Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Tashkent hosted the National Forum on the theme "Cooperation between state bodies and non-state non-profit organizations in ensuring human rights and interests", organized by the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Justice, the National Association of Non-State non-profit organizations of Uzbekistan, Yuksalish and the Center for Strategic Development "Taraqqiyot".

More than 300 people took part in the forum, including representatives of a number of ministries, departments, the diplomatic corps and international organizations, civil society institutions, international and foreign non-governmental organizations, as well as local and foreign media.

Based on the provisions of the National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on human rights, approved by the head of state, the main goal of the National Forum is to improve the mechanisms for interaction between state bodies and non-governmental organizations in the field of human rights protection and further expand the practice of holding consultations between state bodies and civil society institutions in this direction.

It was emphasized that to date, the implementation of constitutional reforms based on the noble idea "The value of a person and the interests of the people are above all" have shown practical results and successful achievements in the country of the National Strategy for Human Rights.

The speakers noted that in recent years the situation in the field of human rights has completely changed in the country, and open and constructive interaction of civil society institutions has been established in terms of protecting personal, political, socio-economic and cultural human rights.

As the Forum participants noted, the National Human Rights Strategy provides for the adoption of 33 legislative acts aimed at strengthening the protection of human rights, freedoms and legitimate interests, only 12 laws have been adopted so far. In addition, 10 drafts of new legal documents have been developed.

Also, 5 drafts of a new code, a new version of 7 existing codes were prepared, which were discussed at various stages. Moreover, 7 decrees and 3 resolutions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan have been adopted in this area.

In particular, by the Decree of the President of the country from 4 March 4, 2021, the “Concept for the development of civil society for 2021-2025” was approved. This Concept includes issues of strengthening social partnership relations between government agencies and NGOs in the areas of protecting and ensuring human rights, and establishing democratic values in society.

Along with this, the participants noted that within the framework of the National Strategy, the fulfillment of international obligations by Uzbekistan in the field of human rights is fully achieved, an organizational and legal mechanism has been created aimed at reliable protection of human rights and freedoms.

In order to ensure the consistency of ongoing large-scale reforms in this area, in the reports of the participants of the plenary session of the National Forum, the role of NGOs in protecting and ensuring human rights as an important institution of civil society was announced, and an exchange of views took place on the issues of enhancing the participation of public organizations and other civil institutions in ongoing constitutional reforms.

After the plenary session, the work of the National Forum continued in two sections entitled "Prospects for the development of civil society in the Development Strategy of the new Uzbekistan" and "The place of public control in the protection and provision of human rights."

More than 10 reports of representatives of the parliament, ministries, departments, as well as experienced leaders and practitioners of public organizations were heard at the breakout sessions.

The reports were devoted to the issues of state support for socially significant projects and programs of civil society institutions, the role of the media in protecting human rights, ensuring the social and cultural rights of all representatives of nationalities and nationalities living in Uzbekistan, increasing the legal literacy of the population in the field of human rights , realization of the rights of youth, women, persons with disabilities, labor migrants, as well as citizens who have become victims of human trafficking.

During the discussions and sectional discussions, based on the results of all the issues under consideration relating to the protection of human rights and interests, a number of practical proposals and recommendations were developed to further strengthen the relationship of state bodies with non-governmental non-profit organizations.

The final document, which is planned to be adopted during the National Forum, will serve to enhance the role of civil society institutions in the processes of protecting human rights and will further strengthen cooperation with government agencies in this direction.

At the end of the National Forum, a solemn award ceremony was held for a group of representatives of active NGOs who made a worthy contribution to the development of social partnership in the field of protecting the rights and ensuring the legitimate interests of a person.