On 17 March the National Human Rights Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan (NHRC) jointly with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, held a presentation of the Analytical Report on the legislation and practice of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the context of the prospect of joining the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, for representatives the Senate and the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the office of the Ombudsman, the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Security Service, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Law Enforcement Academy, the University of Public Security, the Tashkent State Law University, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy and representatives of UN agencies and diplomatic missions.

The event was opened by Consuelo Vidal-Bruce, United Nations Resident Coordinator a.i. in Uzbekistan, Hans Friedrich Schodder, UNHCR Representative for Central Asia, Dilnoza Muratova, Deputy Director of the National Human Rights Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

“Today, due to global geopolitical crises, unfortunately, the number of people who are forced to leave their country, forcibly displaced or seeking political asylum is constantly increasing. In such a difficult and dangerous situation, the world community, international organisations and countries in the world, in connection with the presence of a serious threat to the life and freedom of their citizens, began to especially sharply coordinate their actions related to the protection and support of people who left their country and are in need of asylum and socio-economic help,” said Dilnoza Muratova, Deputy Director of the Center, in her speech.

“The United Nations in Uzbekistan is very pleased that close cooperation between the Government and UNHCR brought to our attention today a comprehensive legal analysis of the national legislation related to refugee issues. I trust that it will serve as a valuable resource and reliable guide for Members of Parliament and government officials to establish a national asylum system in line with international standards and good practices,” said Consuelo Vidal-Bruce, UN Resident Coordinator a.i. in Uzbekistan.

The analysis was conducted by UNHCR upon request of the NHRC to support Uzbekistan’s intention expressed at the 30th session of the Universal Periodic Review for Human Rights of the United Nations Human Rights Council to consider accession to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol.

“UNHCR trusts that this analysis and its recommendations will support the development of national legislation, practices, and institutions in the areas of asylum and refugee protection which would eventually implement all provisions of international law and human rights standards to the benefit of the Republic of Uzbekistan. UNHCR stands ready to offer further expertise and support to the Government and Parliament of Uzbekistan in this important area of human rights,” said Hans Friedrich Schodder, UNHCR Representative for Central Asia.

The NHRC and UNHCR have been cooperating since 2020 to support Uzbekistan’s capacity to implement UPR recommendations related to the reduction and prevention of statelessness and the protection of refugees. Having jointly published a number of important studies, which are all available also in Uzbek language on the websites of the NCHR and UNHCR in Central Asia, in 2023 they will continue organizing a series of joint events, sharing expertise and best practices, to strengthen know-how and capacities in the protection of refugees and stateless persons.

UNHCR

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