Legal awareness of the population discussed at a national roundtable

The event brought together members of parliament, representatives of government agencies and institutions, non-governmental non-profit organizations, human rights advocates, experts from the project “Strengthening Rule of Law and Human Rights Protection in Uzbekistan,” and staff of the Ombudsman’s Secretariat in both offline and online formats.

The main objective of the roundtable was to comprehensively examine the legal needs of the population, identify problematic areas, and develop practical recommendations for government bodies, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders operating in the field of legal aid provision.

It is worth noting that in recent years the Ombudsman has launched a number of practical initiatives aimed at raising public legal awareness. These include the “Ombudsman School” project in remote communities and the “Ombudsman Hour” lessons in schools across the country.

A distinctive feature of these initiatives is that they are not based on generic topics alone but are informed by the analysis of citizen appeals, enabling targeted legal education. Legal consultations are provided through face-to-face communication with the population involving relevant specialists and officials. Results show that the number of appeals has significantly decreased in regions where these initiatives were implemented, indicating that citizens are increasingly able to resolve their issues without formal complaints, due to greater legal understanding.

The event also highlighted the role of the Ombudsman’s regional representatives in increasing legal awareness, shared findings from studies on citizens’ legal needs, and presented work carried out to provide free legal assistance to victims of violence and human trafficking.

According to national survey results, over the past two years, the most common issues faced by citizens have been related to social protection, housing, financial stability, and employment. These challenges are directly linked to several constitutional rights — such as the right to social security, the right to own housing, the right to work under fair conditions, and guarantees of financial security.

Analyses show that low levels of legal literacy remain a key barrier to solving these issues legally, especially in remote and rural areas. There, limited awareness of legal rights significantly restricts individuals’ ability to access justice.

Raising legal consciousness among the population is not solely the responsibility of state institutions; it is a shared task that must involve civil society institutions, NGOs, and legal advocates. Empowering people to understand and exercise their rights through legal channels is a cornerstone of upholding human dignity.

Based on the discussions, priority directions were defined to improve legal literacy and strengthen public trust in legal institutions.