President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree on April 16 that includes the creation of the Public Chamber under the President.
The decree provides for “creation of a Public Chamber under the President of Uzbekistan, as well as public chambers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent.”
The main activities of the Public Chamber include:
- establishing a modern and effective form of dialogue, uniting the efforts of the state, citizens and civil society institutions on further accelerating the development of the country, as well as ensuring the coherence of their social interests;
- enhancing the participation of citizens in the affairs of the state and society, as well as in introducing modern mechanisms of public-private partnership;
- a systematic study of the opinion of the population, discussion of topical issues that concern civil society institutions and the public, as well as making proposals to the President, to the chambers of the Oliy Majlis and to the government on the development of regulatory legal acts to solve those issues;
- initiating fundamental and practical research in the field of development of civil society with the organization of a systematic study by scientific and expert groups, generalization and analysis of public opinion on public policy and its practical results, etc.
The document established that the Public Chamber will consist of 50 members working on a voluntary basis. 18 members of the chamber are appointed by the President, 18 – by the decision of the chamber and selection from among candidates nominated by non-governmental non-profit organizations operating at the republican level, and 14 members are representatives of regional public chambers. The regional public chamber, meanwhile, will consist of 21 members also working on a voluntary basis.
The term of office is three years for both members of the Public Chamber and regional public chambers.
Due to the creation of the Public Chamber and to prevent duplication of its powers, the Advisory Council on the Development of Civil Society under the President was abolished.
