On 20 November 2020, Renmin Ribao, Tass, Islamabad POST и Centreline published an article written by SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov and dedicated to the World Children's Day.
The article notes that ensuring children's rights is a global problem of our time that the entire international community is concerned with solving. Each country proceeds from the understanding that the progress of humanity and general development are impossible unless the situation of women and children is improved and their rights are secured. The fundamental and universal documents promoting children's rights are the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In this context, the Secretary-General focused on two points pertaining to the observance of the fundamental rights of the child: decent education and medical services.
"Today, there are more children and adolescents enrolled at preschools and primary and secondary educational institutions than at any time in the past. However, according to the UN statistics, nearly 113 million children, for one reason or another, do not attend school. Of these, 97 percent (or about 110 million) live in developing countries: 48.5 million in South and South-East Asian countries and 42.3 million in African countries. The dearth of skilled teachers, low-grade teaching aids, and poor sanitary conditions complicate the schooling of many children. An estimated 617 million children and adolescents the world over are unable to reach a minimal level of reading and mathematics proficiency, although two-thirds of them go to school," Vladimir Norov stressed.
The Secretary-General laid a particular stress on the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted the normal training process involving about one billion university and school students in 160 countries. COVID-19 has also led to major failures in the operation of child healthcare services. According to UNICEF, a study conducted in 77 countries has demonstrated that in 68 percent of cases the pandemic has affected the organisation of regular health check-ups of children and immunisation services.
Mr Norov states that the SCO member states attach much importance to and work purposefully on ensuring the rights of children and young people, creating opportunities for their self-fulfilment, the unlocking of their creative potential, the implementation of professional careers, and shaping favourable social conditions. These ideas were buttressed with examples from children's rights policies of SCO member states, including the adoption of laws and establishment of specialised institutions and funds that render real assistance and ensure the protection of children's rights and legitimate interests.
The article also describes in detail how the SCO works to ensure children's rights. "One of the SCO's main objectives, according to its Charter, is assisting the implementation of the rights and fundamental freedoms of man in conformity with the international obligations of the member states and their national laws. The Declaration approved by the SCO Summit on 10 November 2020 notes that the heads of the member states advocate further development of youth entrepreneurship and creation of specialised
acceleration programmes designed to upgrade young entrepreneurs' economic skills for activities in the SCO space," Mr Norov noted.
The SCO Youth Council and other related mechanisms have launched a vigorous effort to promote youth cooperation in the SCO space. Specifically, the SCO Secretariat provides, as part of the SCO Our Common Home project, venues for the SCO Model interactive games and the Leader of the 21st Century intellectual contests involving young people. Each year, the SCO Secretariat holds an Open Doors Day for university and school students. Mr Norov also stressed the importance of the SCO children's art exhibition Protect Our Homeland from COVID-19, which was held in July 2020.
In conclusion, Secretary-General Vladimir Norov expressed confidence that the young generation of the SCO member states would make a worthy contribution to the development and prosperity of their countries, to the strengthening of regional and global stability and security, and to the dialogue between peoples, cultures and religions.
The World Children's Day was proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1954. It is marked on 20 November to promote international togetherness and awareness among children. It is dedicated to activities aimed at ensuring children's welfare all over the world.
20 November is an important children's rights landmark. On this day in 1959 the UN General Assembly approved the Declaration of the Rights of the Child; in 1989, it adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, the anniversaries of these fundamental human rights documents are marked on the World Children's Day.

Full text of the interview:
 
World Children's Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1954 and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide and to improve children's welfare.
In general, 20 November is an important day for the promotion of children's rights. On that day in 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, and in 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Since 1990, these dates have been noted as fundamental documents on World Children's Day.
Protecting children's rights is a worldwide cause of great concern for the entire international community. The policy of each state rests on the belief that human progress and even development are impossible without better conditions for women and children and the protection of their rights. The family is where children get physical training and learn moral values, which helps them grow to be productive members of society capable of living on their own.
Today more children and teenagers receive preschool, general and vocational training than ever before. At the same time, the UN has reported that some 113 million children worldwide do not attend school for various reasons, 97 percent or approximately 110 million of them live in third world countries: 48.5 million in South and Southeast Asia, and 42.3 million in Africa.
The shortage of professional teachers, low-quality teaching aids, ramshackle classes and poor sanitary conditions are hindering access to learning for many children. According to new estimates, 617 million children and teenagers around the world are not achieving minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics even though two thirds of them attend school. The number of children who have no access to primary education in rural areas is twice as large as in cities. As many as 27 million children do not attend school in conflict zones. Unable to receive life-long learning skills, these children cannot find gainful employment and well-paid jobs in later life. They suffer from untoward health consequences more often than others and seldom contribute to decisions that directly affect them, which greatly limits their ability to build a better future for themselves.
In addition, approximately 1 billion children and youth in 160 countries are not studying because schools and universities have been closed in an attempt to stop the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 has also disrupted the system of children's healthcare. According to UNICEF, 68 percent of the 77 countries surveyed are experiencing disruptions in child health services, including health check-ups and vaccinations, due to the pandemic.
The SCO member states consider it very important to guarantee the rights of children and young people. They are working to guarantee their right to self-expression, to unlock their creative potential, to create favourable social conditions and opportunities for education and work.
Under the relevant state programmes, they are working to help young people gain modern knowledge, encourage their interest in science and technology, art and literature and promote their legal education.
They focus on promoting junior-league sport and physical fitness, education and bringing up young people in the spirit of respecting such intransient values as patriotism, high morality and mutual respect.
The SCO countries are expanding their cooperation with international organisations, UNESCO, UNICEF and relevant civil society institutions, to guarantee children's rights.
The laws and other legal acts of the SCO member states regulate the social security of children and the guarantees of their rights. For example, the Constitution of India bans any form of discrimination and underscores the rights and freedoms of children. State and private children's organisations work effectively, and their activities aim to provide children with primary and secondary education, medical treatment and protect them from violence and forced labour. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, one of the main organisations, is active in all states in India.
Kazakhstan continues to improve the national legislation in the sphere of children's rights by embracing children with mental and physical disabilities, children in vulnerable life situations and young people in conflict with the law. In 2016, the President of Kazakhstan ordered the creation of an Office of the Commissioner for
Children's Rights. In 2019, the President signed the law on amendments and additions to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan related to the activities of organisations protecting the rights of the child. In particular, the law establishes and regulates support centres for children in difficult life situations, and those centres were included on the list of organisations that protect children's rights.
The practical implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child has contributed to improvements in the lives of several generations of Kazakhstani children; child mortality rates have decreased to less than one-fifth; inclusive education is becoming widespread and the social security system is improving.
In 2011, the State Council of China approved the China National Programme for Child Development (2011-2020) that includes new goals and new actions for the Chinese government with regard to children, marking a new stage in China's child protection efforts.
This programme sets goals to be reached in five areas, including child health, education, welfare, social environment and legal protection. To achieve these goals, purposeful work is now being carried out to improve the basic healthcare system, to boost children's physical health, provide children with quality education, and expand social security for children.
In the Kyrgyz Republic, the legal framework for ensuring the rights and interests of the child includes the Constitution, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and other regulatory legal acts. In 2006, Kyrgyzstan was the first Central Asian country to adopt the Children's Code. The code enshrines the rights of the child and establishes the principles and mechanisms for child protection. Kyrgyzstan is one of 62 countries that has achieved the Millennium Development Goal to reduce child mortality rates by more than two-thirds. The early childhood development rate exceeds 72 per cent, and 64 percent of children under five are covered by preschool education there. The participation rate in formal preschool programmes has reached 91 percent.
Pakistan's existing legislative and political framework in the area of child protection includes obligations under various international treaties and conventions, provisions in its national constitution, federal and provincial laws, including criminal law and Sharia law, national policy and action plans concerning children.
Pakistan has ratified several international treaties that provide for the special protection of children, including the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the 1999 ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, the 2002 SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution, and others.
In Russia, children's rights are protected by federal law. The entire scope of the child-parent relationship is covered by the Family Code and several other regulations and legal acts. In 2009, the Russian President issued an Executive Order introducing the post of Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights. When the Executive Order was signed, children's rights ombudspersons had already been appointed in 18 Russian regions. This number grew to 48 within a year and to 62 by the end of 2010. It was a significant effort to assign a person to take charge of children's affairs in every region. As soon as early 2015, the institution of children's rights protection was fully established across all 85 regions in Russia. The commissioner's most important results are represented by the tangible help provided to individuals seeking protection for minor children's rights and legal interests.
The Russian Constitution and other laws and legal acts also regulate children's rights.
Tajikistan established the National Commission for Children's Rights that coordinates the implementation of the republic's international obligations in the sphere of children's rights and, within its mandate, carries out the state policy on protecting children's rights and interests, also regulating issues concerning children's upbringing and education.
Foundations and non-government organisations in the country provide social support for children. One such foundation is the Lona Charity Foundation. Created in 2009, it has been providing practical assistance to children with cancer and burn injuries for 11 years. The foundation also provides financial aid to families with low income, foster homes, nursing homes for the elderly, and orphanages.
The legal system in the Republic of Uzbekistan comprises more than 100 legal acts in this area. In particular, the law "On guarantees of children's rights" reflects guarantees for a child's right to life, freedom and personal integrity, state support for families raising children, as well as for recreation and leisure, health protection, education and other rights.
Under the Constitution, the rights of minors are protected by the state. The country has introduced the position of Deputy Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman) — Commissioner for Children's Rights. The country has introduced a unified system of continuous education, aimed at the radical reform of the education system. In addition, much attention is given in the Republic of Uzbekistan to the development of children's sports and creative activities.
At the SCO Bishkek Summit in 2019, the heads of state supported the initiative of the Uzbek side to prepare a draft UN Convention on youth rights and expressed their intention to conduct coordinated work on this issue.
According to experts, the significance of this UN Convention for the SCO countries is that it takes into account international and national experience in regulating the relevant aspects of protecting the rights of young people and is aimed at increasing efforts at the international, regional and national levels to meet the needs of young people, improve capacity-building and guarantees for their rights and freedoms and support the interests of the youth in all its diversity around the world.
The Convention will be a timely and effective response to the challenges and opportunities facing states and the world community as a whole concerning the balanced and harmonious development of young people and putting into practice
their huge potential in order to ensure the well-being and sustainable development of the SCO countries.
As for the ongoing work within the SCO, I would like to note that one of the main tasks of the SCO, according to its Charter, is to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with the international commitments of the member states and their respective national laws.
In this regard, the SCO Youth Council and other relevant mechanisms have launched extensive work to encourage youth cooperation aimed at promoting the physical, mental and spiritual development of the young generation and involving young people in large-scale joint development plans.
On October 30, 2020, the Youth Council held its regular meeting on the prospects for the volunteer movement within the SCO space, and the exchange of experience on developing new formats for education programmes, including during the pandemic.
Discussions, conferences, cultural and sports events, as well as youth forums, are held regularly. They are designed to tap the creative, social, educational and spiritual and moral potential of the younger generation, to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding, and to develop neighbourly relations and strengthen cooperation between different ethnic and religious groups.
The SCO Youth Card International Service project is being successfully implemented and international festivals, "The SCO and BRICS Countries' Student Spring" and the SCO Marathons are held annually. The SCO Secretariat is working with young people as part of "The SCO is Our Common Home" project by providing them with technical support, as well as platforms for organising various events, such as the SCO Model interactive games and the 21st Century Leader intellectual contests. Every year, the SCO Secretariat hosts a Doors Open Day for students and schoolchildren.
Art exhibitions of children's drawings, Children Draw Fairy Tales, inspired by folk fairy tales from the SCO member states have been held for 15 years now. These
events show our younger generation the diversity of SCO countries' cultures and encourage their interest in the history of classical and folk art.
I would also like to note the importance of the Exhibition of Children's Pictures of the SCO Countries on the subject, "Unity in combating the epidemic, protection of our common home" held in June 2020. In their works of art, the participants covered not only the subject of fighting the virus, but also reflected the ideas of peace, friendship, mutual support and striving for progress — all part of the Shanghai Spirit idea. It is gratifying to know that the younger generation in the SCO is sharing the principles of mutual support and is calling for solidarity from early age.
The declaration adopted at the SCO summit, held on November 10, 2020, notes that the heads of the member states advocate further development of youth entrepreneurship and the creation of special acceleration programmes that contribute to expanding the competence of young entrepreneurs in economic activity within the SCO space.
Our countries' leaders also approved the Action Plan for Implementing the SCO Development Strategy until 2025, under which the member states will consider establishing a mechanism for meetings with the heads of the departments of the SCO member states in charge of implementing youth policy, and will also continue to expand youth exchanges and programmes within the SCO space.
In addition, the SCO is taking measures aimed at countering the attempts to involve young people in terrorist, separatist or extremist groups. In particular, following the SCO Summit in Qingdao in 2018, the heads of state adopted a Joint Appeal to Youth and the Action Programme to implement it, which are aimed at actively involving young people in creating a dignified future and promoting the physical, mental and spiritual development of the younger generation. The documents emphasise the critical importance of ensuring a favourable socioeconomic environment, the availability of opportunities for education, self-expression, personal fulfillment and implementation of labour activities for young people.
I'm confident that the younger generation of the SCO member states will make a worthy contribution to the progress and prosperity of their respective countries, strengthening regional and global stability and security, and promoting dialogue among peoples, cultures and religions.