Full Breakdown
Global Summit in Samarkand Calls for Integrated Investment in Children’s Health, Education and Protection
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Adoption of the Samarkand Declaration
Representatives from more than 100 countries gathered in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, for a two-day World Summit on Investing in Children’s Well-being. The summit concluded with the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration, which urges stronger social-protection systems, nationally determined targets and regular reporting on the quality and effectiveness of services for children. The declaration emphasizes coordinated delivery of health, education, social and legal support rather than isolated sectoral investments.
Background & Context
- UNICEF estimates 412 million children live in extreme poverty worldwide.
- Two-thirds of the child-related UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators monitored by UNICEF are off-track, jeopardising the 2030 targets.
- Childhood cancer illustrates the disparity in health outcomes: the World Health Organization reports ? 400 000 children and adolescents develop cancer each year, with survival rates exceeding 80 % in high-income countries but falling below 30 % in many low- and middle-income settings.
Data & Statistics
- Uzbekistan’s preschool enrolment rose from 27.7 % to 78 %, and the number of inclusive schools increased fivefold over the past two years.
- The new Imkon rehabilitation centre in Samarkand can accommodate 150 children and provides outpatient rehabilitation for up to 100 children aged three to 18 each month.
- WHO has set a global target of at least 60 % survival for children with cancer by 2030.
Official Statements & Responses
- Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, Uzbekistan’s First Lady and WHO Director-General’s Award 2026 recipient, called for integration of medical, social and psychological support so families do not have to navigate multiple institutions.
- Shahnoza Mirziyoyeva, First Deputy Director of Uzbekistan’s Social Protection Agency, said a child’s wellbeing must be measured by present quality of life, not future economic contribution.
- President Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented national gains in preschool enrolment and inclusive schooling as evidence of progress toward integrated care.
- Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, Executive Vice President of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, warned that delayed diagnoses are a major obstacle to childhood-cancer survival and advocated a “comprehensive package” of early diagnosis, specialist care, reliable medicines and family support.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and build a better future, regardless of their circumstances or the community they come from,” — Fr. Dean Bongat, founder and CEO of Friends of Saint Mary MacKillop, Inc.
- “We believe that every child deserves access to education, proper nutrition and a nurturing environment where their potential can be developed and their cultural identity respected,” — Mr. Rey L. Anugon, president of Friends of Saint Mary MacKillop, Inc.
- “Education is the bedrock for any meaningful development, and therefore one area that we need support from the African Union is to increase access for out-of-school children to be enrolled in schools,” — Mr. Zulum, Governor of Borno State, Nigeria
- “I met a 14-year-old girl named Bushra, who told me how community leaders at a UNICEF-supported child protection hub had worked with Bushra’s father to save her from early marriage,” — Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director
What’s Next – Future Initiatives
- The summit announced the creation of a Global Network to support children with serious and life-threatening illnesses, chaired by Uzbekistan’s first lady for a two-year term.
- An international mechanism to improve children’s access to essential medicines was proposed, with details to be developed by participating governments and UN agencies.
These commitments aim to translate the Samarkand Declaration’s principles into measurable actions that address the intertwined challenges of health, education and protection for children worldwide.