Samarkand Global Summit calls for increased investment in children

Representatives from over 100 countries gathered in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for the World Summit on ‘Investing in Children: Towards a Sustainable and Equitable Development for Future Generations.’ The two-day event, organized by Uzbekistan in cooperation with the UN, UNICEF, the WHO, and the World Bank, concluded with the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration.

The summit focused on the necessity of treating investment in children as a foundation for sustainable development. Key priorities included early childhood development, access to quality education and healthcare, social protection for vulnerable families, and strengthening mechanisms to prevent violence and online exploitation. Participants emphasized that providing access to services is insufficient without ensuring quality care and integrated support.

Specialized sessions also addressed childhood cancer, aligned with the WHO’s Global Initiative to raise worldwide survival rates to at least 60% by 2030. Leaders at the summit, including Uzbekistan’s First Lady Ziroat Mirziyoyeva and Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan, advocated for integrated medical, social, and psychological services to better support families and children.