UNICEF and SOS Children’s Villages Uzbekistan jointly held a Round Table dedicated to the issues of psychosocial support for children

Tashkent, 13 June 2025 – United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the SOS Children’s Villages Uzbekistan jointly held a Round Table dedicated to the issues of psychosocial support for children in alternative forms of care, as well as measures to prevent their separation from biological families.

Representatives of government agencies, international and national organizations, subject experts, foster parents and young people identified effective approaches to supporting the mental health of children under guardianship or at risk of separation from their families, considering the principles of a trauma-informed approach and the need for intersectoral cooperation.

Participants agreed that there is a need for introducing sustainable practices that are sensitive to psychological trauma, as well as creating systemic support for caregivers and specialists working with children and families. Ensuring access to quality psychosocial assistance is considered a key condition for the effective protection of children's rights, especially in the context of reforming the alternative care system in Uzbekistan.

As part of panel discussions and group work, participants discussed issues of deinstitutionalization, expansion of family forms of care, development of mental health and psychosocial support services inclusive to children with disabilities and importance of gender lenses in creating access to services for girls and boys. Practical input from foster parents and young people with experience of the care system added depth to the discussion.

The round table emphasizes the importance of mental health and psychosocial support in the agenda of protecting children's rights and confirms Uzbekistan's commitment to reforming the childcare system with an emphasis on family-oriented and sustainable forms of care. It is expected that recommendations of RT for integrating psychosocial support into national strategies and practices of social protection.