Uzbekistan, has been significant. Silverleafe is also a strong advocate to promote women’s empowerment, as evidenced by the launch of the Silverleafe Women’s Fund for Innovation and Development last year. Furthermore, they have proactively engaged in various community initiatives including public safety projects and child oncology support and championing the private sector’s role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and its national targets in Uzbekistan’s agro-industry. Dan Patterson, General Director of Silverleafe, said that “Silverleafe’s participation in the UN Global Compact is a re-affirmation of our commitment to conduct operations with the highest standards of business ethics, respect for human rights and its resolution to improving and protecting the lives of individuals in its local, regional and national communities.” Silverleafe’s standards as set forth in its Code of Conduct apply to all facilities that produce goods for Silverleafe or any of its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, contractors, or agents. These standards are based on internationally accepted labor standards and guidelines outlined by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Mr. Patterson continued that “our participation in the UN Global Compact is a key milestone to contribute to climate positive and resilient agricultural innovation ensuring sustainable value chain.” The UN in Uzbekistan recognizes the laudable steps that Silverleafe has taken to take part in the reforms in the country. As the first for-profit business organization from the agro-business industry to sign up as a member of the UN Global Compact, Silverleafe is indeed an innovator. Ms. Helena Fraser, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan noted that “Silverleafe’s progressive actions paved the way for other organizations to break the old stereotypes regarding the investment climate in Uzbekistan. Through its vision-mission and code of conduct, Silverleafe has been an epitome on how to be a sustainable development catalyst at local, national, and global levels.” The UN in Uzbekistan stands ready to partner with the private sector and businesses in incorporating sustainability principles and facilitate the dialogue between interested business organizations to drive change in business behavior and help drive the country’s sustainability agenda and national development goals. Ms. Fraser continued that, “together, the UN and the private sector can combine and capitalize on its comparative strengths and resources to deliver the much needed and meaningful results to the present and future generations.” About Silverleafe, LLC Silverleafe is a US-Uzbek joint venture agro-cluster that started in the Jizzakh region in Uzbekistan. It brings modern practices and technologies to Uzbekistan's agriculture, irrigation, and textile industries. Silverleafe is committed to improving the lives of individuals in its local, regional, and national communities through the modernization it brings to Uzbekistan through the following tasks: integrate the local population into the modernization process, through training and practical training; contribute to the saturation of the domestic market with high-quality, competitive products, with its introduction to the international market; and promote the social, educational, and humanitarian programs in the field of education, medicine, and sports. About the UN Global Compact Launched in 2000, the United Nations Global Compact is both a policy platform and a practical framework for companies that are committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. It is the largest corporate sustainability initiative globally, with over 10,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries and more than 60 Local Networks. As a multi-stakeholder leadership initiative, it seeks to align business operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.

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Press Release

14 July 2021

Joint UN-Government Steering Committee and Partners' Meeting

On July 13, 2021, the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction, together with UN representatives, organized the 1st Meeting of the Joint Coordinating Council for the implementation of the UN Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development for Uzbekistan for 2021-2025. The event was attended by First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Ilkhom Norkulov, directors of departments of the Ministry Ilkhom Mamatkulov and Miryusup Umarov, heads of relevant ministries and departments, as well as representatives of international organizations and diplomatic consulates in Uzbekistan, such as the UN, UNDP, UNICEF, the Embassy of Japan and others. The main issues raised at this event were issues on discussing the key results of development cooperation between the UN and Uzbekistan for 2020, coordinating the planned results of the UN Country Team for 2021-2022 and approving the relevant Joint Work Plans. In addition, during the event, the proposed management structure of the Cooperation Framework was reviewed and approved, as well as a review of the long-term funding framework for the Cooperation Framework for 2021-2025 was conducted. It is worth noting that the First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Ilkhom Norkulov made a speech at the event. In his report, he emphasized the leading role of the UN in accelerating the socio-economic recovery of the republic in the post-pandemic period. In addition, based on the unique world practice and innovative developments of the UN, further cooperation was agreed on issues such as increasing human capital, implementing a Poverty Reduction Strategy, and in other areas. Representatives of international organizations, in particular Helena Fraser (UN Permanent Coordinator in Uzbekistan), Matilda Dimovska (UNDP Permanent Representative in Uzbekistan), Munir Mammadzade (UNICEF Permanent Representative in Uzbekistan), made speeches at this meeting. During their speeches, each of the representatives presented the strategic priorities of the United Nations and the final results for 2021-2025, as well as the multi-year funding framework. As a result of the meeting, a number of conceptual documents were approved that provide for effective achievement in the implementation of the Cooperation Framework Program. In particular, the approval of the composition of the coordinating Council by the government, the working plans of the UN country team, as well as the structure of working and technical groups in the following areas were discussed. More information about the JWP 2021-2022 as well as about the 2020 UN collective results can be found in the presentation accessible here.

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Press Release

09 July 2021

Advisory Committee on sustainable development of the Aral Sea Region gains momentum

The Third Meeting of the Advisory Committee on sustainable development of the Aral Sea Region in Uzbekistan was held on 8 July 2021 in a virtual format. The meeting was organized by the United Nations in Uzbekistan together with the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade (MIFT) of Uzbekistan with the participation of relevant ministries and departments, as well as representatives of international and public organizations and the private sector. The Advisory Committee operates with the support of three Working Groups. In particular, the Visibility Working Group endorsed the Terms of Reference and adopted the Work Plan for 2021. Within its framework, participation, co-organization of international events such as participation to the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), are planned with the direct engagement of the Government, the UN, and relevant stakeholders. Through the series of workshop sessions of the Working Group on Sustainable Investments from February to July 2021, collective thinking methodology was applied to identify six integrated issues such as land and scarce resources, demographic shifts, persistent cultural norms, changes in industry, education and workforce misalignment, and governance of infrastructure in the Aral Sea region. Thus, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan, in cooperation with partners, is constructing systems interventions or systemic responses to systemic challenges. As a result, the Group was able to develop high-impact proposals. The Technical Group on Data and Assessments led by UNDP provides evidence and rationale for portfolio analysis and investments in the Aral Sea region. The team of international experts has been mapping the data available in different sources. The mapped data has been categorized in three groups: (i) available and accessible; (ii) available, but inaccessible; and (iii) unavailable and inaccessible. Data Repository is one of the key milestones of the Group so far. The socio-economic portrait and 2030 forecast scenarios for Karakalpakstan have been presented by UNDP. Socio-economic trends for the last decades and 2030 forecast scenarios have been analyzed and shared with the participants. It was concluded that Karakalpakstan has benefitted from significant investments and resource transfers and made progress in catching up with the rest of Uzbekistan in terms of per-capita income, agricultural production, and access to basic services. Meanwhile, progress is evident relatively to a lesser extent in some other areas, such as employment growth, social protection systems, and poverty reduction. The Government of Uzbekistan presented the draft of the Integrated Roadmap. The purpose of the Integrated Roadmap is the implementation of the UN Resolution, which will lead to the sustainable improvement of the living conditions and livelihoods of people in the Aral Sea region of Uzbekistan, as well as the restoration of an active ecosystem and enhancement of biodiversity in the surrounding areas. The integrated roadmap of program measures for the cohesive development of the Aral Sea region will: Promote the development of consolidated and integrated policy on sustainable development in the Aral Sea region; Assist in the development of strategies and practical measures to attract and develop environmental innovations and technologies; and Support activities to attract and develop environmental innovations and technologies and capacity building efforts in this field. Ms. Dimovska, UNDP Resident Representative, underscored that “The Integrated Roadmap is informed by the systems approach, and its implementation shall also be guided by such approach, which necessitates the engagement of a wide range of stakeholders within the Working Groups to bring transformative changes in support of the sustainable development of the Aral Sea region. UNDP stands ready to support the implementation process, as well.” In his turn, Mr. Atsushi Suda, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Japanese Embassy in Uzbekistan, stated that Japan appreciates the draft of the Roadmap since it is more comprehensive and reflects clear expected outputs. Mr. Suda noted that Japan has contributed to the Resolutions aimed at environmental restoration for more than 25 years. About USD 10 million was injected into 26 grant assistance grassroots projects to improve health and tackle salinization in rural areas. To summarize, Ms. Helena Fraser, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, and Co-chair of the Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund Steering (MPHSTF) Committee welcomed inputs on the Integrated Roadmap to be further endorsed by the Government. She said, ”The Roadmap is a first step to realizing the UN General Assembly Resolution on declaring the Aral Sea as a zone of innovations and technologies and also as the next step in our collective efforts to accelerate joint action on addressing Aral Sea issues and ensure sustainable, data-driven, and evidence-based impact”. For information The Advisory Committee on sustainable development of the Aral Sea region was launched on 1 December 2020 under the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan to serve as a single platform for accelerating sustainable development in the Aral Sea region. The Committee advises the Fund Steering Committee on comprehensive solutions, effective mechanisms, and approaches that translate financial commitments made by the national and international communities into sustainable development results. More detailed information on the activities of the UN MPHSTF is available on the official website of the Fund http://www.aral.mptf.uz/

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Press Release

26 July 2021

UNICEF and Ministry for Support of Mahalla and Family launched trainings for mahalla representatives

The United Nations Children’s Fund in partnership with the Ministry for Support of Mahalla and Family of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Republican Center for the Social Adaptation of Children conducted training sessions for staff from the social services department of the Hokimiyat, representatives from the Ministry for Support of Mahalla and Family of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as for other social service workers, whose role includes supporting families with children. The training sessions were conducted within the framework of the UN Joint Program on Strengthening Social Protection in Uzbekistan. The program aims to support the Uzbek government in developing a national social protection strategy, an effective mechanism for interagency interaction and social protection, as well as improving social protection for people with disabilities. “Management and mahalla workers who have acquired knowledge and skills in the provision of social services according to case management standards, will be able to provide qualified assistance to vulnerable families, especially families with children, to overcome difficult life situations caused by poverty, unemployment, disability, the consequences of labour migration and domestic violence. During the training sessions, staff members learned the toolkit for case management, and had the opportunity to apply their learning in practice in assessing families and developing plans for their withdrawal from a difficult life situation in two pilot regions,” said Tulinoy Kadirova, Chief Specialist of the Department for Strengthening Family Values of the Ministry for Support of Family and Mahalla. The training sessions were designed to familiarize social services sector managers and the chairmen of mahallas in the pilot districts with the goals and objectives of the project, the concept of providing social services based on case management standards, and effective methods and approaches in social services. During the training sessions, managers discussed their roles in the provision of social work, and the importance of supporting and developing social work skills among professionals working directly with families. Moreover, the training sessions familiarized the administrations of districts and mahalla with the project opportunities its approach and expected results. In June this year, the Ministry for Support of Mahalla and Family of the Republic of Uzbekistan, together with UNICEF, launched a pilot project to provide integrated social services based on case management principles. The project began with a 9-day training course for specialists from the mahalla committees of the Almazar district of Tashkent city and Angren city of the Tashkent region, whose responsibilities include social work with families. The training sessions aimed at educating and supporting social work professionals working with the most vulnerable groups of the population, such as people with low incomes, people with disabilities, families with children and women. Participants acquired skills in preventative work and direct services to support families and children, reduce poverty and discrimination, facilitate access to essential services, promote social justice, and prevent violence, abuse, exploitation and family separation. The training sessions were conducted in an interactive format, which allowed 50 participants to discuss the current situation in the field of family support including themes such as: the workload of specialists, working conditions, training prospects, and the knowledge and skills necessary for effective and high quality work with families in difficult life situations. Feedback showed that the training participants had successfully mastered the content of the program, and were now in a position to provide services to the population with a new approach. The UN Joint Programme, sponsored by the Joint SDG Fund and implemented by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) jointly with the Government of Uzbekistan, aims to support the Government in building and delivering a high-quality social protection system that offers all citizens of Uzbekistan – in particular, those at risk of being left behind – income security and social support throughout their lives. About UNICEF UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children in Uzbekistan, visit www.unicef.uz Follow UNICEF on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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