One of the important questions is the question of the role of youth in achieving the SDGs. A separate session was devoted to this issue within the framework of the Samarkand Forum on Youth Rights.

During the session, UN Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shahid, President of the Forum of Young Parliamentarians of the IPU Melvin Bouva, Commissioner for Children and Youth of Scotland Bruce Adamson, Ombudsperson of Kazakhstan Elmira Azimova, member of the UN Youth Advisory Council in Uzbekistan Nigina Sodikova, member of the Council of China Society for Human Rights Research Jipin He, Secretary General of Pan-European Spain Carlos Uriarte.

First of all, the speakers noted the inextricable link between the SDGs and human rights, as well as the importance of a human rights-based approach in the implementation of the SDGs, which implies the existence of legal guarantees, taking practical measures, evaluating the measures taken based on indicators and taking into account gender aspects.

Participants stressed the need to raise awareness of the SDGs among young people and their active involvement in all activities to implement the SDGs.

During the session, the speakers emphasized the role of such factors as science, information technology, quality higher education in further strengthening the role of youth. In particular, it was noted that in youth policy, the main goal is to create conditions for expanding the knowledge of young people in various fields, improving them, gaining experience and obtaining other opportunities. The speakers noted that political and socio-economic successes are achieved precisely by those states that pay special attention to the interests of young people, state programs for obtaining higher education in the best universities in the world. It is important to note that in the digital environment, in the transition to e-management, e-services are attracted, first of all, representatives of youth.

During the session, the positive experience of a number of countries, including Uzbekistan, was highlighted. Thus, information was provided on the Youth Parliament of Uzbekistan. The participants put forward proposals to ensure the right of young people to participate in decision-making and the realization of the right of young people to be heard. It was proposed to increase the representation of young people in governing bodies, to create advisory councils of youth under governing bodies.

Press Service
of the National Human Rights Center
of the Republic of Uzbekistan