Uzbekistan has chosen the way to protect human rights and freedoms

A referendum on amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan will be held on April 30, 2023. The new Constitution is designed to change the principle of "state — society — man" to "man — society — state", that is, to put human interests above all. 
According to the draft of the new Constitution, human honor and dignity are inviolable – nothing can be grounds for discrimination against them. At the same time, ambiguities in the legislation that arise when a citizen interacts with state bodies will be interpreted in favor of the citizen.
In this context, it should be noted that these measures clearly reflect the direction of the country's development and actions have been taken in the field of human rights protection. In 2020, the National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights was adopted, aimed at protecting personal, political, economic, social and cultural rights, as well as in the field of sustainable development. The improvement of mechanisms for the implementation of international human rights standards in legislation and law enforcement practice is also a priority.
It is noteworthy that due to the implemented reforms, the issues of ensuring human rights and freedoms in Uzbekistan are under the close attention not only of the state, but also of the whole society. Civil society institutions, within the framework of the current legislation, take an active part in its improvement, conducting public monitoring of the rights of socially vulnerable segments of the population, information and educational activities, as well as in the preparation of periodic national and alternative reports on the implementation of international obligations in the field of human rights.

Human rights issues in Uzbekistan's foreign policy
Human rights issues also occupy a priority place in Uzbekistan's foreign policy. The Government attaches great importance to the development of international cooperation in this area. The interaction is carried out in line with the fundamental principles
and measures approved by the UN and OSCE documents.
In particular, during the recent meeting of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk with the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the UN representative highly appreciated Uzbekistan's achievements in eradicating child and forced labor, promoting gender equality, ensuring the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.
Uzbekistan's ratification of the UN Convention was also highlighted 
on the rights of persons with disabilities, the creation of a national preventive mechanism for the prevention of torture with the participation of civil society institutions, the repatriation of women and children from conflict zones and the provision of all necessary conditions for their social reintegration.
As a confirmation of the fulfillment of its international obligations within the framework of cooperation with the UN Human Rights Council, Uzbekistan in 2018 sent a standing invitation to all thematic mandate holders of UN special procedures.
For example, in September 2019, the Special Rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council on the independence of judges and lawyers, D. Garcia-Sayan, visited the Republic of Uzbekistan.
In the period from November 29 to December 7, 2021, at the invitation of the Government, a delegation headed by the Special Rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council on the promotion and protection of human rights in the fight against terrorism, Finnuala Ni Iloin, visited the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Alice Edwards, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, is expected to visit in 2023.
Recognition of the international community
It should be noted that the reforms carried out in this area have received well-deserved recognition at the international level. Thus, in October 2020, Uzbekistan became a member of the UN Human Rights Council, an authoritative intergovernmental body of the UN system designed to ensure the protection of human rights around the world. 169 out of 193 UN member states voted for Uzbekistan's candidacy. This event took place for the first time in the history of the national statehood of our country.
In February 2021, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended and delivered a report at the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council. 
For the first time, Uzbekistan was represented at the highest political level on the global human rights platform. Since the establishment of the Council in 2006, only 20 heads of State have directly addressed delegates to the annual sessions of the world's main human rights body. At the same time, Uzbekistan was the first among the post-Soviet countries to use such a privilege. 
Today, the world community views the New Uzbekistan as a stable and dynamically developing state of democratic transformations, a country of great opportunities and practical affairs. For example, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that "under the leadership of the President of Uzbekistan, the country is contributing to international efforts related to climate change, environmental protection and regional interconnectedness, while carrying out a significant reform process. Uzbekistan, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, has undertaken a special obligation to promote and protect human rights. The UN will continue to count on the Republic of Uzbekistan in promoting the values and principles enshrined in the UN Charter."
The initiatives of the Head of our State put forward in the international political arena, including on issues of ensuring human rights and the interests of citizens, strengthening regional cooperation, are increasingly being recognized by the world community. In recent years, 11 documents initiated by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan have been adopted at the international level.
In 2018-2022, on his initiative, six important special resolutions of the UN General Assembly were adopted aimed at strengthening regional and international cooperation in order to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development 
in the Central Asian region, promotion of tolerance, non-discrimination and respect for human rights based on the implementation of the principle of "Education against ignorance"; support for tourism 
and the sustainable development of our region; the transformation of the Aral Sea region into a zone of environmental innovation and technology; strengthening the interconnectedness between Central and South Asia; strengthening the role of parliaments in accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Only in 2022, a number of documents prepared by the Uzbek side were distributed as UN documents. These are, in particular, the Bukhara Declaration of the international forum "Dialogue of Declarations", the Tashkent Declaration of the international conference dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the joint implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Central Asia, the documents of the Samarkand SCO Summit on dialogue and cooperation in an interconnected world, as well as on solidarity for the sake of common security and prosperity.
National reports and implementation of recommendations
In recent years, a system of Uzbekistan's reporting to the UN mechanisms that meets international requirements has been formed, which is expressed in the timely preparation and sending of the country's national reports on the fulfillment of its obligations in the field of human rights and freedoms.
An important part of this system is the preparation and adoption of National Action Plans to implement the recommendations of the UN Charter and Treaty Bodies based on the results of the consideration of national reports.
In 2022, the UN treaty committees heard 3 national reports of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the elimination of all forms of discrimination against Women. 
For the first time, more than 10 non-governmental non-profit organizations took part in the presentation of reports in an online format. At the same time, in order to implement the recommendations made in the final comments to the national reports, National Plans were approved by a joint resolution of the Kengash Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis.
In general, it can be confidently noted that our country has chosen for itself the path of building a democratic rule of law with a socially oriented market economy and the formation of a civil society. The long–term goal of reforms in Uzbekistan is the country's entry into the ranks of modern developed, democratic states, ensuring decent living conditions for the people and a worthy place in the world community.
To this end, Uzbekistan intends to hold a referendum on amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which should guarantee all human rights and freedoms, regardless of their gender, nationality, faith and beliefs. The new Constitution will also strengthen the democratic processes in the country, which are becoming progressive and irreversible.

Timur Akhmedov,
Head of the Department of the Institute for Strategic
and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan