Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 28 July 2021, a solemn ceremony was held to mark the entry into force of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The document was ratified by the country on 7 June 2021, which was another step aimed at implementing the initiatives put forward by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The event was attended by members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputies of the Legislative Chamber, government representatives, heads of international organizations and the diplomatic corps, as well as representatives of civil society institutions and the media.

The ceremony was moderated by: First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Mejlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Director of the National Center for Human Rights Akmal Saidov, and Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Uzbekistan Doina Munteanu.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 13, 2006 and entered into force on 3 May 2008. As of February 2021, out of 193 UN member states, 182 have ratified this Convention. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the first human rights treaty adopted in the 21st century.

In Uzbekistan, the observance of the principle of social justice, the creation of the necessary conditions for those in need of help and support, especially people with disabilities, for a full life is constantly in the center of attention of the head of our state.

The Convention contains 50 articles aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, eliminating discrimination against them, ensuring their right to work, health care, education and full participation in society, access to justice, personal integrity, freedom from exploitation and abuse, freedom movement, individual mobility, etc.

Among the general obligations of the states parties, the Convention includes in particular: the adoption of all appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures for the implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities; abolition of existing laws, regulations, customs and foundations that are discriminatory towards persons with disabilities; mainstreaming of the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities in all policies and programs. It is specifically stipulated that in the development and implementation of legislation and policies in relation to persons with disabilities, States Parties consult with persons with disabilities and actively involve them through representative organizations of persons with disabilities.

The Convention provides that States parties must take all appropriate measures (including legislation) to ensure an adequate standard of living for persons with disabilities and their social protection.

These measures may include: the development of life and social skills by persons with disabilities; training in the general education system; establishing favorable conditions in the labor market; creation of an environment accessible to people with disabilities and adaptation for this purpose of urban planning, transport, communication and other infrastructure; access to information for persons with disabilities (including promoting the use of sign language, Braille and other methods and formats of communication); rehabilitation and other measures.

The Convention does not endow persons with disabilities with newly invented human rights, which are absent in the existing universal conventions in the field of human rights, in general, it does not contain other conceptual provisions than those provided for by law.

The entry into force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the Republic of Uzbekistan will create additional guarantees for the provision, protection and development of social and economic rights of persons with disabilities, and will also serve as a guideline for further improvement of legal regulation and practical activities in the field of social protection of persons with disabilities.