Uzbekistan and UN outline prospects for cooperation

During the meeting, the parties discussed a wide range of issues, such as countering drug smuggling and transnational organized crime; ensuring human rights in Uzbekistan, including the rights of convicts and persons imprisoned, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan said.

Particular attention was paid to the implementation of the Plan of Practical Activities ("road map") for further development of Uzbekistan’s cooperation with UNODC. It was noted that the UNODC and the Ministry of Interior Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan have been cooperating productively over the past twenty years in countering drug smuggling, transnational organized crime, human trafficking, international terrorism and extremism.

Ms. Mittal stressed that 2017 can be called very productive in the fight against drug trafficking, and noted that from the beginning of this year it is necessary to continue cooperation in this area.

In addition, Mittal defined concrete ways for further interaction of the UNODC and the Ministry of Interior Affairs for implementation of the road map, including in matters of improving legislation in the criminal, criminal procedural and penal enforcement systems, improving the quality of protection of rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens, familiarization of employees of law enforcement bodies, in particular, the penitentiary system, with international standards in the field of human rights.

In order to make more effective use of international experience in the field of criminal justice, crime prevention and corruption, the Ministry of Interior Affairs, and specifically the penitentiary institutions, suggested starting this year to conduct training sessions and trainings on this direction.

During the working visit, other topical issues were discussed, prospects for further cooperation were considered.