Tashkent Seminar Highlights Public Role in Environmental Decision-Making

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the National Association of Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations of Uzbekistan held a training seminar in Tashkent on 28 August 2026 focusing on shadow report preparation under international human rights treaties and public engagement in environmental decision-making.

Hosted at the Human Rights House, the workshop gathered approximately 30 NGO representatives from across the country, including central leadership and regional branch officers of the Association.

The event took place in accordance with the roadmap for implementing the fifth phase of the World Programme for Human Rights Education in Uzbekistan, approved under Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. PKM-91 on 3 March 2026.

Opening remarks were delivered by Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Center for Human Rights, Kamoliddin Ishankhodjayev, Chairman of the Board of the National Association of NGOs, and Erkin Isakulov, Human Rights Advisor at the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for Central Asia.

Speakers underscored the importance of structured cooperation between state authorities and civil society institutions to advance ongoing human rights reforms. Saidov highlighted the country's action plan marking the 60th anniversary of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, framing the workshop within these broader commitments.

Addressing the constitutional framework, Saidov referenced the updated 2023 Constitution, which formally incorporated Chapter XIII to define the legal status and role of civil society institutions. He noted that under the "Uzbekistan — 2030" Strategy, the country continues to fulfill its international obligations, having ratified 11 core UN human rights treaties and submitted 52 national reports to treaty bodies to date.

The role of non-governmental entities in international monitoring was a primary topic of discussion. Data presented at the seminar indicated that over 140 international and national NGOs—including 22 operating within Uzbekistan—have prepared alternative reports for UN committees. Arthur Yatsevich, OHCHR Human Rights Advisor, led the practical session, providing methodology on international monitoring tools and standard practices for shadow report development.

The second part of the seminar centered on the implementation principles of the Aarhus Convention. A representative from the National Committee of Uzbekistan on Ecology and Climate Change outlined the convention's three core pillars: public access to environmental information, public participation in environmental decision-making processes, and access to justice in environmental matters.

At the conclusion of the workshop, NGO representatives received practical guidance on drafting alternative human rights submissions and recommendations for applying Aarhus Convention principles in local governance, with final proposals to be submitted to relevant state agencies.