The event was attended by more than 150 people, including representatives of the Oliy Majlis, the Ministry of Justice and various international and national organizations to discuss the achievements and results of the Program.
Since the signing of the memorandum of cooperation between USAID and the Ministry of Justice in 2018, the Program has provided support in the areas of gender equality, improving legislation, legal education and creating an enabling legal environment for the development of civil society - essential components that strengthen the rule of law by ensuring fairness, clarity, empowerment, accountability and active citizen participation.
"USAID is proud to contribute to strengthening the rule of law in Uzbekistan through its flagship project, the results of which exceeded expectations. I am grateful to the Government of Uzbekistan and our numerous national partners who have been devoted and tireless companions in our joint efforts," said Edward Michalski, Deputy Director of the USAID mission in Uzbekistan.
The implementation of the USAID Legal Reform Program has been marked by important milestones, including the development of Uzbekistan's first law on gender equality and the revision of almost 30 bills, policies and regulations. In addition, the program has developed about 50 educational courses that have been integrated into the permanent curricula of bachelor's and master's law schools throughout the country.
The program also strengthened legal institutions, including the offices of the Ombudsman and the Business Ombudsman, with the transferred equipment, which increased their ability to effectively serve their clients. It is noteworthy that more than 900 thousand people from vulnerable groups of the population received free legal assistance, which contributed to the restoration of their rights, and more than 7 million people used the services of the USAID-supported legal advice portal advice.uz. The program has also trained about 15 thousand people. specialists in the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The legacy of the USAID Legal Reform Program includes many sustainable resources - textbooks, manuals, research reports and analyses of legal documents that will continue to serve professionals in various fields.
Through collaboration with national partners, the Program has modernized legal education in Uzbekistan in line with international best practices and contributed to ensuring access to justice for all citizens, while paving the way for equal opportunities for women and men and the elimination of violence against women.
