Policymakers, United Nations officials, first ladies and child-rights advocates assembled Wednesday in the historic Silk Road city of Samarkand for the two-day World Summit on Investing in Children’s Well-being, pressing governments to elevate children’s health, education and protection in national priorities.
More than 600 participants from over 100 countries are attending the gathering, hosted by Uzbekistan under the theme “Investing in Children’s Well-being: A Path Towards Sustainable and Equitable Development for Future Generations.” Senior UN representatives, government ministers, development experts and first ladies are taking part as many nations confront persistent child poverty, uneven access to healthcare and schooling, and risks of violence, exploitation, malnutrition and exclusion.
A central theme is that spending on children is both a moral duty and a practical investment in future prosperity. Speakers have argued that without reliable healthcare, quality education and effective safeguards, children face higher odds of lifelong hardship that can ripple through families, communities and economies.
The opening featured a message from Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, whose administration has pursued reforms to broaden social services and support for vulnerable households. First Lady Ziroat Mirziyoyeva addressed participants, joined by senior UN voices. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, currently serving as president of the 81st UN General Assembly session, was among the prominent speakers. UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s message was delivered by the organization’s resident coordinator in Uzbekistan, while Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed spoke via video.
Najat Maalla M’jid, the UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children, underscored the urgency of shielding children from abuse, exploitation and neglect.
Several first ladies joined high-level discussions, including Emine Erdoğan of Türkiye, Aigul Japarova of Kyrgyzstan, Tamara Vučić of Serbia, Nehmat Aoun of Lebanon and Auxillia Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe. Their presence underscored diplomatic interest, though participants repeatedly noted that political statements must translate into concrete policies and budgets that reach children and families.
Delegates examined the situations of children with disabilities, those lacking adequate family support, and those whose development is hindered by poverty, discrimination or social exclusion. They also considered how to better integrate social protection, early childhood services, inclusive education and health systems so that vulnerable children do not fall through the cracks.
Running in parallel is the Second International Congress on Childhood Cancer, themed “From Cure to Quality of Life.” The World Health Organization estimates that roughly 400,000 children and adolescents develop cancer each year. Survival exceeds 80 percent in high-income countries but remains below 30 percent in many low- and middle-income settings, largely because of gaps in early diagnosis, essential medicines, specialized care and sustained follow-up.
For many families, a child’s outcome depends as much on geography and ability to access or afford treatment as on the disease itself. Improving results, speakers emphasized, requires stronger hospitals, trained staff, reliable medicine supplies and financing arrangements that avoid catastrophic costs for households.
The congress is highlighting efforts such as the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines and the broader WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, which aims for at least 60 percent survival globally by 2030.
Mental health challenges, rising childhood obesity and preventable illnesses are also on the agenda, alongside calls for stronger social-protection systems that reach the most vulnerable families.
The summit is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration on Investing in Children’s Well-being, intended as a practical roadmap to turn international commitments into measurable national action.
Organizers and participants have stressed that the gathering’s real value will be measured not by the number of countries represented, but by whether the pledges made in Samarkand produce tangible improvements in children’s daily lives.