On January 23, the Committee on Democratic Institutions and Civil Society Development of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) held a meeting where the National Center for Human Rights presented a report on the implementation of tasks outlined in the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated February 7, 2023, “On the Approval of the National Programme for Human Rights Education in the Republic of Uzbekistan”.

The Director of the National Center of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, A. Saidov, together with members of the Committee, shared his thoughts on the key reforms being implemented under the National Programme for Human Rights Education (hereinafter referred to as the National Programme).

As was emphasized at the meeting, the fourth phase of the World Programme for Human Rights Education was carried out from 2020 to 2024. This phase was aimed at educating young people in the spirit of equality, respect for human rights, and non-discrimination, creating an inclusive, peaceful, and stable society that ensures the observance of human rights.

In this regard, on February 7, 2023, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed the Resolution “On Approving the National National Programme for Human Rights Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan.” Its purpose is to further accelerate the work being done in human rights education, taking into account international experience.

The National Programme of Uzbekistan defines the main tasks and seven priority areas for the consistent implementation of state policy aimed at expanding and improving the system of information, awareness-raising, and instruction in stages, as well as elevating the personnel training system to a new level in accordance with national legislation and international standards.

Currently, 17 out of 30 “Roadmap” items for the National Programme are fully implemented, and work continues on the remaining items.

In fulfilling the National Programme, “Human Rights,” “Women’s Rights,” and “Children’s Rights” courses have been introduced in six higher education institutions; in 114 universities and 330 vocational education institutions located in 14 regions of our country, special courses in these areas have been implemented. Additionally, a special module on “Human Rights” has been integrated into the curricula of 11 medical universities.

Furthermore, training courses on the rights of persons with disabilities, women’s rights, guarantees of children’s rights, and migrants’ rights are being organized. These sessions are designed to improve the human rights knowledge of representatives from government agencies and civil society institutions.

Regular “Human Rights Week” and “Human Rights Month” events have been conducted in our country to enhance the awareness of young people about human rights and freedoms. Meetings and roundtable discussions, quizzes, and competitions on the topic “Human Rights – Our Highest Value” have been held with youth in districts, cities, and local communities.

On social media, the hashtag #Inson_huquqlari_oliy_qadriyat# (“#Human_rights_as_the_highest_value#”) has been popularized. Moreover, at the initiative of the National Center for Human Rights, in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, the Youth Affairs Agency, and the Youth Union, the National Competition on “Education and Innovations in the Field of Human Rights and Freedoms” was held twice during 2023–2024.

Together with the editorial boards of “Tong yulduzi” (“Morning Star”) and “Klass” (“Great”) newspapers, the Republic-wide competition “Human Rights Through the Eyes of Children” was organized.

In the National Library of Uzbekistan and 14 regional information-library centers, a “Constitution and Human Rights” corner was created, and the National Center for Human Rights donated 1,600 copies of relevant publications. Last year, 45 key international documents to which the Republic of Uzbekistan is a party were translated into the state language, and four collections of international legal documents were published.

It should also be noted that from 2023 to 2024, in all regions of our country, a training course titled “Combating Torture: International Practices and National Experience” was organized, attended by 1,285 participants. In collaboration with the Institute of State and Law, the Law Enforcement Academy, and the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, national and international experts were engaged to train employees of the prosecutor’s office, pre-investigation and inquiry bodies, preliminary investigation bodies, and correctional institutions.

Similarly, 12,695 entrepreneurs and farmers participated in the training course “Business and Human Rights.” These sessions were organized in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Council of Farmers, Dekhkan Farms, and Owners of Household Plots of Uzbekistan.

To regularly monitor the quality and effectiveness of the implementation of “Roadmap” items under the National Programme, periodic hearings and on-site monitoring in five regions have been conducted. In particular, the National Programme was comprehensively discussed during four meetings of the National Commission for the implementation of the fourth phase of the World Programme for Human Rights Education, as well as at seven sessions of the structures of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament).

Based on monitoring results, it was determined that there is a shortage of textbooks, multimedia resources, and study guides needed to organize instruction in “Human Rights,” “Women’s Rights,” and “Children’s Rights” courses. It was also revealed that certain curricula require further improvement.

Meeting participants noted that significant achievements have been made in the field of human rights education through the implementation of the National Programme. They also discussed future tasks in detail.

In particular, attention was drawn to the need for developing new initiatives and proposals to implement the fifth phase (2025–2029) of the World Programme for Human Rights Education announced by the United Nations. It was especially emphasized that it is necessary to prepare modern textbooks, guides, and multimedia resources for the “Human Rights,” “Women’s Rights,” and “Children’s Rights” courses; to establish a “Legal Scholar-Pedagogue” specialty; and to more extensively involve civil society institutions in human rights education.

Members of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament), representatives of the National Center for Human Rights, researchers, experts, and media representatives took part in the event.

Press Service National Center of the

Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights