“Our people are now completely freed from cotton slavery,” states Shavkat Mirziyoyev

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, proposed to host the world conference "Social Protection: The Path to Sustainable Development" in Uzbekistan under the auspices of the United Nations in 2024. This proposal was made by the head of state on September 19 during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Mirziyoev announced at the UN platform that despite global threats, Uzbekistan has maintained stable growth rates. Over the last six years, the gross domestic product has increased by more than one and a half times. The primary objective is to double this figure by 2030.

Another high-priority goal in the path of economic liberalization is to become a full member of the World Trade Organization in the near future.

Since 2017, poverty in the country has been halved, thanks to policies aimed at improving the standard of living of the population. The goal is to reduce it to 7 percent by 2030.

"We support the United Nations Secretary-General's initiative, 'Global Accelerator for Jobs and Social Protection.' To facilitate the exchange of experiences within this initiative, I propose hosting the world conference 'Social Protection: The Path to Sustainable Development' in our country under the auspices of the United Nations in 2024," said the leader of Uzbekistan.

It is worth noting that the participants of the meeting focused on the achievements in Uzbekistan in terms of human rights protection and the complete eradication of forced and child labor.

"For a century, millions of people were compelled to pick cotton in Uzbekistan. Every year, from September to December, a significant portion of the population, including teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs, workers, and servants, and most regrettably, schoolchildren and students, were mobilized for cotton picking. As a result, boycotts of Uzbek cotton were declared, and the country remained on 'blacklists' for years. Thanks to our determination, all of this is now a thing of the past. Our people have been entirely freed from cotton slavery," affirmed the head of state.