Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Chairman of the National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Forced Labor Tanzila Narbaev met with the head of the Cotton Campaign international coalition Bennett Freeman.

During the meeting, the current state and prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation were discussed.

“In recent years, bilateral relations have been consistently developing between Uzbekistan and the international coalition “Cotton campaign”, based on trusting cooperation,” said Tanzila Narbayeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis.

It was noted that in recent years in our country, thanks to the strong political will of the President, large-scale reforms have been carried out in all areas. Respect for human dignity, comprehensive protection of human interests have become a priority.

Along with this, the large-scale work carried out in our country to improve national legislation, bring it into line with international standards, reform the agricultural sector, widely introduce market principles into the sphere, mechanize it, and ensure decent wages was the main factor in preventing child and forced labor.

In addition, it was especially noted that institutional changes had taken place in this area, fruitful cooperation had been established with representatives of civil society and relevant international organizations.

The National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Forced Labor effectively coordinates the activities of the relevant ministries and departments in this area, and comprehensive measures are being implemented in order to systematically organize work in this direction. At the same time, a number of measures have been implemented based on the proposals and recommendations of the international community, in particular the International Labor Organization, the US State Department and the US Department of Labor, as well as the international coalition Cotton campaign.

During the dialogue, it was noted that criminal liability for the use of forced labor has also been strengthened, the agricultural sector has been reformed, and state regulation of cotton production, pricing and forced sale has been abolished.

Bennett Freeman stressed that the efforts undertaken by the National Commission to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings and Forced Labor are practical and systemic, the results of which are recognized not only within the country, but also by the broad international community.

“Thanks to the reforms of recent years, a completely new atmosphere has been created in Uzbekistan,” said Bennett Freeman, head of the international coalition Cotton Campaign. – Not only our coalition, but also representatives of civil society and international organizations recognize the fact that during the harvest of raw cotton, forced labor is not used and is completely eliminated.

During the event, an agreement was reached on further strengthening bilateral ties and developing cooperation.