Tashkent Hosts Seminar on Human Rights-Based Approach in Budget Policy

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 6 April, a three-day seminar titled “Human Rights-Based Approach to Budgeting for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, and the Right to a Healthy Environment” began in Tashkent.

The event is organized by the National Human Rights Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan, together with the UN Human Rights Office (Regional Office for Central Asia), with participation from the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan.

Representatives from over 20 ministries and agencies are attending, including the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Preschool and School Education, National Social Protection Agency, National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, and the Academy of Law Enforcement.

Opening the seminar, Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Human Rights Center, emphasized that budget policy is a key tool for ensuring human rights. He noted that through the budget, governments set real priorities for citizens’ rights and ensure their practical implementation.

Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Gulnora Rakhimova highlighted that ongoing reforms in public financial management aim to improve efficiency and targeting of budget expenditures. She specifically mentioned the Open Budget initiative by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which enhances citizen participation, transparency, and accountability in state finances while better reflecting public needs in socio-economic planning.

Igor Grishko, a human rights specialist from the UN Human Rights Office, provided expert support, presenting modern approaches to analyzing budget policy from a human rights perspective. He noted that this approach helps governments better assess the impact of budget decisions on inequality, access to basic services, and overall transparency in budget processes.

The seminar program covers international standards for economic, social, and cultural rights, monitoring mechanisms, features of the budget cycle, public participation, and practical tools for analyzing budget revenues and expenditures with respect to human rights.

The event is expected to produce practical recommendations for further integrating human rights considerations into Uzbekistan’s budgetary and socio-economic policy.