Nationwide movement "Yuksalish", UNICEF Children's Fund representative office in Uzbekistan, and Youth Affairs Agency are continuing the initiative " Youth and Child Friendly Local Governance". This global Initiative aims to recognize the rights of children and youth, thereby improving their livelihoods, and supports local governments to plan, allocate resources, and monitor their activities in a child-youth-friendly manner.

During December 12-16 of this year

• in the city of Yangibozor, Khorezm region
• in the city of Bo'ston, Ellikkala District, Republic of Karakalpakstan
• in the city of Kokand, Fergana region
• in the city of Asaka, Andijan region
• in the city of Zarafshan, Navoi region
• in the city of Termiz, Surkhandarya region

"Khokim and youth" format meetings were held. The khokims of the listed cities, the leadership of the nationwide movement "Yuksalish", representatives of the Youth Affairs Agency, the "Council of Young Advisors", and volunteers took part in them.

It should be noted that 6 cities of our republic were selected for the implementation of the "Child and Youth Friendly Local Government" initiative. First, a comprehensive analysis of the state of youth policy in Uzbekistan was conducted. According to the analysis, since 2016, state youth policy has become a priority area of reforms, and this is reflected in the Law "On State Policy Regarding Youth", the fourth direction of the "Strategy of Actions on Five Priority Areas of Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2017-2021" and the development strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026. The main directions of the state policy on youth are openness and transparency, participation of young people in decision-making, support and encouragement of youth initiatives, priority of spiritual, moral and cultural values.

In recent years, with the initiative and support of the head of state, 6 laws, 15 decrees, 15 resolutions and 2 orders on youth policy were adopted, and more than 39 resolutions and 4 orders of the Government were signed. A Youth Parliament was established under the Youth, Culture and Sports Committee of the Oliy Majlis Senate and the Legislative Chamber. Work with young people is carried out on the basis of integrated vertical management system at four levels: neighborhood - district/city - region - republic. Youth leaders who have started their activities in all the districts of the republic are working for this.

According to the Decree of the President of July 13, 2021, the task was set to organize meetings with young people in order to get to know the advanced ideas, proposals and initiatives of young people, and to solve their problems. "Khokim and youth" meetings are organized based on this task. Meetings are a consultative mechanism that allows the authorities to make decisions with the participation of young people on this or that issue.

Consultation meetings were held with all categories of youth (disabled, low-income, disadvantaged, unemployed, students, unorganized youth, school-age children) by the working group of the "Youth and Child Friendly Local Governance" initiative. As a result, priority proposals related to young people were identified and included in the "Action Plan" for 2023.

In September, the youth situation was studied in all the selected cities and the first assessment was carried out. It was shown that each region has its own, different conditions created for young people.

The "Council of Young Advisors" was established as part of the initiative. 8 active young people from each region joined the Council. In November, master classes were organized for Council members.

Today, UNICEF's "U-Report" platform is used by more than 30 state agencies and public organizations to communicate with young people. As part of the initiative, questionnaires were also conducted among the youth of 6 cities through this platform. At the meeting, the youth representatives presented the results of this Yu-report survey and the action plan for the youth for 2023 created by the working group to the officials. Suggestions and opinions received from young people are planned to be included in the future work plan of the khokimiyat.

The " Youth and Child Friendly Local Governance " initiative offers a number of new mechanisms to involve youth and children in the processes:

- inclusion of youth representatives of all categories in the "Council of Young Advisors" who have the opportunity to protect the interests of young people and children and convey their proposals to the top;

- establishing dialogue with young people in "Peer-to-peer" format, developing priority proposals in the manner of studying problems;

- wide use of the "U-Report" platform, which enables the local government and other decision-making parties to learn the suggestions and opinions of young people in a convenient and operational manner.

Press service of the nationwide movement "Yuksalish"