07.12.2021

Dear compatriots!

 

I sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, congratulate you, all of our multinational people on a remarkable date – the 29th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic throughout the world, including in our country, we have not been able to widely celebrate the Constitution Day this year. Yet despite this, with all our hearts do we feel the joy of this holiday. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm in families, workplaces, educational institutions and makhallas.

 

Dear friends!

 

All of us know well and highly value that the Constitution, which is the Main Law of our lives, serves as a solid legal foundation for all our successes and achievements during the years of independence.

On the basis of our Constitution, we have adopted the Strategy of Actions five years ago and initiated the large-scale reforms aimed at building a New Uzbekistan. Over the past brief span of time, the political, legal, socio-economic, cultural and spiritual spheres of the life of our society have dramatically changed. The independence and transparency, the rule of law, mutually beneficial cooperation with the world community have become the main direction of the policy of our country.

We are committed to building a law-governed democratic state and a free civil society, enshrined in the Constitution, and we have carried out a lot of practical work along this path, acquiring a profound knowledge and experience.

In accordance with the constitutional norm “The people are the sole source of state power”, as the criterion of our activity we have defined a constant dialogue with the people, and an effective system is being formed, whereby it is not the people who serve the government bodies, but the latter serve the former.

There is a growing openness and transparency in the work of government bodies. The senators and deputies, ministers and khokims, all officials directly hold meetings with the population, have reached the lowest level, makhallas and in the local level solve people’s problems.

Today, our citizens are actively involved in discussing the important draft regulations and laws, issues of rational use of budgetary funds, and public procurement. On the basis of this, the interaction between governmental organizations and civil institutions, public control has reached a new level.

Our compatriots are provided with ample opportunities for a free and comfortable life in any region of the country, purchasing housing and other real estate, obtaining citizenship, education, employment, entrepreneurship and a stable income, access to various public services. Most importantly, such changes are now visible and felt in everyone’s daily lives.

It is especially noteworthy that the work, initiated by the government to ensure the human rights and freedoms of the Uzbek citizens abroad, encourages love for the Motherland and a sense of confidence among our compatriots living in other countries.

In achieving such results, based on the requirements of the Constitution and laws, addressing the issues of economic and entrepreneurship development, providing housing for the population, problems in the areas of healthcare and education, as well as forced labor, including child labor, unemployment, poverty, anti-corruption is important with the participation of the general public.

It should be emphasized that the first positive results are obtained by systematic work based on the «Iron book», «Women’s book» and «Youth book», in the context of the makhalla and each family, introduced in our country in order to eliminate the social problems. At the same time, a special attention is paid in ensuring the rights and interests of our distinguished veterans, women, young people, and the categories of the population who are in need of social support.

The activity of local Kengashes is also being revitalized. This is confirmed by the fact that this year alone, these structures have positively resolved more than 29 thousand citizens’ problems, and appropriate legal measures have been taken against leaders who are irresponsible in their duties.

The fundamental reforms are being carried out in the judicial system, which is of great importance in the protection of human rights. In particular, the supervisory authority has been abolished, and the procedure for direct consideration of complaints from citizens and lawyers, similar to the protest of the prosecutor has been established.

For the first time, the administrative courts have been organized to deter officials from illegal actions, restored the rights of more than 6.5 thousand citizens and entrepreneurs this year alone. The participation of the prosecutor in economic and civil courts is limited, the practice of unreasonable recall of criminal cases from the court has been eradicated. In order to strengthen the protection of the rights of foreign investors, the International Commercial Arbitration has been established.

The powers of lawyers are being expanded, and the necessary conditions are being created for the effective implementation of their tasks by public groups created by the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights - the Ombudsman.

This year, more than 4,000 people were released from the courtroom, about 8,000 citizens were acquitted of charges under unreasonably brought articles, 859 people were exonerated, all this is the most important result of our reforms in the judicial and forensics sphere.

In accordance with such qualities inherent in our people as mercy, generosity and nobility, the practice of pardoning is constantly applied to persons who committed a crime by ignorance, sincerely repented of their deeds and firmly embarked on the path of correction. As a logical continuation of this work on the eve of the Constitution Day, I have signed another decree, according to which 182 persons in this category shall be released early and return to normal life.

The important steps are being taken in our country to ensure freedom of speech and conscience, the formation of the media expressing public opinion as the “fourth power”.

The representatives of various nations and religious denominations are provided with the necessary conditions and opportunities for the development of their language, traditions and customs.

Along with this, all of us are well aware that we still have a lot to do to fully implement the norms of our Constitution, more effectively ensure the rule of law and justice in society, the rights and interests of a person, his honor and dignity. In order to meet the challenges we face, we will consistently continue the large-scale reforms as part of the implementation of the New Uzbekistan Development Strategy.

First of all, we will pay attention to the establishment of organizational and legal foundations for the implementation of the tasks outlined in the Strategy, and the acceleration of democratic reforms. The comprehensive measures will be taken to further expand the powers of the parliament and local Kengashes, to strengthen control over the activities of executive bodies, and to improve interaction between political parties and public organizations. Our focus will be on enhancing the role of local Kengashes in the development of regions, and creating the necessary conditions for the effective functioning of civil society institutions.

The precise determination of the legal status of governmental bodies in the context of the implementation of the administrative reform program, the formation of a compact administrative apparatus and the digitalization of office work will be of great importance.

Another important challenge is the revision of the existing criminal legislation.

At present, almost 80 percent of those serving sentences in colonies are involved in labor, but these years of work are not added to the total length of service and are not taken into account when calculating a pension. The abolition of this restriction, which does not meet the principle of social justice, would contribute to preventing the re-commission of crimes due to financial need. A system of “primary care package” will also be introduced to assist convicted citizens in finding their place in society.

In particular, such persons who have submitted a specific business project and wish to start their own business, will be provided with one-time material assistance in the amount of up to 10 million Uzbek soums from the Probation Service Development Fund.

We will consistently continue the policy aimed at combating corruption, which hampers our development, and creates an atmosphere of social resistance to all forms of violence. In this regard, we will pay a particular attention to the effective use of the potential of not only governmental bodies, but also the general public, especially civil society institutions.

 

Dear friends!

 

I think all of us well understand that in order to implement the tasks reflected in the Development Strategy and which are of great importance in building just, a truly people’s state, first of all, a constitutional foundation and an even stronger legislative base will be needed. In this sense, harmonization of the Main Law with the modern realities of our society, the essence of our consistent reforms, as well as the creation of a solid legal foundation for the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan becomes an important task.

This issue was especially emphasized in the proposals of citizens, the general public, representatives of political parties during the meetings held this year before the presidential elections, which puts constitutional reforms on the agenda as an objective necessity.

This is especially evident in the following.

First, we have to replace the previous concept of “the state-society-individual” to the new one: “individual-society-the state” and strengthen it in a national legislation and jurisprudence.

Second, in the process of economic reforms the main criteria must be the maintenance of individual’s interests. It is the most crucial requirement of building of a truly people’s state.

Third, the constitutional preservation of the role and status of institutions of civil society, which reflect the principle “Society – the initiator of reforms” is also the demand of time.

Fourth, in the Main Law we have to define the constitutional base of the development of institutes of family, delicate report of human values to the future generations, further strengthening of international harmony in the country.

Fifth, nowadays, when the younger generation is coming to the arena as the creators of New Uzbekistan, in order to fully ensure their rights and interests, a national youth policy and the issues of comprehensive support of the youth, their rights and responsibilities must be reflected in our Constitution.

Sixth, Uzbekistan today is confidently traversing towards the way of building a social state and fair society. Hence, I think it is a high time to consolidate the principle of “New Uzbekistan – a social state” as a constitutional norm.

Seventh, in order to increase the effectiveness of the current system of protection of human rights, our Constitution must also reflect the issues of prevention of child labor, reliable protection of the rights of disabled and elderly.

Eighth, nowadays, many developed countries, taking into account the global climate change, are bringing into their constitutions special ecological sections. The Constitution of Uzbekistan must also reflect such legal norms as this important issue.

Ninth, it is advisable to constitutionally fix the development of kindergartens, schools, the sphere of higher education and science, which are truly interconnected components of the foundations of the Third Renaissance.

Undoubtedly, we should discuss thoroughly this important and strategic matter as an update of the Constitution, hold a broad opinion poll of public, and carefully analyze the leading domestic and international practice and only thereafter make a specific decision on this matter.

I believe, that the Chambers of Oliy Majlis, distinguished deputies and senators, honorable veterans, women, young people, legal scholars and political scientists, academic figures, and creative community – our whole nation will express their opinion and  views regarding this issue.

As Winston Churchill said: «To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often». I believe, that the words of an outstanding statesman and political figure hold a deep life meaning.

Indeed, today’s rapidly changing time require us to act and change in tune with the pace. In order to have a Constitution which meets the demand of the time, we should prepare the draft of an updated Main Law, put it for public discussion and advance it in accordance with given suggestions. I believe, that acceptance of this significant political document in 2022, in days of the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, will be a worthy of traditions of our nation, which reflect the interests of our people.

 

Dear compatriots!

 

On this significant celebration, I want to highlight once again, that the reforms in New Uzbekistan have become inevitable.

Owing to the great aspiration and strong will of our people, the idea of creating New Uzbekistan is becoming a nationwide popular movement. We will definitely reach all milestones, if only we unite towards this great goal and work with enthusiasm and responsibility.

I believe, that even after many years and centuries, those who made a substantial contribution to build a New Uzbekistan in the most difficult and challenging times will be remembered with honor. 

May all of us get the chance to experience a great honor – serving our nation!

May our dear Uzbekistan prosper eternally!

May the Almighty support us in all our good deeds!

Once again, I congratulate you all, dear compatriots, on the Constitution Day! I wish all of you a sound health, peace, prosperity and well-being to your family.

 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev,

the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

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