A conference on international cooperation in the area of the protection of rights and freedoms of citizens took place in Tashkent on February 23. The conference, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), brought together 100 international experts and government representatives, including more than 20 ombudspersons and representatives of international organizations, the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan reported.
During the event, Ombudsperson Feruza Eshmatova presented an overview of the progress made in Uzbekistan in the field of human rights protection, with a focus on women, persons with disabilities, and labor migrants. USAID Mission Director to Uzbekistan David Hoffman, who also spoke at the conference, said, “Respect for and the protection of fundamental human rights is key to building a stronger Uzbekistan. USAID supports the Ombudspersons’ office because we believe that any society requires independent voices to defend the human rights and freedoms of its citizens. We also recognize that international collaboration and ongoing exchanges of knowledge, such as what took place at today’s conference, are vital for strengthening national human rights protection mechanisms.”
The conference served as a platform to discuss and further strengthen the protection of the rights of vulnerable women, persons with disabilities, and the overall labor rights of citizens. Conference participants also developed practical solutions and recommendations for enhancing the security of vulnerable persons’ private personal information when using digital tools. National human rights institutes, Government of Uzbekistan representatives, and civil society representatives collaborated, at the conference, to ensure human rights protection initiatives continue to move forward.
USAID has supported the Ombudsperson’s office in Uzbekistan for many years and assisted in developing legislation that has expanded the institution’s capabilities and competence to operate independently. USAID has also provided information communication technology equipment that enabled the Ombudsperson’s office to expand its services to citizens nationwide. The Ombudsperson’s office works together with the Chamber of Advocates and national nongovernmental organizations in a public/private partnership facilitated by USAID to make justice accessible to every Uzbek citizen.
