The first plenary session of the IV Samarkand Forum on Human Rights entitled "Environmental problems: the future of human rights in a changing world, finding sustainable solutions", which began its work in Samarkand on June 13, was devoted to this topic.

The plenary session was moderated by Akmal Saidov, First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Director of the National Human Rights Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Matilda Bogner, Head of the Central Asia Division of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

As noted by the participants of the traditional international conference, the role of international organizations and national human rights institutions in the development and implementation of strategies to support and promote human rights around the world, as well as mitigating environmental degradation in the face of unprecedented climate change, is very important.

Regarding the topic, the executive director of the Secretariat of the Independent Permanent Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Professor Noura bint Zaid Alrashoud (Nuru bint Zaid al-Rashud), the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TurkPA) Mehmet Sureyya Er, Deputy General Secretary of the Council on cooperation and confidence measures in Asia Zhang Ling (Zhang Lin), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) adviser Behruz Mohtari, Turkish Ombudsman Sheref Malkoch, Oman Human Rights Commission Chairman Rashid Hamad Humaid Al Balushi, Qatar National Human Rights Committee Secretary General Sultan bin Hassan al-Jamali, Chief Commissioner of the Mongolian National Human Rights Commission Sunjid Dugar, Head of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan Saltanat Tursinbekova spoke.

Also, the video address of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Coordinator, Ambassador Bakyt Jusupov, and the online speeches of the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights, Olof Skug, and the Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Nurlan Seitimov, were heard.

In particular, according to Ambassador B. Jusupov, the coordinator of the OSCE Projects in Uzbekistan is currently drawing up a map of climate-related problems in the country. Based on this, the government can develop an information policy that meets the needs of the population, including those in need of social protection. As the Economic and Environmental Coordinator of the OSCE acknowledged, “Such projects are implemented in conjunction with other field missions throughout the OSCE region. These projects have a direct impact on communities and help protect human rights by providing sustainable livelihoods and creating policy frameworks in this area."

On his part, N. Seitimov drew attention to the fact that it is difficult to positively solve these problems without forming the attitude of the population to the problems related to climate change. That is why, according to the CIS Deputy General Secretary, "Education of a conscious person in the field of ecology is one of the important conditions for saving the life of our planet. Environmental education should take an important place in educational and cultural programs. Undoubtedly, combining the experiences gained in this field with the knowledge specific to modern science will enable the formation of a value system related to the preservation of nature and biodiversity in society and the development of the skills of living in harmony with the environment.

Discussions within the framework of the first plenary meeting became a convenient forum for international organizations to find promising sustainable solutions for solving environmental problems and protecting human rights. Speaking about the approaches of their organizations in this regard, the speakers said that innovative ideas, best practices, and collaborative efforts are essential in terms of ensuring human rights in management processes aimed at improving ecology.

Sabina Alieva, Azerbaijan Republic Human Rights Representative (Ombudsman), Tatyana Moskalkova, the representative of the Russian Federation for Human Rights, Rabiya Javeri Agha, the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Nur Azia Mohd Awal, the Commissioner of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, Lu Guanjin, Professor of the Faculty of Law of Jilin University, Vice-President of the Chinese Society for the Study of Human Rights.

This conference of the Samarkand Forum on Human Rights was especially important for the exchange of views of the representatives of national institutions on human rights. Because these institutions have unique opportunities to apply approaches related to human rights protection to the management processes aimed at the health of the natural climate environment in a complex ecological situation related to climate changes of unexpected scales and dimensions, loss of biodiversity, environmental pollution.

Speakers focused on the intersection of environmental issues and human rights. It was studied how effectively national human rights institutions use their powers to promote sustainable development and protect vulnerable populations affected by environmental disasters.

According to the experts who spoke at the first plenary session of the IV Samarkand Forum on Human Rights, it is appropriate for national human rights institutions to harmonize their programs with plans for solving environmental problems. Because such a practical approach, in turn, serves to demonstrate that these structures have a decisive position in the elimination of ecological injustice, as well as in the promotion of acceptable policies aimed at protecting the dignity and rights and freedoms of all people.

Press service of the National Human Rights

 Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan