International Forum: "Youth Rights: Possibilities and Mechanisms of Protection" in Tashkent

On 23 October, in Tashkent, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) – together with the National Human Rights Centre, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and its Regional Office for Central Asia, the United Nations Development Programme in Uzbekistan and the Office in Uzbekistan of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation – organized an International Forum titled: "Youth Rights: Possibilities and Mechanisms of Protection". The Forum commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna World Conference on Human Rights.

One hundred ninety participants, including representatives from OSCE, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), UN Agencies, state bodies, diplomatic organizations, international experts and activists, international youth councils examined the role and influence of youth in two key aspects of modern society – the fight against climate change and countering radicalization, discussed existing international and regional instruments and mechanisms for the protection and promotion of youth rights in international and regional documents, and the key obstacles and challenges in the field of human rights for various groups of young people.

At the opening ceremony, Professor Akmal Saidov, First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Director of the National Human Rights Centre emphasized that the "Forum symbolizes solidarity and co-operation in ensuring youth rights in the Central Asian region, where nearly half of the population is young. The results of the consultations with young people in the Forum will be used in the development of a draft declaration "Youth Rights – 75", which is planned to be presented at a high-level event in Geneva in December 2023".

Mr. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights highlighted that “It is crucial that decision-makers, including governments and those in public and private institutions, hear the concerns of young people and take action to ensure that they fully enjoy their human rights and have a voice in decisions that affect their future".

Mr. Matteo Mecacci, Director of the OSCE ODIHR noted that “Young people have always been and will remain a key to OSCE vision of comprehensive security. A full participation in public life is only true to its name if young people are included in the conversation, but youth rights are often overlooked. We believe that we need to begin by bringing young people to the table, the table at which decisions are made. In this context, we commend the initiative taken by President Mirziyoyev to create a working group of the United Nations to promote youth development in Central Asia”.

Mr. Memet Zhaku, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Youth Affairs said that “In our OSCE region nearly 40% of the population belongs to youth. That is an enormous and powerful force that will have a crucial role in shaping the future – our own future and the future of future generations – for the entire world”.