Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 6 April, as part of the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a parallel event was held in Tashkent dedicated to strengthening cooperation between the parliaments of Central Asian countries and international human rights mechanisms.

The event was organized by the IPU in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UNICEF office in Uzbekistan. It was attended by parliamentarians from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, as well as representatives from the OHCHR, IPU, and UNICEF.

The main topic of the discussion was the role of national parliaments in promoting and protecting human rights, particularly in the context of implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Opening the event, academician Akmal Saidov, a member of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and a member of the UN Committee on Human Rights, Director of the National Center for Human Rights, emphasized the importance of the event. He noted that it brings together representatives from five Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — to discuss the role of national parliaments in advancing the human rights agenda and their effective interaction with UN mechanisms. A. Saidov highlighted the relevance and significance of transitioning Central Asian parliaments to a sustainable mechanism for human rights cooperation.

"This mechanism will allow not only for the exchange of experiences but also for the development of a shared agenda, creating regional initiatives, and establishing sustainable cooperation with UN mechanisms," said the member of the UN Committee on Human Rights.

"In the face of global uncertainty, crises, and new risks, the parliament must be a point of stability. It must be not only a center for legislation but also a pillar for citizens who seek justice, meaning, and protection," A. Saidov further emphasized.

His speech focused particularly on the importance of constructive dialogue between the region’s parliaments and international institutions, as well as the need to strengthen national human rights protection mechanisms in response to contemporary challenges.

Deputy Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Sophie Kiladze, presented a report, emphasizing the importance of parliamentary cooperation with UN human rights bodies and providing examples of successful national practices in child rights protection.

Representatives of the IPU and OHCHR informed participants about available resources and opportunities for strengthening parliamentary capacity in the field of human rights.

The central part of the event was an interactive discussion where parliamentarians exchanged experiences in implementing international standards into national legislation, exercising parliamentary oversight, participating in UN mechanisms, and developing sustainable human rights policies.

Particular attention was given to the effective implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, strengthening parliamentary control in the social sector, ensuring non-discrimination, and integrating a human rights approach into the legislative process.

The event marked an important step in strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation and further advancing human rights in the Central Asian region.