Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) –– On 13 May 2020, the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan initiated international consultations online to discuss the draft National Human Rights Strategy. This was reported by the press service of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The videoconference was attended by UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, Helena Fraser, specialist of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Natalya Kuzmina, head of ROCA OHCHR Richard Komenda, senior adviser to the Office of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan Mathieu Lemoine, international expert of the UN and OSCE George Tugushi, Permanent Representative Uzbekistan under the UN Office in Geneva Ulugbek Lapasov, as well as employees of the UN Office in Tashkent and the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Opening the videoconference, Akmal Saidov, First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, thanked international partners and experts for their assessments and comments on the draft National Strategy. He also noted that the draft document was widely discussed at the national and international levels, as a result of which proposals were received from more than 100 governmental and non-governmental organizations, the UN and its agencies, the OSCE and other international partners.

Participants in the international discussion gave a positive assessment to the draft National Strategy and the Road Map for its implementation.

In particular, H. Fraser emphasized that the purpose of the Strategy is to form a national human rights system and implement it in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Uzbekistan. She also encouraged the use of the experience of human rights organizations in achieving the goals of the National Strategy and the SDGs. H. Fraser proposed holding a conference on the theme “COVID-19 Pandemic and Human Rights” with the participation of parliament and civil society institutions.

As R. Komenda noted during the video conference, in the current situation of the pandemic, in addition to its negative consequences, efforts should be made to identify its positive aspects, for example, to use new information technologies for events in such circumstances, for example, this video conference can be. It allows you to quickly and without spending unnecessary resources discuss the draft Strategy with a view to its analysis and further improvement.

“This makes it possible to apply international experience to further improve the quality of the draft National Strategy, which should be developed for the long term, allows us to adapt it to the format adhered to by the UN,” R. Komenda said.

OSCE representative M. Lemoine noted: “The OSCE sent humanitarian aid to the people of Sardoba, and this underlines the importance of the international community and helping each other. It is gratifying that a number of proposals made by the OSCE / ODIHR on the draft National Strategy have been included in the text of the document.”

The expert of the UN and OSCE, J. Tugushi, noted that the draft National Strategy and the Road Map were almost completed, written in simple and understandable language, have strategic importance and are intended for a long-term goal. Presenting his recommendations on bringing the draft National Strategy in line with international human rights standards, the international expert emphasized that "in the future this document may serve as a model for other countries, including the Central Asian region."

In turn, U. Lapasov informed the discussion participants about close cooperation with OHCHR in preparing this document and intentions to organize a presentation at international venues in the city of Geneva with the participation of representatives of authoritative international organizations and the diplomatic corps of foreign states.

During the video conference, an agreement was reached on organizing the presentation of the National Strategy, after its adoption, with the participation of international organizations, diplomatic missions of foreign countries, international and national experts, as well as on organizing a video conference on the theme “COVID-19 Pandemic and Human Rights”.