Young people – participants in today’s decisions and in tomorrow’s development
The gathering of young parliamentarians from around the world in Samarkand is more than just an international event. It clearly shows that young people’s views, initiatives, and positions are playing an increasingly important role in global politics. Today’s youth are not merely observers of global developments but a generation shaping the future through their initiatives, knowledge, and firm positions.
Today, issues such as wars, climate change, economic inequality, digital security, education, and employment directly affect young people’s lives. In his message to the conference participants, the President noted that more than 500 million children and young people around the world live in areas affected by armed conflict. This figure underscores the need to take an even more serious approach to ensuring peace, security, and the rights of young people.
A new format for dialogue with young people is taking shape in Uzbekistan. Today, young people are no longer an audience that listens to ready-made decisions but an active force that discusses problems and proposes initiatives. Youth parliaments, in turn, serve as an important practical school for developing skills in lawmaking, parliamentary oversight, substantiating one’s views, and engaging with the public.
For UzLiDeP, supporting proactive, independent young people with modern knowledge and skills is also a key priority. Encouraging youth entrepreneurship, helping young people acquire modern professions, ensuring decent employment, and increasing their economic activity are directly linked to the country’s long-term competitiveness. The election of nearly 200 young people to representative bodies in the 2024 elections also demonstrates the growing trust placed in young people and the expanding opportunities available to them.
The most important outcome I expect from the Samarkand conference is that cooperation among young parliamentarians from different countries should extend beyond the event itself. It is important to establish a permanent network for dialogue and cooperation on legislative initiatives, youth entrepreneurship, modern employment, human rights, and democratic reforms. Today’s challenges know no borders, and their solutions must be sought through cooperation. Young people should be a force that not only talks about the future but also actively participates in decision-making today.
Otabek Sobitov,
Member of the Political Council of UzLiDeP,
Chairman of the Youth Parliament under the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis
