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.