Proposals to expand the scope of social services considered

    Uzbekistan 3 May 2024 1886

    On May 3, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with proposals for further improvement of the social service system.

    The renewed Constitution of Uzbekistan defines the country as a social state, guarantees social support for the population, and creates equal conditions for everyone. Special attention is paid to stimulating the work of persons with disabilities and providing social services to persons subjected to oppression and violence.

    Today, the products of enterprises whose employees are persons with disabilities are purchased based on direct contracts within the framework of state orders only if the founder of the enterprise is an association of disabled people.

    At the same time, there are 669 enterprises and 8.3 thousand individual entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan, 50 percent of whose employees are persons with disabilities. On May 1-2, Tashkent hosted the “Inson Uchun” exhibition, at which such products were presented, and contracts worth 360 billion UZS were signed.

    To create broader opportunities for their activities, it is proposed to allow direct purchases, within the framework of the state order, of the products of all organizations and individual entrepreneurs, at least 50 percent of whose employees are persons with disabilities. Thanks to this opportunity, about 3,000 entrepreneurs can provide work for about 20,000 people with disabilities.

    According to the World Health Organization, every third woman in the world experiences some form of violence. In developed countries, prompt psychological, medical, and legal assistance to victims of violence has been established.

    In Uzbekistan, services provided to women subjected to oppression and violence are absent at the mahalla level. The quality of practical assistance at the district level is also not high.

    In this regard, a new three-tier system for providing social services to victims of violence was proposed. Thus, at the mahalla level, a social worker, a prevention inspector, and a women’s activist will study harassment cases and constantly monitor the situation. At the district level, “Inson” centers will provide psychological, legal, and other social services without requiring a protective order.

    Primary care rooms will be established in the emergency departments of hospitals. At the regional level, rehabilitation centers will provide psychological and legal services for providing asylum and in-depth rehabilitation for up to 6 months without requiring an application.

    In addition, measures will be taken to prevent violence in education and labor relations. At the same time, a program for correcting persons who have committed violence will be developed and implemented in coordination with the “Inson” Center. A procedure will be introduced for internal affairs bodies to maintain a register of persons who have committed violence.

    It is planned to develop a standard of social services for persons subjected to violence. The activities of non-governmental non-profit organizations in this area will develop.

    The Head of state approved these proposals and gave additional instructions for their practical implementation, creating decent living and working conditions for every person.