The adoption of the new version of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan on April 30, 2023, was a continuation of the large-scale reforms taking place in the country and a natural requirement of the time.
Among the main changes is the consolidation of the social status of the state and the social rights of citizens in the Constitution. Thus, article 1 of the Basic Law states: "Uzbekistan is a sovereign, democratic, legal, social and secular state with a republican form of government."
Another important change was the change of the "state - society - personality" paradigm to the new "man - society -state", in which the highest value is a person, his life, freedom, honor and dignity.
In general, the norms of the new version of the Constitution of Uzbekistan concerning the duties of the state in the social sphere (poverty reduction, employment, protection from unemployment, expansion of the range of public services) have tripled. The well-being and prosperity of the people are the main goal of the ongoing reforms in the field of social protection of the population and are aimed at creating an effective social security system.
In early February of this year, a video conference was held under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to discuss priority tasks in the social sphere. The Head of State noted: along with the existing achievements in this area, there are also shortcomings, which means that a lot of work is needed to improve the social protection of citizens.
The President of the country stressed the importance of a radical rethinking of the system, focusing on the targeted and effective distribution of social assistance with an emphasis on strengthening individual support. Such an approach will require efforts on the part of all structures responsible for the implementation of social protection in the country, in particular, the mahalla as a primary link.
Tasks have been set to develop criteria for determining the category of those in need and specifying assistance, which will relate not only to the amount of social support. With their help, people's problems will be identified, as well as their desires and abilities to independently provide for their basic life needs.
Based on the developed criteria, a database of people (families) in need of social protection will be created, taking into account not only their income, but also expenses. This approach will ensure transparency and targeting of the provision of social protection to vulnerable segments of the population (persons with disabilities, single disabled elderly, orphaned children, citizens in difficult situations, victims of violence, low-income families).
Self-government bodies - mahallas - play an important role in the organization of effective social protection. This is an important work to identify and account for all citizens in need of social support and those who are at risk.
The key to success is not only the development of extensive strategic plans, but also their implementation. In order to achieve positive results in improving the lives of recipients of social assistance, strict reporting and monitoring should be carried out at all stages of its implementation. And it is desirable to carry out such control on the part of all those involved in the implementation of social activities (higher government agencies, the beneficiaries themselves, non-governmental organizations, citizens who are close to people who need state support).
In this direction, the organization of informing the population about all possible measures of social support can play a primary role. Such broad involvement of citizens in the process of implementing the country's social strategy will allow timely identification or prevention of possible cases of unfair performance of their duties by responsible persons.
In accordance with the principles of justice and solidarity defined in the Basic Law, the President signed a Decree "On priority measures for the implementation of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan in a new version" dated May 8, 2023, according to which a State Commission was established to implement priority ideas and implement the norms of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan in a new version. For the consistent practical implementation of the adopted norms, five expert councils have been formed, their goals and objectives have been defined. They are also entrusted with the mission of developing concepts for the development of a sovereign, democratic, legal, social and secular state.
In addition, the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On the State Program for the implementation of the Strategy "Uzbekistan - 2030" in the "Year of Support for Youth and Business" dated February 21, 2024 defines priority tasks. This document is of great importance for the country and the achievement of its strategic goals.
The strategy "Uzbekistan - 2030", adopted by Presidential Decree of September 11, 2023, includes 100 important goals in five priority areas:
• Becoming one of the countries with an above-average income through sustainable economic development;
• Creation of a system of education, medicine and social protection that fully meets the needs of the people and international standards;
• creation of favorable environmental conditions for the population;
• Building a just and modern state that serves the people;
• Guaranteed provision of the country's sovereignty and security.
At an expanded meeting of the Republican Council for Spirituality and Enlightenment in December 2023, the President of the country noted that last year the most funds were allocated to the social sphere - 134 trillion soums, which is 5.6 times more than in 2016. The State's attention to the elderly and people with disabilities alone should be particularly noted.
It is noteworthy that Uzbekistan has established the State Social Protection Fund of the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, whose funds are spent in several directions:
• organization of social services in boarding schools "Muruvvat" and "Sakhovat", sanatoriums and boarding houses for the elderly, people with disabilities, war and labor veterans;
• providing the population with prosthetic orthopedic products and technical means of rehabilitation;
• Provision of preferential and free inpatient treatment for persons with disabilities;
• Providing persons with disabilities with educational, didactic and other alternative materials;
• Providing housing for orphaned children;
• organization and improvement of the activities of Mehribonlik homes and orphanages;
• Financing of social and legal assistance services for minors.
In addition, according to the Presidential decree "On measures to further improve the system of providing social services and assistance to the population" dated September 28, 2023, since October 15 last year, a new system of social assistance has been experimentally introduced in 28 districts (cities) by employees of the Inson social services centers of the National Agency for Social Protection. Employees are charged with maintaining records and a register of lonely elderly and people with disabilities in need of outside care, which helps to develop a plan for the provision of individual social services by taking into account the degree of need for outside help. At the same time, assistance to lonely elderly people included in the Unified Register of Social Protection will be provided on the basis of a contract.
A presidential decree dated December 27, 2023 established monthly financial assistance in the amount of minimum consumer expenses for the elderly and people with disabilities alone. The document also provides for the allocation of free railway or intercity bus tickets (round trip) once a year to persons included in the register and their accompanying persons.
From April 1, 2024, persons included in the register will have the opportunity to stay in short- and long-term social support centers in the Samarkand and Ferghana regions and in the city of Tashkent with the right to receive social and rehabilitation services.
Among the states that have already switched to the welfare state model, the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Finland, the Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium can be distinguished. In short, those states where the standard of living is considered one of the highest in the world. This indicator is somehow connected with special attention to residents: the necessary conditions are created for the development of their talents and abilities.
In general, the involvement of representatives of all sectors of society in the process is necessary not only to provide assistance and respect the rights of those who are already in a difficult situation, but also to help better understanding, interaction and cohesion between people. Moreover, it is easier to overcome difficulties together. After all, as our ancestors said, whoever unites succeeds.
Nonna Safarova,
an employee of the National Center
for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan.