Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The National Human Rights Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in collaboration with partners, held an event marking the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols.
The event also featured the presentation of these international documents in the Uzbek language, using the Latin script.
The event was organized in cooperation with the Embassy of the Swiss Confederation in Uzbekistan and the Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for Central Asia.
The publication of the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols in Uzbek will help expand access to international humanitarian norms, raise legal awareness among specialists, government officials, academia, and the general public. This will contribute to strengthening the legal framework for human rights protection and international humanitarian law in the country.
The event was attended by over seventy participants, including representatives from relevant ministries and agencies, parliament, NGOs, academia, the diplomatic corps, and international organizations.
As noted by Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Human Rights Centre, Uzbekistan is committed to the fundamental principles of international law and the strict adherence to human rights. By ratifying the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, Uzbekistan has undertaken obligations to harmonize their provisions with the national legal system and carry out extensive educational work.
Particular emphasis is placed on educating the youth as a guarantee for a sustainable future, disseminating knowledge about humanitarian law norms among state institutions, the Armed Forces, law enforcement, and the general public.
Bilyana Milosevic, Head of the ICRC Regional Delegation for Central Asia, emphasized in her speech that the ratification of the Geneva Conventions by all UN member states is a compelling testament to the universal recognition of the need to establish clear rules for limiting the devastating effects of armed conflicts on human life.
Milosevic highlighted that international humanitarian law continues to adapt to the new challenges of modern armed conflicts. It retains its core function, which includes protecting individuals not involved in hostilities, restricting the means and methods of warfare, maintaining principles of humanity even under extreme conditions, reducing the long-term consequences of conflicts, and ensuring the foundations for reconciliation and lasting peace.
In his speech, Konstantin Obolensky, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Uzbekistan, noted that the purpose of the Geneva Conventions is to mitigate the brutality of war by establishing minimal humanitarian standards that must be adhered to in all armed conflicts.
The Ambassador emphasized that the Geneva Conventions embody the universal commitment to common humanity, reminding us of the unshakable principles of dignity, security, and compassion, which must be guaranteed to every person, regardless of circumstances. In this context, the Conventions represent a fundamental value of international law.
The Ambassador highly praised Uzbekistan’s commitment to spreading and implementing the principles of international humanitarian law, which confirms the country’s dedication to strengthening humanitarian values and human rights both nationally and internationally.
At the conclusion of the event, participants reaffirmed their readiness for further cooperation to address current issues in international humanitarian law and strengthen its provisions at the national level.
During discussions, a number of constructive proposals were made, including organizing a presentation of the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols at the Academy of the Ministry of Defense of Uzbekistan, increasing the print run of these documents in Uzbek, and conducting joint events aimed at raising public awareness about the principles and significance of international humanitarian law. 

These initiatives are intended to promote a culture of respect for international humanitarian law, expand its practical application, and advance the humanitarian values that underpin the Geneva Conventions.