Deputies discuss bills related to education, publishing, children’s rights

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 6 September 2019, a regular meeting of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis was held. It examined a number of draft laws aimed at providing legal support for reforms implemented in various spheres of the country’s life.

In particular, the first issue on the agenda was discussed - the draft law of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the first reading "On Education" in the new edition.

It should be noted that a sharp increase in the demand for qualified personnel in the country requires the introduction of modern standards generally recognized in international circles, a radical improvement of the education system and integration with the international educational community. Based on these approaches, the project initiators introduced a number of new norms, concepts and articles into the bill. In particular, completely new norms and concepts have been introduced such as adult education, special education, inclusive education, individual pedagogical activities, public-private partnerships, attracting investment in education, state supervision in the field, self-assessment of educational organizations, rights, obligations and responsibilities of educational participants , experimental and innovative activities in the field of education and others. It is noteworthy that the new version of the draft law retains previously revised standards, as well as reflects new norms and concepts that provide for the expansion of the powers of public authorities in the field of education and increased freedom in the activities of educational organizations.

As the deputies noted, the adoption of the draft law will make it possible to eliminate existing problems in the education system, radically improve the quality of education, and also allow expanding the opportunities for integration with the international educational community. Especially, the introduction of issues in the norms of the draft law, such as foreign training of citizens, recognition of the importance of documents on obtaining education in foreign countries, as well as the introduction of an educational concept throughout a person’s life for the first time in the country, will take education reforms to a new level.

Then the parliamentarians discussed in the first reading the draft law "On Publishing Activities", aimed at the legal regulation of activities that support the development of the system of publishing and distribution of books and other printed materials, improving the culture of reading.

The head of our state in the country draws more attention to expanding spiritual and intellectual potential, world outlook among young people, increasing book reading and distributing books in fostering a harmoniously developed generation in the spirit of love and devotion to the motherland, as well as improving information and library activities.

This draft law is also significant in that it envisages the implementation of such noble goals. The adoption of this draft law will serve as a quality publication of books that meet the spiritual and artistic and aesthetic needs of young people, timely delivery of books at affordable prices to places, including educational institutions, the translation of the best samples of national and world literature, the formation of the younger generation from early childhood love of the book, reading skills of electronic books, improving reading culture.

At the meeting, deputies also discussed in detail in the first reading the draft law "On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Connection with Further Strengthening Guarantees of the Rights of the Child."

It was noted that during the development of the bill, the norms of the laws of foreign countries regarding types of harassment and violence against a child, measures to prevent them, and additional guarantees for the protection of children who are participants in the criminal process were studied and analyzed in detail.

As it was emphasized, due to the fact that article 10 of the Law “On guarantees of the rights of the child” does not cover all types of harassment and violence against a child, it is proposed to amend this article, according to which the state takes measures to protect the child from involvement in commission of offenses and antisocial actions.

It also establishes the norm according to which the state takes measures to prevent all forms of exploitation and violence against the child, as well as to establish and eliminate the causes and conditions conducive to their commission.

During active discussions and debates, it was stated that the adoption of this law will create an important legal basis in strengthening the protection of the rights of the child, including being a participant in the criminal process, ensuring the protection of the rights of minors at all stages of the criminal process.

The meeting also discussed other issues falling within the powers of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and relevant resolutions were adopted.