Shavkat Mirziyoyev: The voice of youth must be heard!

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev sent greetings to the participants of the Samarkand Forum on Human Rights and wished all participants fruitful work:

Dear Forum participants!

It gives me great pleasure to welcome all of you, participants of the Samarkand Forum on Human Rights "Youth 2020: Global Solidarity, Sustainable Development and Human Rights". I sincerely congratulate you on the International Youth Day.

I am particularly grateful to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, for supporting the initiative to hold this Forum.

I thank the representatives of the United Nations, UNESCO, the International Labour Organization, the International Organization for Migration, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and our other partners for their participation in its work.

Dear friends!

The UN Youth strategy emphasizes that "young people are a valuable and extremely important resource that is worth investing in, as these investments will pay off many times over". I fully agree with this key point.

Since the beginning of this year, the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic has become a central issue on the global agenda. The spread of a new type of coronavirus has led to serious economic and social consequences around the world. The population, especially young people, faces many challenges that require a comprehensive response from states and the international community.

In such circumstances, it is important that the voice of young people is heard. It should be given the opportunity to participate directly in the development and implementation of national, regional and global strategies and programmes aimed at meeting its immediate needs and protecting its rights and legitimate interests.

It is worth noting that in today's difficult situation, young people are adequately responding to the challenges of the time, including pandemics, with their promising initiatives and social projects. All over the world, young volunteers are actively involved in supporting vulnerable segments of the population, promoting new economic and humanitarian programs.

Dear Forum participants!

In the modern world, intellectually and spiritually developed, proactive youth become a driver of sustainable progress. Today, the young generation of the new Uzbekistan is a driving force and an active participant in dynamic and large-scale reforms to modernize the country.

In Uzbekistan, where young people make up more than half of the population, ensuring their rights, freedoms and legitimate interests is a priority of state policy.