From tragedy to global policy: Uzbekistan’s initiative for an International Day of Remembrance for earthquake victims

By Shokhruz Samadov 

In the evolving landscape of global security, the risks posed by natural disasters, particularly earthquakes have become a central concern not only for affected regions but for international governance at large. Amid this backdrop, Uzbekistan’s initiative to establish April 29 as the International Day of Remembrance for Earthquake Victims, recently endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly, represents a timely and strategic contribution to the architecture of global resilience and humanitarian solidarity.

Rethinking Disaster: From Event to Systemic Threat

Modern risk assessments have transformed the conceptual framing of earthquakes. No longer viewed solely as sporadic natural events, they are increasingly seen as systemic threats with geopolitical, economic, and societal dimensions. Earthquakes can destabilize entire regions, trigger mass migration, strain public health systems, and significantly delay economic development. Yet, despite their frequency and severity, the human dimension of these tragedies such as the trauma, the memory, the societal rupture is often inadequately addressed in international policy frameworks. This is precisely the gap Uzbekistan’s initiative aims to fill.

The Strategic Vision Behind the Initiative

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s proposal to create an international remembrance day was first articulated in March 2023 at an extraordinary summit of the Organization of Turkic States. The proposal did not emerge in isolation; rather, it reflects Uzbekistan’s long-term foreign policy orientation toward human-centered diplomacy, emphasizing multilateralism, regional cooperation, and global public goods.

The initiative signals a paradigm shift, moving from a reactive to a proactive, memory-informed approach to disaster governance. It acknowledges that remembrance is not merely symbolic; it is a functional instrument for fostering preparedness, accountability, and collective learning. By institutionalizing remembrance, the global community is better equipped to prevent the repetition of past failures and to develop a shared ethical framework for managing future crises.

Why April 29 Matters: Memory as Policy Tool

Choosing April 29 as the official date carries both historical and strategic significance. The date marks the anniversary of the 1966 Tashkent earthquake, a devastating event that reshaped the capital and remains deeply embedded in the national consciousness of Uzbekistan.

Commemorating this day globally repositions memory as a policy tool not just for Uzbekistan, but for the entire international system. It transforms national trauma into a vehicle for transnational solidarity, leveraging collective memory to support knowledge-sharing, innovation in disaster risk reduction (DRR), and investment in early warning systems.

Furthermore, the initiative’s alignment with the UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) adds coherence to global efforts. It offers a normative anchor for integrating commemoration with capacity-building and resilience planning.

A Multilevel Impact: National, Regional, Global

At the national level, the initiative reinforces Uzbekistan’s commitment to disaster preparedness and state modernization. It reflects growing state capacity and the increasing importance of disaster governance in the country’s domestic policy.

Regionally, it positions Uzbekistan as a norm entrepreneur in Central Asia and among Turkic states using soft power and shared historical experience to build consensus on humanitarian priorities.

Globally, it contributes to the humanization of international relations. In an era marked by geopolitical fragmentation and competing security concerns, Uzbekistan’s proposal introduces a unifying, apolitical agenda focused on empathy, resilience, and international cooperation.

UN Endorsement: Diplomatic Capital and Norm-Setting

The unanimous adoption of the resolution by the UN General Assembly is itself noteworthy. It demonstrates Uzbekistan’s growing diplomatic capital and ability to mobilize support for normative innovation within multilateral institutions. Such an endorsement is not only a formal recognition of the initiative but a precedent-setting act in international memory politics.

The resolution encourages member states to engage in educational efforts, share experiences, and build institutional cooperation on all levels. Importantly, it embeds the right to memory and dignity for disaster victims within the structure of international law and diplomacy.