The seminar, held in a hybrid format, was organized by the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan jointly with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and its Regional Office for Central Asia with the participation of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). The work was attended by deputies of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, representatives of the National Center for Human Rights, as well as experts from the United Nations Office on Human Rights, the Interparliamentary Union and the International Commission of Jurists.

The seminar was designed to deepen parliamentarians' understanding of the role of the legislature in the UN human rights system, introduce them to the procedures for reviewing individual communications under the Optional Protocols to international UN treaties, and discuss the legal and institutional implications of their possible ratification for Uzbekistan.

It is important to note that the parliament's interaction with the UN human rights mechanisms is a logical continuation of the strategic course proclaimed by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev from the rostrum of the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council on February 22, 2021, in a historic speech when Uzbekistan participated for the first time as an elected member of the Council. The Head of State stressed that democratic reforms in the country have become irreversible, and ensuring fundamental human rights and freedoms will continue to occupy a central place in the reform of the New Uzbekistan. The President reaffirmed Uzbekistan's firm commitment to its international obligations in the field of human rights and announced the continuation of close cooperation with Council member States and all partners in order to promote the UN Secretary-General's "Call to Action for Human Rights" initiative. In his remarks, the Head of State noted that Uzbekistan, as a member of the Human Rights Council, will protect and actively promote universally recognized principles and norms of international human rights law. Parliament's consideration of the issue of accession to the Optional Protocols providing for individual communications procedures is the next logical step in the consistent implementation of this course.

The constitutional and legal basis of the issues under discussion are the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan in a new edition. According to article 55 of the Constitution, everyone has the right, in accordance with the legislation and international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to apply to international bodies for the protection of human rights and freedoms if all available domestic remedies have been exhausted. Thus, the right to appeal to the UN treaty bodies is enshrined at the constitutional level, which is directly related to the issue of ratification of the Optional Protocols providing for individual communications procedures. In turn, article 56 of the Constitution stipulates those national human rights institutions complement existing forms and means of protecting human rights and freedoms, promote the development of civil society and enhance the culture of human rights, and the State creates conditions for organizing their activities.

Director of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, member of the UN Human Rights Committee, academician Akmal Saidov, Acting Regional Representative of OHCHR for Central Asia Ennio Boati (online), as well as a representative of the Inter-Parliamentary Union addressed the participants with a welcoming speech.

The seminar program was structured around four thematic sessions: "The UN human rights system and parliaments", "Procedures for reviewing communications under the Optional Protocols", "Implementation of the views of the treaty bodies", "Implications for Uzbekistan and further steps".

Omer Fischer, Human Rights Officer of the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia, Pavlo Bialik, OHCHR Regional Adviser on the Universal Periodic Review, Ilya Novikov, Junior Adviser on Human Rights of the Interparliamentary Union, Behzod Aliyev, Human Rights Adviser of the OHCHR Petitions Section, Director of the Program for Europe and Central Asia of the International Commission of Jurists, accompanied the presentations with expert reports and explanations. Temur Shakirov, Abbosbek Nabiev, Senior Specialist of the International Cooperation Department of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The seminar ended with an open discussion and summing up. The participants stressed the importance of further strengthening cooperation between the Parliament, the National Center for Human Rights and the UN mechanisms, as well as continuing the expert dialogue on accession to the Optional Protocols.

The seminar was part of Uzbekistan's consistent efforts to implement the National Human Rights Strategy and expand cooperation with United Nations treaty bodies and mechanisms.

Press Service   The National Center

Republic of Uzbekistan on human rights.