An online meeting on February 28 brought together the Children Ombudsmen of Uzbekistan and Finland to discuss child protection practices and collaboration. Surayyo Rakhmonova highlighted Uzbekistan’s new violence prevention law, while Elina Pekkarinen shared her office’s role. The meeting aimed to strengthen ties and share effective strategies regarding child rights protection.
On February 28, an online meeting facilitated by the Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) took place between the Children Ombudsmen of Uzbekistan and Finland. The session focused on sharing experiences and discussing potential future collaboration on child protection issues. Surayyo Rakhmonova, Uzbekistan’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, highlighted the significance of the newly adopted law aimed at safeguarding children against violence, while seeking insights into Finland’s practices in this area.
The new law, “On Protection of Children from All Forms of Violence,” seeks to establish a comprehensive system for preventing violence against children, protecting victims, and promoting family well-being. Ambassador Antti Karttunen, Head of Office of PCUz, emphasized the importance of this meeting as a continuation of a prior study visit to Finland. This visit, which occurred in December 2024, allowed the Uzbek delegation to engage with Finnish officials and NGOs on best practices for combating sexual crimes against minors.
Elina Pekkarinen, the Finnish Ombudsman for Children, provided an overview of her office’s functions, particularly its engagement with children and youth, monitoring their well-being, and protecting their rights. Attention was also directed towards the collaborative efforts with governmental bodies and NGOs working in the realm of children’s rights protections and evaluating the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The online meeting further discussed successful inter-agency collaborations and strategies for addressing violations of child rights, fostering an environment for continued dialogue between the two nations on these critical issues.
The online meeting between the Children Ombudsmen of Uzbekistan and Finland underscored a commitment to child protection through shared experiences and collaboration. Focused discussions on the recent Uzbek law aimed at preventing violence against children and the effective practices of the Finnish ombudsman created a foundation for future cooperation in addressing child rights violations. Such international dialogues are vital for enhancing the framework for protecting children’s rights globally.
Original Source: www.osce.org
