Antonio Guterres: UN looks forward to strengthening cooperation with Uzbekistan to advance peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights

Yesterday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Uzbekistan on an official visit. On the eve of his two-day visit, he gave an exclusive interview to Dunyo Information Agency, answering questions about development and prospects for cooperation, and shared his vision of the modern development of our country:

– Mr. Guterres, could you please share your opinion on the current development of our country, first of all, the measures taken in Uzbekistan to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, to combat poverty, ensure food security, gender equality and access to education?

– Uzbekistan has shown strong commitment to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The country’s Development Strategy "Uzbekistan-2030", is closely aligned with the SDGs, and prioritizes human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, green growth, anti-corruption and the rule of law. Its emphasis on settling issues of effective use and management of transboundary water resources, as well as the delimitation and demarcation of the country’s borders, can support greater security, stability and strong relations between Uzbekistan and its neighbours.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has also stressed his commitment to enhancing employment opportunities, including through orderly and safe labour migration, which can contribute to building more resilient communities and societies.

– In recent years, our country has undergone significant changes in the protection and promotion of human rights: child and forced labour has been eradicated, the media has been liberalized, and the country has been participating in the work of important specialized UN human rights bodies. Please share your vision of Uzbekistan’s progress in this direction.

– Uzbekistan is making progress on human rights, including the High Commissioner’s visit last year, and I hope that our cooperation in this critical area will continue. The end of forced labour in the cotton fields, the granting of nationality to stateless people, and the return and reintegration of women and children from camps in Syria and elsewhere, are concrete improvements and a model for other countries to follow. I encourage Uzbekistan to build on this progress, including by addressing gender-based violence and discrimination and creating an enabling environment for robust civil society and the media.

– At the initiative of our country, a number of UN General Assembly resolutions on topical issues of the global agenda were adopted and we were elected to the Human Rights Committee and ECOSOC. We would highly appreciate your opinion on Uzbekistan’s activity in the international arena.

– Uzbekistan has cooperated with the UN and its bodies across a broad range of issues. Since 2017, nine resolutions initiated by Uzbekistan have been adopted by the UN General Assembly, including three in 2024. Among them are the "International Day of Dialogue Among Civilizations" and "Central Asia’s unified resolve and cooperation to effectively address and counter drug-related challenges".

Uzbekistan’s upcoming tenure in the UN Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC, will provide another opportunity to contribute on the global stage. The Summit of the Future in New York in September will be a pivotal opportunity to consider reforms to multilateral frameworks, from the UN Security Council to the international financial architecture. Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, have a key role to play. At the Summit and beyond, the United Nations looks forward to strengthening cooperation with Uzbekistan to advance peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.

– 7 years ago, during your visit to Uzbekistan, you saw with your own eyes the tragic consequences of the Aral Sea ecological disaster. How would you assess the effectiveness of Uzbekistan’s international initiatives to support the population of the region that have been implemented since then?

– I recall the shock I experienced when I visited the Aral Sea in 2017. Its disappearance is one of the greatest ecological catastrophes of our lifetime. The effects of the crisis have been disastrous for the environment, the fishing industry, agriculture, and human health.

In response, the Uzbek government, the UN and other international partners have collaborated to address the needs of communities in the area. The Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region established by the UN and Uzbekistan has capitalized $16.2 million and delivered 7 Joint Projects worth $13.5 million - with the support of several other governments and organizations. The Fund has already improved the lives of nearly 300,000 people. It aims to continue focusing on sustainable and climate-resilient development until 2030, transforming the Aral Sea region into a hub for climate change innovations for future generations.

– Thank you for the interesting conversation and wish you a pleasant and fruitful stay in Uzbekistan.

– Thank you.