Parliaments Strengthen Role in Combating Discrimination — Online “Roundtable” by IPU and OHCHR

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 18 December 2025, an online “roundtable” organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) with the support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was held in Geneva.

The event focused on effective parliamentary mechanisms to combat discrimination and promote equality, drawing on both national and international experience, including practices from Uzbekistan, according to the press service of the National Human Rights Center of Uzbekistan.

The discussion was moderated by academician Akmal Saidov, a deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan and a member of the UN Human Rights Committee.

Participants included representatives of UN treaty bodies and national parliaments, such as Cristelle Vuanga, member of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender, Children and Family of the Democratic Republic of Congo; Malaysian parliamentarian Sierlina Abdul Rashid; Brazilian Federal Senate member and UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Mara Gabrielli; OHCHR staff member Claude Kan; and other experts.

The roundtable was part of the IPU campaign “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action,” aimed at encouraging legislative initiatives against all forms of discrimination and expanding women’s participation in parliamentary work. Discussions were interactive and conducted in English.

Participants focused on practical approaches to translating international human rights obligations into actionable national measures. Examples were presented of using recommendations from UN treaty bodies in drafting and adopting legislation, strengthening parliamentary oversight, and shaping budgetary policy in areas such as education, healthcare, and minority rights protection. Special attention was given to successful practices, emerging challenges, and the role of cooperation with UN mechanisms in achieving sustainable results.

Speaking at the event, academician Akmal Saidov emphasized that combating discrimination is a long-term strategy requiring coordinated efforts across all branches of government. He noted that Uzbekistan has developed a comprehensive system of parliamentary and institutional interaction with UN treaty bodies, whose recommendations are consistently applied to improve anti-discrimination legislation, enhance parliamentary oversight, and strengthen law enforcement practices.

The discussion also highlighted the position of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, expressed at the 150th Assembly of the IPU, regarding the key role of parliaments in ensuring peace, social justice, and sustainable development. The holding of the IPU’s anniversary assembly in Tashkent was recognized as international acknowledgment of Uzbekistan’s democratic reforms and parliamentary development.

At the conclusion of the roundtable, participants identified priority areas for future work — from adopting and effectively implementing anti-discrimination laws to expanding cooperation with national human rights institutions and UN treaty bodies.