Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  As part of COP29 in Baku, the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan organized a parallel side event titled "Ensuring Children’s Right to Health in the Context of Climate Change." The event was held ahead of the International Children’s Rights Day and the 35th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The side event was attended by representatives from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), international organizations, government agencies, and research institutions from Azerbaijan and other countries.

During the discussion, participants focused on the key challenges facing the global community regarding climate change, its impact on the health of future generations, and the need to strengthen international cooperation in this area.

Speakers at the event included the First Deputy Director of the National Center for Human Rights, M. Tillaev, the OHCHR Human Rights, Climate Change, and Environment Coordinator, R. Vachiraratthanakornkul, the Head of the Office of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, A. Safikhanly, the Director of the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, M. Turgunov, and a representative from the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, S. Abdullaeva.

Participants emphasized that climate change has a widespread and multifaceted impact on children’s rights and well-being worldwide, with a special focus on the vulnerabilities of children to environmental crises, including increasing extreme weather events, deteriorating air and water quality, and growing ecological risks.

According to experts, around one billion children — half of the global child population — live in countries at extremely high climate risk. Air pollution, extreme weather events, the spread of infectious diseases, and environmental degradation are major threats to their future. Despite contributing minimally to global warming, children face the most severe consequences. Today, nearly every child is exposed to at least one environmental or climate-related threat.

Special attention was given to Uzbekistan’s active participation in international initiatives and its efforts to strengthen cooperation with key partners to address these issues. Information was presented about measures to restore the Aral Sea ecosystem through the "Green Belt of the Aral Sea" project. The country also places significant emphasis on environmental education for future generations, actively implementing the National Human Rights Education Program and the Concept for the Development of Environmental Education, as well as conducting information and educational programs among children and youth.

The side event highlighted Uzbekistan’s efforts, particularly the successful hosting of the IV Samarkand Human Rights Forum and the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration as a UN General Assembly document, as well as the country’s participation in implementing the Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action.

It was emphasized that Uzbekistan’s environmental agenda is integrated into regional and global initiatives, contributing to the activation of cooperation with international partners. Uzbekistan is committed to strengthening dialogue and exchanging experiences in environmental protection, climate change, and sustainable natural resource management.