Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Development of the foundations of the social state is a priority of the constitutional reform, Deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, member of the Constitutional Commission Kodir Juraev made such an assessment at a round table on the topic "Constitutional reform: the basis for ensuring the rule of law, security, development of a free and fair civil society" organized by the embassy of our country in Brussels.

The event, which was attended by the delegation of Uzbekistan, headed by acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Norov and as part of the deputies of the Oliy Majlis, public and research organizations of Uzbekistan, gathered a solid composition of participants from among the representatives of the European Parliament, the EU Commission, the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium, heads and experts of leading think tanks, the media of Europe and the host country.

Revealing the essence and significance of the constitutional reform, K. Juraev dwelled separately on strengthening the constitutional and legal foundations of the welfare state. As the deputy noted, the introduction of such an important principle as a social state into the Basic Law, where the state assumes a number of functions to create decent living conditions for its citizens, is the most important feature of the constitutional reform.

As the legislator noted, protection from unemployment, guaranteed quality education, qualified medical care, equal opportunities for everyone, comprehensive support for families, children, women, the elderly, people with disabilities are the main tasks of the welfare state.

Thus, the draft Constitutional Law establishes the obligations of the state to create the necessary conditions for the development of a system of social services, to establish state pensions, allowances and other types of social assistance.

For the first time, a constitutional and legal norm is being introduced, according to which the state will take measures aimed at improving the quality of life of socially vulnerable categories of the population, including persons with disabilities, women, children, creating decent conditions for them to participate on an equal footing with other citizens in public and state life and empower them to provide for their basic necessities of life on their own.

In more detail, the member of the Constitutional Commission dwelled on the innovations in the Basic Law, which provide for specific mechanisms to support education, science, health care, protection of the environment, and spiritual development of young people.

In particular, K. Juraev noted that according to the draft Constitution, the state will contribute to the development of preschool education and upbringing; organizes inclusive education and upbringing in educational institutions for children with special educational needs and individual abilities; guarantees talented young people to continue their education, regardless of their financial situation.

At the same time, the deputy stressed that the state guarantees free general secondary education, the right of every child to receive compulsory one-year training for admission to general secondary education organizations. K. Juraev called an important innovation the establishment of a norm, according to which the state creates equal conditions for the development of public, private and other forms of educational institutions and organizations, which will contribute to the improvement of the continuous education system, the coverage of the general population with educational services.

“There is no doubt that all the above and other amendments to the Constitution will serve to ensure such an important principle “Uzbekistan is a social state”. They also contribute to the development of an open and fair civil society, the formation of a social, democratic and rule of law state,” concluded the deputy, member of the Constitutional Commission Kodir Juraev.

Previously, similar "round tables" were held in Washington, New York, London, Warsaw, Geneva, Moscow, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, New Delhi and other capitals of the partner states, during which the essence and significance of the constitutional reform were brought to light, constructive proposals from leading international experts were received.

The event was organized as part of the stay in the European capital of the delegation of Uzbekistan, headed by Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Norov and consisting of deputies of the Oliy Majlis, representatives of the ISMI and the Development Strategy Center.

During the stay of the delegation of Uzbekistan in Belgium, meetings were also held with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Joseph Borel, EU Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for Cooperation with the Countries of Central Asia and Mongolia Fulvio Martuschello, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, Foreign Trade and Federal Cultural Institutions of Belgium Hadja Lahbibom, and also took part in the work of the Global Tourism Forum "Europe Leaders Summit 2022" on the theme "Investment, Connectivity and Hospitality".