The government partners with the UN and civil society to find the pressing needs of the most vulnerable people in Tajikistan

Over 30 participants representing 20 civil society organizations discussed the priorities of persons with disabilities, reviewed the existing legislation and policies, and provided recommendations to the Government on changes as well as additional measures needed to improve them.

Ms Farida Alibakhshova, the UN RCO’s Disability Inclusion Consultant in Tajikistan, noted that “by signing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2018, followed by the adoption of the National Roadmap for its ratification, the authorities in Tajikistan have explicitly expressed their commitment to upholding the rights of persons with disabilities and inclusive development.” The dialogue that we had today- underpinned by the principle “nothing about us without us”- was important to assess where the Government stands now in creating inclusive environment and development.”

The consultation with persons with disabilities was one of many organized by the Government, in cooperation with the United Nations and civil society. These consultations were organized to ensure that the voice of vulnerable groups is heard and that all of them benefit from the country’s economic development.

“We fully realize the importance of reaching out to the most vulnerable groups in order to assess the impact of development on their lives”, said Ms Manuchehra Madjonova, the MEDT VNR Coordinator. “We appreciate the engagement and support of civil society organizations in the work with vulnerable groups and in organizing thematic discussions which helps us see how far we have progressed on the sustainable development goals or SDGs. We want to see the impact on various groups of society and ensure that no-one is left behind. Their expertise and experience are invaluable”, she added.

The UN Resident Coordinator Office in Tajikistan, together with other UN Agencies, has been coordinating technical support to the Government on the VNR process. Many UN Agencies are providing assistance and guidance, including OHCHR, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, FAO, UN Women, and WHO. In addition, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) organized a study visit to Uzbekistan in January as part of the VNR Twinning Programme.

Besides Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Mongolia was also part of this programme. A Tajik delegation representing the government, civil society, and the private sector took part in this visit. During the visit, the three countries discussed and shared good practices in carrying out VNRs in their respective countries.  

About VNRs

VNRs are a Member State led process to systematically review national progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda. Member States have the opportunity to share their experiences with each other by presenting the VNR to the international community at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) and publishing their report online in the HLPF VNR database. VNRs are not an end in themselves, but rather an assessment and stocktaking exercise to assist in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. VNRs aim to assess the status of implementation of the 2030 Agenda at the national level, achieving just and equitable sustainable development for all will be impossible without also fulfilling human rights.