Joint meeting of the Kengashes of Senate and the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - On 14 September 2019, a joint meeting of the Kengashes of Senate and the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan took place.

The joint meeting was attended by members of the Kengashes of the Oliy Majlis, deputies, senators, responsible heads of ministries and departments, employees of public organizations and the media.

After the adoption of the agenda, the issue of further improving the system for organizing wedding, family, anniversary celebrations, family funeral ceremonies and events dedicated to the memory of the deceased was discussed.

It was noted that in recent years, in the organization of wedding, family, anniversary celebrations, family funeral ceremonies and events dedicated to the memory of the deceased, embodying centuries-old traditions and customs of the people, there are such negative manifestations and vices as vanity, the desire to show oneself, and neglect to the social status of other people, excessive squandering, ignoring the traditions and customs of the people.

In order to eradicate such phenomena, in accordance with the decree of the Kengash of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in the Zhokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional, district and city Kengashes of people’s deputies, as well as gatherings of citizens, commissions have been formed to order family events. A number of explanatory and propaganda events have been held .

However, an analysis of the study, as well as a dialogue directly with the population, and appeals from members of the public showed that a number of serious problems and shortcomings still remain in this area. In particular, some citizens after spending wasteful and pompous wedding events borrow money, and to pay off, they go outside the republic to earn money.

Some citizens perceive magnificent family events as the only way to avoid criticism and harsh remarks from neighbors and relatives, and pressure from the general public. Meanwhile, such measures lead to debt and, as a result, to tough conflicts between close relatives.

The participants in the event emphasized the need for decisive measures to prevent such phenomena. Time requires a strict streamlining of family events in order to stabilize the social and spiritual environment in families, ensure social justice in society, and form a lean attitude towards such issues among the population, especially young people.

Based on this, the Regulation on the procedure for wedding, family, anniversary celebrations, family funeral rites and events dedicated to the memory of the deceased was approved. Monitoring compliance with its requirements is entrusted to the Jokargi Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional, district and city Kengashes of people’s deputies.

The parliamentarians also discussed the further development of the information sphere and mass communications. Speakers noted that large-scale work is being carried out in the country to ensure freedom of speech and information, openness and publicity of the activities of state bodies, and the participation of citizens in the adoption of major decisions affecting their interests.

For example, the system of managing the sphere of information and mass communications has been fundamentally rebuilt, comprehensive measures have been taken to increase the role of journalists in modernizing the country, ensuring the constitutional rights of citizens to freedom of speech, and also to widely introduce information and communication and digital technologies in all spheres of life of society and the state .

At the same time, insufficient attention is paid to the accelerated development of the country’s media market, the provision by government bodies and other organizations of the openness of their activities, their presence in the virtual environment, the development of the national information industry and infrastructure, as well as the liberalization and democratization of legislation and law enforcement practice, taking into account current trends the formation of a global information space. The meeting emphasized the need for the republic to reach the level of developed countries of the world in this area.

The importance of forming a Public Council under the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the development of the information sphere and mass communications was emphasized in order to increase the importance of public organizations in forming public opinion on pressing issues of the information sphere, establishing dialogue between government bodies and subjects of mass communications, as well as further liberalization and democratization information sphere.

The main objectives of this new structure should be to ensure effective dialogue between the state and representatives of the media, civil society institutions as a modern, democratic and transparent platform for consolidating efforts aimed at creating an open information space. Carrying out activities aimed at improving the information culture of the population should also be one of the goals of the Public Council. In addition, the new structure will prepare proposals for the consistent improvement of the position of the Republic of Uzbekistan in international rankings and ensure its inclusion in the number of advanced countries with a high level of freedom of the media indices.

In order to implement the tasks assigned to the Public Council, as well as the effective organization of its activities, the proposal to establish a Center for the Development of the Information Sphere and Mass Communications in the form of a non-governmental non-profit organization was approved. The center was identified as the working body of the Public Council.

At a joint meeting, the issue of further improving the activities of the Secretariat of the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman) was also considered.

On all issues considered at a joint meeting of the Senate Kengashes and the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, relevant joint resolutions were adopted.