AKIPRESS.COM - The European Union, together with partners UNICEF and European Training Foundation (ETF), hosted  a youth dialogue for young people from Central Asia, on the sidelines of the EU-Central Asia Connectivity Conference in Samarkand.

The youth dialogue created the platform to amplify the voices of young people from five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to discuss on the key conference themes.

Young people expressed their opinions and suggestions to advance opportunities and actions of young people in the spheres digitalisation, climate change, gender participation and access to education across the region.

The event gathered high-level speakers, including EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan Charlotte Adriaen, chairman of Yuksalish Bobur Bekmurodov, Deputy Director General for International Partnerships Marjeta Jager, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Afshan Khan, and UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan Munir Mammadzade who connected with the youth to seek policy-relevant solutions on the regional level.

"Young people are key partners in accelerating socio-economic development in the region. Platforms for their advocacy such as these are not only necessary but essential," UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Afshan Khan commented on the Youth Dialogue.