<\/p>\n
Uzbekistan is rapidly emerging as a pioneer in social protection<\/strong> \u2014 demonstrating how systemic reforms, political will, and human-centered policies can transform the lives of millions in just a few years. In a world searching for new solutions to old inequalities, Uzbekistan stands out with tangible progress backed by innovation and international cooperation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Over the past two years, the country has reduced poverty from 35% to 6.6%<\/strong>, cut unemployment in half, and expanded access to social, educational, and economic services for vulnerable groups \u2014 from children and women to people with disabilities and the elderly. These reforms are not merely administrative; they are deeply human, aligned with the principles of inclusion, dignity, and equal opportunity.<\/p>\n These efforts are part of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev\u2019s broader vision to transform Uzbekistan into a social state<\/strong>, where every policy aims to protect human dignity and expand equal opportunities. The reform is not only administrative \u2014 it is deeply human-centered, designed to reach the most vulnerable through integrated and accessible solutions.<\/p>\n Uzbekistan\u2019s new model reflects the principle of \u201cleaving no one behind.\u201d<\/em> Over the past two years, the country has implemented a series of deep and interlinked reforms:<\/p>\n Uzbekistan has become the first country in Central Asia<\/strong> to join the Global Alliance to End Violence Against Children<\/strong>. The new Law on the Protection of Children from All Forms of Violence<\/strong> (2024) officially recognizes physical, sexual, and psychological violence, neglect, exploitation, and bullying as crimes.<\/p>\n To ensure children grow up in a family environment, the government established 255 family-type children\u2019s homes<\/strong>, while large residential institutions have been eliminated. Over 30,000 young people<\/strong> without parental care received social support, and 3,200 were provided with housing<\/strong>. To ensure every child grows up in a family-based environment, children previously living in large residential institutions have been eliminated and children have been transitioned to family-type homes<\/strong>. As a result, only in the last two years, 255 family-style care<\/strong> settings now operate across the country. Over 30,000 young people <\/strong>without parental care have received social support, including 3,200 <\/strong>who were provided with housing.<\/p>\n Additionally, special quotas and grants have enabled 2,700 orphaned youth<\/strong> to enroll in universities and 2,000<\/strong> to start careers in public service.<\/p>\n \n Education reforms have dramatically reshaped early learning and inclusion.<\/p>\n The number of students with disabilities in higher education doubled, and Uzbekistan\u2019s youth are excelling globally \u2014 Uzbek students now win 195 medals annually<\/strong> at international Olympiads, up from just 15 in 2017.<\/p>\n Uzbekistan is rapidly advancing in gender equality and political inclusion.<\/p>\n Healthcare funding has increased sixfold, with a twelvefold rise in support for mothers and children. Child mortality decreased fivefold since 1995, and life expectancy rose to 75 years<\/strong>. Sports are a national priority: Uzbekistan ranked 13th globally<\/strong> at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games<\/strong>, while the national football team qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/strong>. Adaptive sports participation among people with disabilities tripled within one year.<\/p>\n Uzbekistan\u2019s commitment to sustainability is evident in the \u201cYashil Makon\u201d (Green Space)<\/strong> program \u2014 planting 200 million trees annually<\/strong>. Behind this transformation stands the National Agency for Social Protection (NASP)<\/strong> \u2014 a single institution that unified the work of six ministries into one cohesive service system. NASP now delivers more than 100 social services<\/strong> through its 208 \u201cInson\u201d (Human) Centers<\/strong> across the country, ensuring access for all categories in need \u2014 from children to people with disabilities and survivors of domestic violence.<\/p>\n What makes the model unique is not only its scale, but its case management approach<\/strong>, where every family receives personalized support. It reflects the mission to make Uzbekistan a true \u201csocial state,\u201d<\/strong> where protection and dignity form the foundation of public policy.<\/p>\n \u201cOur mission is clear: to build a system where no one is left behind,\u201d says Usman Sharifhadjaev, Deputy Director of NASP. \u201cThis is not only about providing services, but about unlocking people\u2019s potential.\u201d<\/p>\n These achievements \u2014 and the reform model behind them \u2014 were presented to the global community during Uzbekistan\u2019s participation at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Through its national exhibition, titled \u201cThe Country of Open Doors,\u201d<\/strong> Uzbekistan showcased how innovative and inclusive solutions are reshaping its social landscape. Alongside this, the country hosted a high-level side event<\/strong> titled \u201cLast-Mile First: Innovations and Human-Centered Service Delivery\u201d<\/em> \u2014 bringing together experts from Qatar, T\u00fcrkiye, Belgium, Morocco, UNICEF, UNDP, and the World Bank to discuss how social services can reach the most vulnerable populations more effectively.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Article: Dilfuza Ruzmetova, Press-secretary of NASP<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5687,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-5"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gk-usbekistan.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5686","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gk-usbekistan.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gk-usbekistan.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gk-usbekistan.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gk-usbekistan.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5686"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gk-usbekistan.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5686\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5688,"href":"https:\/\/gk-usbekistan.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5686\/revisions\/5688"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gk-usbekistan.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gk-usbekistan.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gk-usbekistan.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gk-usbekistan.de\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Transforming the Social Protection Landscape<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Protecting Children and Families<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nSpecial quotas and grants now enable 2,700 orphaned youth<\/strong> to enter universities and 2,000<\/strong> to join public service positions.<\/p>\nExpanding Access to Quality Education<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Women\u2019s Empowerment and Gender Equality<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Inclusive Health, Sports, and Human Development<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nUzbekistan joined the WHO Global Initiative to Combat Childhood Cancer<\/strong>, and 100% of newborns are now covered by screening programs.<\/p>\nEnvironmental and Green Growth<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nIn the Aral Sea region<\/strong>, forest cover has already expanded to 35%<\/strong>, transforming one of the world\u2019s worst ecological crises into a model of resilience.<\/p>\nThe Engine of Change: National Agency for Social Protection<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Sharing the Experience with the World<\/strong><\/h4>\n