The 44th session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UN Human Rights Council is taking place in Geneva from 6 to 17 November 2023.
The Universal Periodic Review, established on 5 March 2006 by UN General Assembly resolution 60/251, is a mechanism of the Human Rights Council (HRC) that provides expert assessments of the human rights situation in all 193 UN member states. Since the first meeting in April 2008, all 193 UN member states have been reviewed three times.
Uzbekistan submitted its fourth report on November 8, 2023. Along with Uzbekistan, the 44th session considered reports from 13 states: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Djibouti, Germany, Russia, Turkmenistan and Tuvalu.
It should be recalled that the first, second and third reviews of the UPR of Uzbekistan took place in December 2008, April 2013 and May 2018, respectively.
The country’s delegation to participate in the current session of the UPR was headed by the First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, Director of the National Center for Human Rights Akmal Saidov. The delegation also included member of the Committee on Women’s Affairs and Gender Equality of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis Gulnora Marufova, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court Ikrom Muslimov, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Yakhojon Abdulkhakov, Deputy Minister of Health Elmira Basitkhanova, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Mission of Uzbekistan to the UN Office in Geneva.
In the event, information was brought to the attention of the international community about the significant efforts being made in Uzbekistan to protect and promote human rights, including legislative, administrative and judicial reforms.
During the meeting on the report of Uzbekistan, 84 countries spoke and made 244 recommendations.
The UN member countries expressed gratitude to the government of Uzbekistan for the serious preparation for the meeting of the Working Group on the UPR, a detailed national report, additional information on certain aspects of human rights issues and the high level of the delegation sent for dialogue with the UN Human Rights Council.
The overwhelming majority of delegations that spoke highly appreciated the steps taken by Uzbekistan to implement recommendations received during previous UPR cycles in 2013 and 2018, and to develop an open and constructive dialogue with the HRC.
A number of states welcomed the constitutional reform carried out in Uzbekistan, which guarantees fundamental freedoms and human rights. The Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan and the “Uzbekistan-2030” Strategy were especially noted, which demonstrate the country’s commitment to promoting and ensuring human rights and fulfilling its international obligations in this area.
At the same time, Uzbekistan’s efforts to develop and expand cooperation with UN human rights structures were supported, a striking example of which is the visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to Uzbekistan in March 2023. The experience of Uzbekistan in developing and implementing strategies for national action plans and programs to implement the recommendations of the Working Group on the UPR, UN treaty bodies and special procedures of the HRC was recognized as worthy of special attention.
The HRC member countries also positively perceived Uzbekistan’s achievements in the eradication of child and forced labor, especially in cotton picking, as well as the fight against human trafficking.
In conclusion, the session participants welcomed the attention of the government of Uzbekistan to the issues of ensuring rights and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities and the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
It should be noted that the UPR platform is a unique opportunity to convey to the world community objective information about the reforms being carried out in the country, including taking into account the recommendations of foreign states and international organizations specializing in human rights issues.
The report “Uzbekistan: progress in the field of human rights”, brochures “Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan” and “Uzbekistan-2030” Strategy and other information were distributed among representatives of the HRC member countries, as well as all participants in the UPR session.
On November 10, 2023, recommendations were adopted based on the results of hearing the fourth report of Uzbekistan on the UPR.
