TASHKENT – 19 February 2021.  The National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights in collaboration with the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan held a presentation of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” published in Braille, as well as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, published in the state language.

Representatives of the Association of Disabled People, the Society of Disabled People, the Society of the Blind, the Society of the Deaf, the public and the national media attended the event.

The presentation was made by the Director of the National Centre f of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, Akmal Saidov and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, John MacGregor who familiarized the audience with the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” published in Braille, as well as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities published in the state language.

It was noted that on the eve of the 28th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, for the first time in the country, the Basic Law, as well as the text of the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities were officially published in the form of a book in Braille.

These publications were published by the National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights as part of the implementation of the National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights. The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan assisted in this noble endeavor.

In Uzbekistan, social protection of the poor, disabled people, youth, women and the elderly is a priority of state policy.

According to Article 14 of the Constitution, the State carries out its activities on the basis of the principles of social justice and the rule of law for the benefit of the individual and society. Social protection of citizens is one of the main criteria of state activity. Chapter IX of the Basic Law guarantees the social and economic rights of citizens.

A priority of the state policy on protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in our country is the universal principles and norms of international law in the implementation of personal, political, economic, social, cultural rights and freedoms provided for by the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

As part of the implementation of the Action Strategy for the five priority areas of Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a number of laws have been adopted that guarantee social protection and equal rights for people with disabilities. Notably, the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”, adopted on October 15, 2020, is the main legislative act defining the rights of people with disabilities.

The adoption of the Law “On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” promotes the introduction of modern methods and international standards in the field of protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, the implementation of the main provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals principle “Leave no one behind”.

In this regard, the official publication of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Law “On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” published in Braille, as well as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, published in the state language, will serve the purpose of ensuring and realizing the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of people with disabilities in our country.

Press Service of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights