NEW UZBEKISTAN AND CIVIL SOCIETY: STATUS AND PROSPECTS

Large-scale and intensive reforms are being carried out in the new Uzbekistan to form a free and strong civil society.

For 2017-2024, 64 normative legal acts have been adopted aimed at directly supporting and improving the effectiveness of civil society institutions, and the necessary legal and institutional framework has been created to ensure their comprehensive provision.
In this regard, the President emphasized that "the focus of our attention will be on creating the necessary conditions for the free activity of civil society institutions, their active participation in public and public administration, and further improving the mechanisms of their state support." 

New Uzbekistan and civil society: 
constitutional, legal and organizational foundations

In order to improve the activities of civil society institutions, a number of effective specific following works have been carried out.
Firstly, a new version of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan introduced a separate chapter on civil society institutions, chapter XIII of which was called "Civil society institutions". In particular, article 69 stipulates that "Civil society institutions, including public associations and other non-governmental non-profit organizations, citizens' self-government bodies, and mass media form the basis of civil society."
Most importantly, the new version of the Constitution reveals for the first time in our national legislation the composition of civil society institutions. The establishment of these institutions as the foundation of civil society has been strengthened. In addition, 5 articles of other chapters of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan protect the interests of civil society institutions.
Secondly, for the first time in the history of Uzbekistan, the concept of civil society development for 2021-2025 was adopted. To achieve the main priorities of the concept, it is defined:
• consistent improvement of the legal framework for the development of civil society;
• Assistance to civil society institutions and further improvement of the mechanism of their state support;
• Creating the necessary conditions for the active participation of civil society institutions in the management of the State and society;
• Further expansion of the participation of civil society institutions in the implementation of state social projects;
• Ensuring the openness of the activities of civil society institutions.
Thirdly, a democratic organizational and legal system has been created to support civil society institutions. In particular, Public funds were established under the Oliy Majlis and local Councils of People's Deputies. The Public Fund under the Oliy Majlis has allocated 1 trillion 916 billion over the past seven years. soums. As a result, 2,246 projects were supported. 30 times more than in 2008-2016. In the next 3 years, 2,120 projects worth 140 billion soums were implemented through territorial funds.
Fourthly, in order to protect the rights and interests of persons with disabilities, strengthen their social protection, the Society of the Disabled of Uzbekistan, the Society of the Deaf, the Society of the Blind, the Association of the Disabled of Uzbekistan, about 500 system organizations use state subsidies in full.
Fifthly, within the framework of measures of state support for civil society institutions, "Friendship Houses and NGOs" were established in each region. 350 NGOs and national cultural centers are housed in these houses free of charge.
Sixth, NGO registration fees have been halved on average. The disabled, the older generation, women, children and public associations were completely exempt from paying the fee. The re-registration period has been reduced from one month to 15 days.
Seventh, the requirement for NGOs to obtain permission from the judicial authority when conducting their activities was abolished, and their freedom of activity was further strengthened.
Eighth, the process of obtaining financing from external sources has been simplified. The requirement to open a special account has been canceled. The deadline for reviewing applications for funds has been reduced from 40 to 15 days. In addition, the amount of funds received without approval from the judicial authority has been increased 5 times. As a result, over the past 7 years, the attracted international grants have exceeded 125 million dollars.
Ninth, all government services of NGOs are provided in electronic form. A portal was launched separately for this purpose e-ngo.uz .
Tenth, civil society institutions have become direct participants and closest partners in large-scale and intensive reforms in the New Uzbekistan. The most active non-governmental non-profit organizations are directly involved in the public foundation "Watandoshlar", the association "Hunarmand", the foundation "Soglom avlod uchun", the World Youth Association of Uzbekistan, the Society of the Disabled of Uzbekistan, the Center for Progressive Reforms, the Association of mahallas of Uzbekistan, the Center "Development Strategy", the national movement "Yuksalish".

Perspectives of the civil society of the New Uzbekistan

Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PF-124 "On measures to further improve the system of state support for civil society institutions", signed on August 26, 2024, is a continuation of the above-mentioned reforms providing for the creation of a system of state support for civil society institutions based on the principle of transparent and healthy competition, and is also aimed at creating additional conditions for improving efficiency socially effective programs.
The decree defines six most important areas of state support for the industry, which contribute to increasing the role of civil society institutions at the present stage of development of the new Uzbekistan:
the first direction is to further increase the activity of civil society institutions in the life of the state and society, the full use of their potential in the development of socio–economic, cultural, spiritual and humanitarian spheres;
The second direction is to assist in the implementation of initiatives aimed at the interests of society and the real needs of the population, as well as aimed at solving urgent problems that persist on the ground;
The third direction is the further development of mutually beneficial social partnership between government agencies and civil society institutions;
The fourth direction is to stimulate the implementation of effective public control by civil society institutions in order to promote the development of all spheres of life of the state and society;
The fifth direction is to establish links between civil society institutions with compatriots abroad and strengthen cooperation with their foreign associations;
The sixth direction is to strengthen the material and technical base of civil society institutions and create favorable organizational and legal conditions for them to carry out their activities.
The Decree establishes the following incentives and facilities for civil society institutions:
First, a Public fund for Support of Civil Society Institutions and its territorial divisions are being created under the Parliament.
Now the parliamentary commission on Fund management will be chaired by representatives of the Senate and the Legislative Chamber in order of priority. This increases the efficiency of Fund management.
Secondly, under the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and local kengashes, the activities of "advisory groups consisting of representatives of civil society institutions" will be established.
Thirdly, state bodies were granted the right to finance projects of initiative social partnership of civil society institutions up to 1000 times the basic estimated amount without competition.
Fourthly, in order to expand the participation of citizens in the management of the state and society, Public councils under state bodies are being chaired by a representative of the Institute of civil society.
Fifth, taking into account the social significance of state grants and social order projects, income tax and social tax rates within the framework of such projects were reduced by 50% for a period of 3 years. The saved funds will be used for the purposes of the project and will serve to increase its efficiency.
Sixth, to further facilitate the creation of organizations for the disabled, veterans, women and children, from January 1, 2025, the state fee for registration of such organizations has been reduced by 2 times.
Seventh, the "Civil Society Week" is held annually in the first week of December. Within its framework, representatives of the industry will be awarded by the parliamentary commission with the badge "Fukarolik jamiyatini rivozhlantirishga kyshgan kissasi uchun" ("For contribution to the development of civil society").
Eighth, the national prize "Fukarolik tashabbushi" ("Civic Initiative") will be established, which will be awarded every two years by the parliamentary Foundation.
Ninth, in the international competition for the national award "Oltin Kalam", traditionally held every year among journalists, a nomination will be organized in the direction of covering the activities of civil society institutions.

Unified electronic platform
of civil society institutions 

In pursuance of the decree, a single electronic platform of civil society institutions was launched, designed to ensure transparency of all processes related to the allocation of state subsidies, grants and social orders to civil society institutions.
The launch of a single electronic platform gives the following results:
The first result is the direct participation of civil society institutions and the general public in shaping the directions of competitions held by the Foundation under the Oliy Majlis.
The second result is that all stages of the competitions, including from the submission of the application to the announcement of the result of the competition, are digitized, and the human factor is minimized.
The third result is that civil society institutions will be free from unnecessary paperwork.