National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights

National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights

For the first time in the history of the country, the National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights was adopted with broad international participation. The national strategy is important in improving the mechanism for protecting human rights and building a culture of human rights. This document specifically shows the ways of a systematic approach to the issue of human rights, eliminating the existing vacuum and shortcomings.

Uzbekistan complies with international obligations and one of the striking examples is the work on the continuation of the implementation of the "Habeas Corpus" procedure, aimed at strengthening judicial control during the investigation. Criminal punishment in the form of arrest has been abolished in favor of the application of types of punishment not related to imprisonment, the detention of persons suspected of committing a crime has been reduced from 72 to 48 hours, the use of preventive measures in the form of detention, house arrest, preliminary investigation from 1 year up to 7 months, a separate criminal liability has been introduced for falsifying evidence. In accordance with the recommendations of international organizations, the Zhaslyk colony in Karakalpakstan was closed.

Priority attention is paid to deepening reforms in the judicial and legal sphere, as a result of which concrete measures were taken to implement international standards in the field of judicial independence and protection of the right to a fair trial. In particular, strict liability has been established for the use of information obtained by illegal methods as evidence for the prosecution.

Local public commissions have been established to study the personal and professional qualities of candidates for the office of a judge. To ensure fairness, openness and transparency in the consideration of cases in courts, a system of electronic distribution of cases has been introduced, as well as to reduce costs and bureaucratic red tape, the systems of “electronic criminal case” and “remote interrogation” are being introduced.

The powers of lawyers in ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens have been expanded. Lawyers are given the right to take measures for pre-trial settlement of disputes, reconciliation of the parties, and also act as an arbitrator. The role of the Chamber of Advocates has been significantly increased. Henceforth, draft normative legal acts on issues related to advocacy and legal proceedings are subject to mandatory approval by the Chamber of Advocates, and the Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates has the right to participate in meetings of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis to discuss draft laws.

In general, the innovations envisaged in the framework of the judicial and legal reform expanded the guarantees of citizens' access to justice, created conditions for strengthening the independence and independence of the courts as an essential component of the formation and democratization of society.

The country is actively working to strengthen the socio-political status of women in the framework of an active gender policy. At the 75th jubilee session of the UN General Assembly, the head of Uzbekistan noted: “Gender policy has become a priority issue for us. The role of women in public administration is increasing. The number of women deputies in the new parliament has doubled”.

As a result of the last elections to the Oliy Majlis, for the first time, the UN recommendations on the number of women (at least 30 percent) in the parliament of Uzbekistan were fully implemented. Election to the Legislative Chamber of 32 percent, that is, 48 women, secured Uzbekistan 46th place among 190 parliaments of the world.

Over the past 4 years, the country has adopted two important laws - "On guarantees of equal rights and opportunities for women and men" and "On the protection of women from oppression and violence." In 2020 alone, 15 normative legal acts were adopted aimed at increasing the role of women in government and society, ensuring their employment, and supporting women in need.

At the initiative of the head of state, education opportunities for girls from socially vulnerable sectors of society have been further expanded, with 4 percent of state grants allocated to higher educational institutions. On the basis of this new system, 950 girls of this category were admitted to universities. All ministries and departments have established advisory councils on gender equality issues.

The Commission on Ensuring Gender Equality of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Senate Committee of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Women and Gender Equality are actively working. In his Address to Parliament, the President put the creation of the Republican Public Women's Council as an issue on the agenda.

These facts indicate that women in Uzbekistan have a firm place in society. Consequently, one of the priority directions of a fair policy pursued by the President is the comprehensive provision of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of women and youth.

The issue of youth is indeed an important factor in the development of the new Uzbekistan. A vivid confirmation of this is the fact that in the last parliamentary elections 9 deputies under the age of 30 were elected to the Legislative Chamber. Today, young people make up 6 percent of the deputies in the lower house of parliament, while in the world this figure is only 2 percent.

It is no coincidence that from the rostrum of the 75th, jubilee, session of the UN General Assembly, the head of our state once again called on everyone to support the initiative of Uzbekistan to adopt the UN Convention on the Rights of Youth. The draft convention is highly appreciated by the world community. Thus, at the Samarkand Forum on Human Rights held in 2020, many positive opinions were expressed about the draft Convention.

Uzbekistan not only came up with an initiative to develop it, but also raised youth issues to the level of a priority direction of state policy. An Agency for Youth Affairs has been created in the country, funds have been established, measures are regularly taken to ensure youth employment.

Speaking about the youth organizations created in our country in recent years, it is worth noting the introduction of the position of the Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Ombudsman) - Commissioner for the Rights of the Child. The decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On additional measures to improve the system of protecting the rights of the child", signed on May 29, 2020, defines the main tasks and areas of activity of the Ombudsman for the Rights of the Child.

On October 15, 2020, Uzbekistan adopted the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Today, the chambers of the Oliy Majlis are consistently working to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Currently, this law, which provides for international standards and requirements of the Convention, as well as the use of the term “person with a disability” instead of “disabled”, serves to express the rights and interests of representatives of this category. The new law is the main document establishing the rights of persons with disabilities. If we take into account that over 700 thousand people with disabilities live in Uzbekistan, including over 100 thousand children with disabilities under the age of 16, the relevance and significance of this law becomes clear.

A Parliamentary Commission on the observance of international obligations by the Republic of Uzbekistan in the field of human rights has been created, its composition and regulations have been approved. The main goal of the Parliamentary Commission is to help our country comply with international obligations and implement the National Strategy of Uzbekistan on Human Rights.

An important result was the establishment, in accordance with the presidential decree, of the badge “For the protection of human rights”. Please note: every five years on December 10, the day of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Prize is being presented. This award was established in 1966 to honor individuals who have made an enormous contribution to the protection of human rights. Uzbekistan also established its own Human Rights Prize. Starting from 2020, on December 10 of each year, on Human Rights Day, a solemn presentation of the badge "For the Protection of Human Rights" is carried out.

All this undoubtedly testifies to the fact that thanks to the adoption of a long-term strategy in the field of human rights, the state policy in this direction is being effectively implemented in the country. This, in turn, serves to form in our society a respectful attitude towards human rights and freedoms, to further strengthen the country's authority in the international arena, including improving the status of the Republic of Uzbekistan in economic and political and legal ratings.