Uzbekistan and UNESCO: Transforming dialogue into systemic partnership

When Uzbekistan initiated a new stage in engagement with UNESCO in 2017, few expected that within such a short period of time the country would become an active participant in shaping the global cultural and educational agenda. Today, Uzbekistan is a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage, a participant in science and digital technology programs, and an initiator of major international forums under UNESCO's auspices.

This transformation is the direct result of the systemic government policy. Over the past eight years, co-operation with UNESCO has evolved from a symbolic to a strategic dimension: from the restoration of monuments to the creation of institutions, from isolated festivals to the development of a cultural ecosystem.

During this period, 16 elements of rich Uzbek culture have been inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: from the Boysun cultural space and Shashmaqom to the magic of Lazgi, Bakhshi art, traditional arts and crafts.

At the initiative of Uzbekistan, a number of resolutions have been adopted, including "The Khiva Process: Promoting International Collaboration in Central Asia" (2021), " Follow-up of the Tashkent Declaration and Commitments to Action for Transforming Early Childhood Care and Education," and "The Tashkent Declaration on the Occasion of the International Day for Universal Access to Information" (2023).

"Uzbekistan has proven that cultural diplomacy can be a tool for modernization. This is an example of how heritage becomes the foundation of innovation," UNESCO representatives note.

Cooperation extends beyond culture. UNESCO departments have been opened at the universities of Samarkand and Tashkent, and the UNESCO-Uzbekistan Beruniy Prize for Scientific Research on the Ethics of AI has been established.

Programs in climate research, education, science and digital transformation are being implemented jointly with the organization. A UNESCO Regional Centre for Preschool Education Development will soon be opened in Samarkand, and a joint methodology for assessing readiness for the implementation of artificial intelligence will be presented.

The 43^rd session of the General conference will become a natural continuation of this journey. For the first time Uzbekistan isn’t only participating in the global dialogue but is forming its content – from humanitarian values to digital standards.

For the country, this is not a result, but a new stage. Cooperation with UNESCO has evolved from an external symbol into a systemic policy—a policy centered on people, knowledge, and culture.

Share this article: