During the session, representatives of Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan discussed more than ten issues relating to the right to a clean environment, contemporary challenges in protecting human rights in the context of artificial intelligence, ensuring youth rights, and strengthening international cooperation.

Ms. Eshmatova presented the results of an analysis on the protection of youth rights in CIS member states. The report placed particular emphasis on expanding opportunities for youth—one of the largest segments of the population—in areas such as education, employment and healthcare. A number of proposals were put forward to further enhance youth rights, including experience-sharing among states, implementing joint initiatives, and expanding multilateral partnerships.

It should be recalled that within this cooperation, during the Ombudsman’s visit to Moscow in October of this year, a citizens’ reception was organized at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Russia, where the appeals of compatriots were reviewed. The reception was also attended by the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation and representatives of various Russian institutions and agencies. During the reception, Uzbek students reported violations of their rights by their educational institution.

The current Chair of the CIS Commission on Human Rights, the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, Tatyana Moskalkova, stated that as a result of cooperation in the field of human rights protection, the rights of nearly 50 Uzbek students studying in Russia—whose rights had been violated due to negligence by the educational institution’s administration—were restored. The meeting emphasized that this case represents a practical outcome of effective cooperation within the CIS. Participants also noted that this experience once again demonstrated the importance of solidarity among national human rights institutions and timely information exchange in ensuring human rights protection.

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