Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 14 November 2022, Paris hosted a "round table" on the topic: "Uzbekistan and France: prospects for mutually beneficial partnership."

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bobur Usmanov spoke in detail about the transformations in all spheres of political and public life, and civil society reforms taking place in our country.

The ISMI representative noted that the development of a free civil society, the protection of human rights and legitimate interests, democratic values, increasing the political culture and legal awareness of the population, strengthening social partnership and cooperation in solving pressing issues between state bodies and non-state non-profit organizations, increasing the initiative and activity of non-state non-profit organizations is the essence of the ongoing reforms in the country.

According to the expert, although this process in one form or another began from the moment Uzbekistan gained independence, over the past six years, the processes of renewal have accelerated, the country has embarked on the rails of renewal.

It was emphasized that the situation in the field of human rights and freedom of the media has changed dramatically in Uzbekistan, child and forced labor has been eradicated, and a human rights strategy has been adopted.

Previously inaccessible information sites have been unblocked, accreditation for foreign media has been opened, bloggers have become a new reality. There was a public opinion, which is no longer possible not to look back, especially to officials.

“In recent years, ordinary Uzbeks have been able to really feel their involvement in the processes within the country,” Bobur Usmanov stated.

In order to ensure the rights and interests of a person, dialogue with people, a thorough study and solution of vital problems and needs of the people, Virtual and People’s Receptions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan were created. These structures have become a mechanism for in-depth analysis of the effectiveness of the activities of public authorities and administration, as well as problems on the ground and a criterion for evaluating their activities, increasing the responsibility of state bodies and officials to society.

Only in the past 2021, he stressed, the Virtual Reception Office of the President and the People’s Reception Offices received 1.6 million requests, which is an average of 133 thousand requests per month or 4.4 thousand requests per day.

At the same time, according to the deputy director of the ISMI, it is impossible to deny the growing civic activity, and this involvement of civil society significantly helps to implement reforms. “All significant decisions are put up for public discussion. There are many examples when, based on the results of appeals, draft decisions were revised,” he added.

For the first time in its existence, press services appeared in 280 departments. More than a thousand press secretaries carry out information activities throughout the republic. They are equal in status to deputy heads of state bodies and other organizations.

Bobur Usmanov also gave several examples that characterize the depth of transformations in the republic. Among these, he noted the introduction of a new institution - the "initiative budget", which allows citizens themselves to participate in the distribution of budget funds, as well as the abolition of criminal liability for slander and insults, and the decision to prohibit obstructing the activities of journalists.

“All these laws are piles that can no longer be ignored, canceled with one call. This is also a guarantee of the country’s further progress, this is the most important condition for development,” concluded Bobur Usmanov.

The event, organized by the International Institute of Central Asia and the Center for Forecasting and Security in Europe, was attended by more than 70 specialists from leading analytical and research structures of Uzbekistan and France, specializing in Central Asian issues.

Among them are the Center for Forecasting and European Security, the University of Paris, the Institute of International and Strategic Relations (IRIS), the Center for Advanced Studies and International Information (CERII), the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Culture.

The Uzbek side at the event was represented by experts from MICA, the Center for Economic Research and Reforms, the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies and the Information and Analytical Center for International Relations.