On 19 February 2021, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan organized a public presentation of the Constitution 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: A Training Guide (Professional Training Series), published in the state language. The National Human Rights Centre and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) co-organized the event.

The event brought together more than seventy participants, both online and in person. Among them: the leadership of the National Human Rights Centre; the Chairperson of the Committee for Labour and Social Issues of the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan; representatives from disabled people’s organizations and in particular from the Society of the Blind People of Uzbekistan and the long-standing partner of the PCUz, the Association of Disabled People of Uzbekistan; persons with disabilities, and the interested community at large, including representatives from the United Nations and the OSCE/ODIHR’s Acting Head of the Democratization Department, Meaghan Fitzgerald. Local media also covered the event.

In his opening speech, John MacGregor, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, stressed that there are a number of OSCE commitments related to the sphere of rights of persons with disabilities, including the 1991 Moscow Document. He said: “The PCUz has been gradually increasing its activities in the field of rights of persons with disabilities, especially from the angle of the enhancement of public and political participation of persons with disabilities in Uzbekistan. Last year, our office commissioned the translation of several OSCE/ODIHR materials into the Uzbek language, which are available on the OSCE website.

In partnership with OSCE/ODIHR, the Association and a social scientist consultant, we are also conducting a survey analysis on the question of access to the Parliament for persons with disabilities. The publication of the Constitution and the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan ‘On the rights of persons with disabilities’ in Braille is an important step towards an inclusive society”.

Source: OSCE project coordinator in Uzbekistan