The purpose of organizing this international event is to bring to the attention of the world community the reforms in the field of human rights in Uzbekistan, the social protection of youth, persons with disabilities, ensuring their rights, the system for the implementation of “monitoring visits” of the Authorized Person for Human Rights to pre-trial detention centers and penitentiary institutions together with representatives of the public within the framework of the National Preventive Mechanism and discussion of topical issues of improving legislative activity and informing the participants of the event about national and foreign experience in this area.

OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan Ambassador Pierre von Arx noted that over the period of its existence, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Uzbekistan has done important work to improve the sphere of human rights protection in the country and that the activities of the institution are significant for the development of a democratic society. The OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan emphasized the importance of ratification by the Republic of Uzbekistan of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as a clear indicator that the country pays special attention to the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities.

 

Regional Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ryszard Komenda, emphasized that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is actively and successfully working with the Ombudsman institution to promote its independence, strengthen the legislative mandate of the institution and monitor compliance with the Paris principles. It was noted that the OHCHR office assisted the Ombudsman in obtaining “B” status in the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and that this was a very important step, and the readiness to provide further support to the Ombudsman in obtaining “A” status was expressed.

 

The Chief Ombudsman of the Kingdom of Thailand Somsak Suwansujarit expressed gratitude to the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman) for paying great attention to the protection of human rights in all areas and levels. Somsak Suwansujarit noted that the Ombudsman in Thailand, in turn, also singles out the protection of the rights of young people as one of the main areas of its activity. In particular, it was emphasized that the Office of the Ombudsman initiated a project aimed at providing professional skills to young people who cannot continue their studies after completing compulsory education. It was noted that the youth representatives who participated in the trainings under this project are provided with jobs after they are completed.

 

In particular, Tatyana Moskalkova, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, expressed the opinion that the creation of the Ombudsman institution was a natural step towards the formation and development of democracy in countries, the formation of an active civil society and the effective protection of citizens' rights. Also, it was emphasized that for the effective operation of the Ombudsman, the readiness of public authorities to listen to his recommendations is necessary. In this regard, the importance of the support provided by the head of state of the Republic of Uzbekistan to increase the significance and effectiveness of the activities of the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights was highlighted.

The Chief Ombudsman of the Republic of Turkey, Şeref Malkoç, congratulated the Ombudsman on its 27th anniversary and wished it great success in its future activities. He provided statistics on persons with disabilities living in the country, noting that all appeals received from them are taken under the special control of a special Ombudsman, whose work covers the protection of the rights of these persons.

 

Commissioner for Fundamental Rights of the Republic of Hungary Akos Kozma noted that his office is actively involved in the process of creating the necessary conditions for persons with disabilities, including providing them with comfortable conditions related to the use of public transport and access to administrative institutions. Akos Kozma expressed his readiness to share the wealth of experience of the Hungarian Ombudsman's office in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities with the Ombudsmen of other countries.

 

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, covered the work carried out by her office to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities. In addition, it was said that in 2018, a new law on the rights of persons with disabilities was adopted in the Republic of Azerbaijan, in which unacceptable and somehow degrading terms were replaced with more modern terminology. The attention of the participants was also directed to the fact that the Office of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan has a structural unit for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.

 

 

The Protector of Citizens of the Republic of Serbia, Zoran Pasalic, also made a thematic presentation and spoke about the fact that citizens of the country with disabilities still face specific problems. However, it was said that The Protector of Citizens is actively working to involve the competent state authorities in cooperation in this area, especially in situations of emergency. In addition, according to the information provided, the Protector of Citizens promots amendments to legislative acts covering the rights of vulnerable segments of the population.

At the third and final session, which was devoted to discussing the protection and promotion of the rights of persons held in penitentiary institutions, the reports of the Commissioners for Human Rights in the countries of Central Asia were heard.

The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Tajikistan Umed Bobozoda, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Turkmenistan Yazdursun Gurbannazarova and the Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Albert Kolopov in their reports highlighted the main features of the activities of their offices in the field of protecting the rights of prisoners, provided statistical data, information on the procedure for conducting monitoring of places of deprivation of liberty and spoke about the legislative framework and guarantees for the protection of the rights of persons held in penitentiary institutions, as well as about the medical services provided to them.

As a result of the international conference, local and international experts made proposals and recommendations on bringing the draft law regulating the activities of the Ombudsman in line with the generally recognized principles and norms of international human rights law and their successful implementation.

Based on the results of the international conference, recommendations were developed on the issues discussed.

Press Service of the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman)