EU Project on Digital Rights Presented in Tashkent; Training Held for Lawyers

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 25 September, Tashkent hosted the presentation of the “Uzbekistan Digital Rights in Media Initiative” (UDRMI) project for representatives of government bodies, international organizations, and the legal community, followed by a two-day practical training program for lawyers.

The official opening was conducted by Christos Marazopoulos, Second Secretary and Head of the Cooperation Department of the European Union Delegation to Uzbekistan.

The event focused on the objectives and expected outcomes of UDRMI, as well as on professional collaboration between the state, NGOs, media, and the legal sector.

Immediately after the presentation, a hands-on training session began, covering international and national standards on freedom of expression online, data protection, access to information, digital security, and strategic legal defense in the digital environment.

Participants included lawyers from commercial organizations, as well as representatives from the Uzbekistan Bar Association and the Association of Arbitration Courts. The program combined introductory overviews, case analyses, and group work on standard documents and internal procedures, including privacy policies, evidence storage, responses to data breaches, and handling government requests.

The program was organized by the NGO “Media Journalism Development Center” (MJDC) and the Legal Policy Research Centre (LPRC, Kazakhstan) with financial support from the European Union. Christos Marazopoulos emphasized that digitalization should empower people, build trust, and create opportunities: “Our joint efforts will make the digital space a place of opportunity, fairness, and empowerment, not risk.”

Saida Sulaymanova, Director of MJDC, highlighted that the project translates norms and standards into practical tools for daily legal work, enhancing participants’ competencies and creating a platform for constructive dialogue between state bodies, media, and the legal community.

Tatiana Zinovich, Director of LPRC, noted that the training focused on the intersection of law and technology, including data processing and cross-border transfer, digital evidence, and content moderation responsibilities, providing practical solutions and response algorithms for legal risks.

The EU-funded UDRMI project is a two-year initiative aimed at developing the skills of the media community, NGOs, and legal sector in digital rights, strengthening dialogue with government bodies, and raising public awareness on freedom of expression, cybersecurity, and personal data protection.