Government of Japan supports child protection system strengthening in Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, 27 October 2021 – the Government of Japan extends Emergency Grant Aid of USD 200,000 to enhance child protection in emergency preparedness in Uzbekistan and is anticipated to benefit more than 70,000 children and their families.

Within the Grant, UNICEF in close collaboration with the Ministry of Mahalla and Family Support and the Ministry of Public Education through its Republican Centre ‘Tashkhis’ will lay the foundation for enhanced child protection in emergency preparedness. Key interventions will include the development of inter-agency Standard Operating Procedures to guide child protection case management and referral in Surkhandarya region. Social service workers will enhance their knowledge and skills through establishing a training platform at the Ministry of Mahalla and Family Support and designing of self-paced online training courses. Moreover, two psychosocial support centres of the Ministry of Public Education will be equipped with furniture and IT equipment.

“The Government of Japan expects this project, which will support socio-economic development of Uzbekistan will be implemented smoothly with necessary coordination with UNICEF. This is part of our contribution to the peace and stability of the Central Asia region and Afghanistan”, said H. E. Mr. Yoshinori Fujiyama, Ambassador of Japan to Uzbekistan.

“Children pay the highest price in any crisis. Conflict, natural disasters and other emergencies put girls and boys are at the higher risk to be exposed to violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. Children often lose access to essential services, and their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing affected” said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan. “Therefore, it is crucial that this investment will strengthen child protection systems, in particular the social service workforce, to prevent and respond to abuse and exploitation, family separation, and to provide mental health and psychosocial support services”.

For media queries please contact: 

Yoko Yamoto, Kuria Tsutaki, Attache

Embassy of Japan in Uzbekistan

Phone: (+998 78) 120-80-60
Email: [email protected]

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Nargiza Egamberdieva, Communication Officer

UNICEF Uzbekistan

Phone: +998 93 3803419

E-mail: [email protected]