TASHKENT, April 16. /“Dunyo” IA/. Director of the National Center for Human Rights of Uzbekistan Akmal Saidov held a videoconference with the Head of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for Central Asia Richard Komenda and the UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan Helena Fraser, informs the “Dunyo” IA correspondent.
Parties discussed a range of issues in regards to human rights protection amid COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, necessary, yet effective measures taken by the Government of Uzbekistan to combat the spread of coronavirus and reduce the inevitable impact on human rights, especially on those most vulnerable.
It was noted that the effectiveness of anti-crisis measures taken by countries largely depends on the exchange of reliable information on a regular basis, as well as on the experience coming from national human rights institutions’ engagement in countering COVID-19.
Along with this, the parties discussed the draft National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights, prepared within the framework of the tasks defined in the Address of the President of the Uzbekistan to the Parliament. The document will serve as an important step toward ensuring human rights and freedoms within the framework of Uzbekistan’s effective implementation of international obligations in the field of human rights.
It should be noted that the draft National Strategy was discussed within the framework of national consultations; comments and suggestions were received from the UN Resident Coordinator and UN Specialized Agencies in the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA), as well as the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) and others.
Representatives of civil society, state bodies and the diplomatic corps presented their proposals during the National consultations on the project. The project that embedded those suggestions and comments was finalized and re-uploaded on the Center’s website for public discussion.
During the videoconference, the parties discussed further steps necessary to improve the draft National Strategy as well as prepare recommendations on the draft Voluntary National Review of Uzbekistan on the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Prepared with the Press-service of the National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights
