Bishkek hosts forum of mayors

Bishkek, Nov. 25, 2024. /Kabar/. Today, Bishkek hosted a forum of mayors on the topic “Child- and youth-friendly city”, the Ministry of Culture of Kyrgyzstan reported.

The event brought together representatives of government bodies, international organizations and municipalities, including Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy Marat Tagaev, head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Kyrgyzstan Samman Jung Thapa, as well as mayors of cities from all over the country.

Deputy Minister Marat Tagaev emphasized the importance of municipalities' participation in developing a favorable environment for children and youth.

In his speech, he noted that creating child- and youth-friendly cities is an investment in the future of our country. “We strive to ensure an inclusive approach to governance so that every child and young person can participate in decision-making that affects their lives. The Ministry is ready to provide full support to cities in implementing initiatives aimed at the development of our future generations,” he said.

The forum is aimed at developing cooperation and promoting efforts to create conditions for the comprehensive development of children and youth. The event summed up the results of the “Child and Youth Friendly City” competition for 2022–2023, and presented the participation procedure for the next cycle of the competition. Participants discussed key indicators of local government friendliness towards children and youth, as well as mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating progress in this area.

The competition is held within the framework of the “Child and Youth Friendly Municipalities” program, a joint initiative of the Cabinet of Ministers and the UNICEF Representative Office in Kyrgyzstan. The main goal of the competition is to encourage municipalities to implement inclusive policies and effectively allocate resources focused on the needs of the younger generation.

UNICEF Representative Samman Jung Thapa also noted the importance of the forum. "Child- and youth-friendly cities are not only the key to improving the lives of the younger generation, but also the basis for sustainable development of society as a whole. We are pleased to cooperate with Kyrgyzstan in implementing this important program," he added.

The forum confirmed the commitment of Kyrgyz cities to creating conditions that promote the active participation of children and youth in society and their well-being.