Hundreds of policymakers, international officials and child welfare advocates gathered in the historic city of Samarkand on Wednesday for a global summit aimed at putting children higher on government agendas and making their health, education and protection a bigger priority in public spending.
The two-day World Summit on Investing in Children’s Well-being has brought together more than 600 participants from over 100 countries, including senior United Nations officials, first ladies, government representatives and experts working on children’s rights and development.
The gathering comes as governments around the world face mounting pressure to tackle child poverty, improve access to healthcare and education, and strengthen protections for millions of children growing up in difficult circumstances.
At the heart of the discussions is a straightforward argument. Countries that fail to invest in their children today risk paying a much higher economic and social price in the years ahead.
Hosted by Uzbekistan, the summit is taking place at the Silk Road Complex, a sprawling conference and tourism development in Samarkand, a city once at the crossroads of trade and cultural exchange along the ancient Silk Road.
The Uzbek government has organized the event through its National Agency for Social Protection, the ministries of Health and Preschool and School Education, and the Zamin International Public Foundation. UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the World Bank and other international institutions are supporting the initiative.
The opening ceremony featured a message from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, whose government has sought to expand social services and strengthen support for vulnerable families as part of a broader reform program.
Uzbekistan’s first lady, Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, addressed the gathering, along with senior officials from the United Nations and participating countries.
Bangladesh’s foreign minister, Khalilur Rahman, who is also serving as president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, was among the prominent speakers.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres sent a message that was delivered by the organization’s resident coordinator in Uzbekistan. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed addressed the conference in a video message.
Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN special representative on violence against children, also spoke at the opening, as delegates turned their attention to the challenges of protecting children from abuse, exploitation and neglect.
Several first ladies took part in the high-level discussions, including Emine Erdoğan of Türkiye, Aigul Japarova of Kyrgyzstan, Tamara Vučić of Serbia, Nehmat Aoun of Lebanon and Auxillia Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe.
Their participation gave the gathering a strong diplomatic profile, although much of the work ahead will fall to governments responsible for turning broad commitments into policies that reach children and families.
Pakistan was represented in one of the main discussions by Ayesha Haroon, founder and chief executive of the Oasis Trust for Autism, who joined international experts examining how countries can expand investment in children’s well-being.
The summit is looking at a wide range of issues, from reducing child poverty and improving early childhood education to strengthening social safety nets and making healthcare more accessible.
One of the central concerns is how governments can better coordinate the agencies responsible for children’s welfare. In many countries, education, healthcare and social protection programs operate separately, leaving vulnerable families struggling to get the assistance they need.
Delegates are discussing ways to close those gaps and build systems that can identify children at risk before their problems become more serious.
Another focus is the early years of childhood, when poor nutrition, limited access to healthcare and inadequate schooling can have consequences that last well into adulthood.
The discussions also cover children with disabilities, those living without adequate family support and those whose education or development is disrupted by poverty and social exclusion.
A separate international congress on childhood cancer is being held alongside the summit, drawing attention to one of the sharpest inequalities in global healthcare.
For children diagnosed with cancer, survival often depends less on the disease itself than on where they live and whether their families can obtain timely treatment.
According to the WHO, an estimated 400,000 children and adolescents develop cancer worldwide each year.
In high-income countries, more than 80 percent of children with cancer survive. In many low- and middle-income countries, however, survival rates remain below 30 percent.
The contrast has become a major concern for international health agencies seeking to improve access to early diagnosis, essential medicines, specialized treatment and long-term care.
The childhood cancer congress, held under the theme “From Cure to Quality of Life,” is examining how countries can narrow that gap and improve the lives of children who survive the disease.
The discussions are linked to WHO initiatives aimed at expanding access to childhood cancer treatment and essential medicines, particularly in countries with limited healthcare resources.
Mental health, childhood obesity and the growing burden of preventable illnesses are also part of the wider conversation in Samarkand.
Beyond healthcare, participants are examining how governments can build more effective social protection programs for families facing financial hardship.
The challenge is particularly acute in countries where poverty, weak public services and limited government resources leave children exposed to risks that could otherwise be prevented.
For Uzbekistan, hosting the conference is also an opportunity to showcase its domestic reforms and raise its international profile.
Ahead of the summit, President Mirziyoyev met Khalilur Rahman for talks on cooperation with the United Nations, regional development and international efforts to address climate change.
The two also discussed Uzbekistan’s UN initiatives and its bid for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council.
The government has arranged visits to local healthcare, education and social welfare facilities, where delegates are expected to see programs supporting mothers, children, families and people with disabilities.
The summit is scheduled to conclude Thursday with the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration on Investing in Children’s Well-being.
Organizers hope the document will provide a framework for governments to strengthen child protection systems, expand access to essential services and commit more resources to children’s development.
