About 150 non-governmental organizations supported the initiative of nominating Uzbekistan for membership in the UN Human Rights Council
About 150 non-governmental organizations supported the initiative of nominating Uzbekistan for membership in the UN Human Rights Council.
On October 13, 2020, the UN General Assembly will vote on the issue of Uzbekistan, considering its application for three-year membership in the UN Human Rights Council (HRC).
In this regard, the Yuksalish Nationwide Movement has prepared a draft open adress in support of the nomination of the Republic of Uzbekistan as a member of the UN Human Rights Council. During the online conference organized by the Movement on October 5, 147 non-governmental non-profit organizations supported this initiative. Taking into account all opinions and suggestions, the final version of the Address has been prepared.
It should be noted that over the past 3-4 years Uzbekistan has made a major breakthrough in improving the foundations of guaranteed protection of human rights enshrined in international and national documents.
Significant progress in this area, including on issues of increasing transparency and accountability of public administration, ensuring the rule of law, combating corruption, protecting the rights of children, youth is also noted by foreign experts, political scientists, and international organizations.
Of course, the nature of the processes in the field of protecting human rights and freedoms is not yet impeccable, but at the same time, coordination between departments and organizations is noticeably improving. The joint work of state bodies and the public to solve problems is visible. For example, over the past few years, child labor and forced labor have been eradicated in Uzbekistan. According to the report of the International Labor Organization, in 2019 there were no cases of systematic use of child and forced labor by the government of Uzbekistan at all stages of cotton production. More than 94 percent of employees participated in the 2019 harvest without coercion, and the systematic recruitment of students, teachers, doctors and nurses has completely stopped.
About 150 NGOs that collaborate with the Nationwide Movement "Yuksalish" through common network of activities, also note positive changes in the field of human rights protection, incentives for the further development of civil society institutions, and support the initiative of nominating Uzbekistan to the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2021— 2023 years.
The launched processes are inevitable, as the head of state has repeatedly stated and the recently approved National Strategy on Human Rights is a proof of this. It is the product of many international and public consultations. Constructive suggestions made during the consultations were taken into account in producing the final version of the National Strategy. In particular, it was recommended to form a Parliamentary Commission on the observation of international obligations in the field of human rights and to hear quarterly information from the heads of ministries and departments on the implementation of the National Strategy.
The country's commitment to ensuring human rights and fulfilling its international obligations was also of a high importance and was spoken by the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. A number of foreign experts and political scientists characterized it, first of all, as the popularization in the world and the Central Asian region of the experience of Uzbekistan, the processes of large-scale transformations in all areas, carried out in a relatively short time. This experience of reforms may turn out to be valuable both for the countries of the Central Asian region and other states of the world, including actions within the framework of the UN Human Rights Council.
Over the past years, a transformation has taken place in the socio-political space, where there is a place for criticism from the population, and it is perceived objectively, as well as a noticeable timely reaction of state bodies to a particular case associated with violation of the rights and freedoms of citizens. We consider it important to note that there is a deep commitment to the pledges made by both the government and citizens.
In 2018, at the 37th session of the HRC in Geneva, Uzbekistan first announced its intention to be elected a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2021-2023. This decision was made within the framework of purposeful work to qualitatively improve the protection of human rights in the country, a significant intensification of international cooperation of Uzbekistan in this area, and also taking into account the positive assessments of international organizations on the reforms being carried out in the republic. The implementation of measures aimed at ensuring the election of the Republic of Uzbekistan as a member of the UN Human Rights Council is also defined in the National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights.
Press service of the Nationwide Movement "Yuksalish"