Why do the first ladies come to Uzbekistan?

 I am not interested in organizations, unions, councils, or their summits, but in the wives of the Presidents who attend them, how they greet each other, what they wear, and where they go. This includes the first ladies who came to the Economic Cooperation Organization.

As you know, on November 8-9 of this year, the capital Tashkent hosted the 16th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization. The first lady of Turkey, Emine Erdogan, the first lady of Iran, Jamileh Alamolhoda, and the first lady of Kyrgyzstan, Aygul Japarova, came to Uzbekistan with their spouses. For some reason, Mehriban Aliyeva, who always walks with her husband, was not seen this time.

The first lady of Uzbekistan, Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, did not let the visiting first ladies get bored. However, it is not limited to only cultural events like the previous ones. On the other hand, while men are solving economic issues, women have gathered in the "Zamin" fund under the guardianship of Mirziyoyeva to leave a legacy of a safe, clean, tidy, and peaceful land for the future of the environment and its global population, especially children.

The first ladies were accompanied by the youngest daughter of the President of Uzbekistan, Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, the first deputy director of the Social Protection Agency. The international forum "Children and Youth on the Move - Climate Change in Central Asia" was held at the fund. At the opening of the forum, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the "Zamin" Foundation, Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, addressing the young eco-activists. 

"We have gathered here today to recognize your leadership in the struggle for a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. To promote the culture of sustainable development, which was developed together with our neighbors on the basis of the results of the Samarkand ecological park, and to educate young people and children on Climate Day. The signing of the regional strategy on involvement in the system will be an important step towards a new future," says Ziroat Mirziyoyeva.

According to Inger Andersen, the executive director of the UN Environment Program, who took part in the meeting, it is possible to strengthen the potential of young people through the formation of continuous "green" education and ecological culture.

"Ecological education is of great importance. It equips future generations with the skills and knowledge to become drivers of change, not just protestors. Our intention is that the next generations will be bold government leaders, scientists, and innovators who dream of new and better ways of living in harmony with the planet," says Inger Andersen.

Regina De Dominitsis, Regional Director of UNICEF for Europe and Central Asia, believes that the inclusion of climate change and environmental education issues in school programs is an important step in increasing the awareness of children and youth about the skills of adapting to a changing climate.

Emine Erdogan, the wife of the President of Turkey, noted that children are the most affected by the climate crisis, which endangers all living things along with 8 billion people in the world.
In her opinion, the climate crisis is a part of children's rights. She continued her speech and drew attention to the wars taking place in the world, especially the Gaza crisis.

"Until we can prevent conflicts, terrorism, and occupations and protect our children, all our good intentions will lose their meaning. Since October 7, the number of our children lost in Israeli attacks in violation of international law has already exceeded the number of children killed in all conflict zones in the last three years. The state that wears hatred as armor, has lost compassion, and has silenced the voice of conscience is raining rockets and bombs on the heads of children and bringing our world to ruin. Israel, which has not accepted the ceasefire, is not allowing humanitarian aid to reach Gaza. Terrible oppression creates irreparable wounds in the conscience," says the First Lady of Turkey.

According to Emine Erdogan, separating children's and mothers' laments based on language, religion, and skin color is complicity in the crime against humanity.

First lady Erdogan said that the only way to stop the bloodshed is to look at the issue with conscience and compassion, free from religious and historical ties, political and commercial ties.

She said that she expected the same attitude from the world towards Palestine as it was in Myanmar, Somalia, Ukraine, and Syria. Turkey, which cannot silently observe any brutality in the world, said that it will resolutely continue its efforts to first establish a ceasefire and then establish lasting peace.

"Because we want a world where children can grow up and color the earth with their smiles, not their blood. We want to see their names not on the list of martyrs but on medals, inventions created for the benefit of humanity, books, works of art. While conscientious Jews who lost their families in Auschwitz are fighting to stop the bloodshed in Palestine, our hopes for humanity are increasing as the cry of the communities that did not watch the slaughter turn into genocide rises to the heavens," says Emine Erdogan.

At the end of her speech, she thanked the First Lady of Uzbekistan, Ziroat Mirziyoyeva, for organizing the forum on climate change.

Also, the First Lady of Iran, Jamila Alamolhoda, and the First Lady of Kyrgyzstan, Aygul Japarova, spoke at the forum about the environmental situation in their countries and solving problems in the world.