30.06.2019

Dear boys and girls, young men and women!

I sincerely congratulate you and – in your person – all the people of Uzbekistan on Youth Day, widely celebrated in our country today, and express my best wishes.

On this holiday, we all particularly deeply realize that the youth years is conceivably the most wonderful time in life, a time of high hopes, pure thoughts and infinite possibilities.
This holiday, which within a brief period has taken a firm place in the life of our society, is brightly indicative of what the government and people are doing for the happiness and comprehensive advancement of the growing generation, and the youth of Uzbekistan consider it their sacred duty to serve the Motherland for the sake of its prosperity.

Indeed, ensuring the legitimate rights and interests of young people is a priority of the state policy in our country. This issue is always in the spotlight – in the last two years alone, three corresponding laws, dozens of decrees, resolutions and directives of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan have been adopted along with government decisions concerning the sphere.

Considerable efforts have been undertaken on this basis. In particular, chaired by the Prime Minister, interagency councils on youth issues began to operate, their local counterparts presided by hokims are set up at the local level, while a commission on youth issues was established in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

It is noteworthy that the “Yoshlar – kelajagimiz” (Youth Is Our Future) Foundation has so far provided preferential loans for a total of 692 billion 400 million soums to those willing to start their own business, about 25 thousand new jobs have been created, 125 youth employment centers “Yoshlar mehnat guzari” have been commissioned across the nation, so have 19 co-working centers “Young entrepreneurs”.

New kindergartens, schools and universities, branches of prestigious foreign universities, cultural and sports institutions, educational establishments of a completely new type, such as “Temurbeklar maktabi” (Schools of Temur-beks), Presidential schools, Creative schools, are mobilized to foster new generations able to compete in the globalized world.

Surely, we highly value the fact that our young people, realizing the essence and significance of the Five Initiatives implemented in the country, are taking active part in this process, which is increasingly acquiring the nature of a national movement. Along with extensive construction and landscaping works, rather important has been the free distribution of fiction – 470,000 books from the “Youth Library” series – in all schools and local kengashes of the Youth Union of Uzbekistan.

Substantial effect has also been provided by the creation of all conditions for regular practice of sports. This is confirmed by the international triumphs of our young athletes, who have earned 520 gold, 544 silver and 588 bronze medals.

The government appreciates the achievements of young men and women in their chosen fields and social activities.

Last year, hundreds of young people who displayed their potential and civic stance were granted state awards, including the Dustlik Order, the Shuhrat and Kelajak Bunyodkori medals, the Zulfiya State Prize, Uzbekiston Belgisi badge, and the Prize of the Youth Union Of Uzbekistan.

28 enterprising, talented young men who have distinguished themselves in diverse fields have become laureates of the recently established Mard Ughlon State Prize. It is gratifying that today the ranks of the active representatives of the younger generation awarded by the Motherland will be replenished.

Esteemed boys and girls, young men and women!

Today, we consider our current tasks the popularization of healthy lifestyle among young people, especially, the preparation of girls who make up almost half of the younger generation of the country for adult life, consolidation of work with unorganized young people, young families, and prevention of juvenile crime.

Since the start of this year, the crime rate among young people has decreased by 37 percent compared to last year, 599 people were released from the courtroom under the guarantee of the Youth Union, who unknowingly strayed from the right path and repented of their deed, and were given a lighter punishment. All this serves to strengthen the atmosphere of humanism, mercy and common trust in our society.

We must pay special attention to boosting the participation of young people in the democratic processes in the country, and bolstering their political and social activity.

To be sure, the Youth Union, which unites 7,680,000 young men and women in its ranks, does this kind of work on the ground, but it is necessary to shore up its effectiveness. If young people with deep knowledge, solid civic stance, take active part in the upcoming elections to the parliament and local Kengashes later this year and thus take their rightful place in representative bodies of government, this will help ensure the interests of not only the younger generation, but also of our people.

Dear compatriots!

As all of you are well aware, in the current turbulent, anxious time, various threats are intensifying to win the minds and hearts of young people. In addressing these challenges on the principle “With enlightenment to combat ignorance”, the glorious history and rich culture of our people, the acts of great ancestors, the national interests of our native Uzbekistan serve as a powerful source of strength for us.

The initiative to adopt the Convention on the Rights of Youth, launched by Uzbekistan at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, is of great importance not only for the citizens of our country, but also for the protection of the rights of more than two billion young people throughout the world.

If we really strive to build the great future for Uzbekistan, then we must create all the necessary conditions for our youth today.

In this respect, I assure you: we will not only continue with the efforts undertaken currently to realize the hopes, ideas and initiatives of young people, but also raise them to a qualitatively new, higher level.

My dears!

We have set ourselves quite important and responsible tasks, and this requires our people, including you, to mobilize all their forces and capacities.

I am convinced that you, by mastering modern knowledge and the achievements of progress, prove with practical work, energy and courage that you are well-deserving sons and daughters of our great Motherland.

I once again congratulate you on the Youth Day, and wish a sound health, the best of luck and every success in all your noble undertakings.

 

                                                                                                                                            Shavkat Mirziyoyev,
                                                                                                                            President of the Republic of Uzbekistan  
                                                                                                                                              

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