15.03.2023

On March 15, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

The current issues of intensifying the constructive dialogue and practical cooperation between Uzbekistan and UN structures in the promotion of interests and protection of human rights have been discussed.

The President expressed satisfaction with the high level of interaction with the United Nations in this sphere in recent years, stressing that protection of interests and human rights is the principal priority of the reform strategy in Uzbekistan, which is fully in line with the goals of sustainable development of the United Nations.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights highly evaluated Uzbekistan’s achievements in eliminating child and forced labor, promoting gender equality, ensuring independence of judiciary bodies and the rule of law.

The adoption of the National Human Rights Education Program in the year of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ratification by our country of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the creation of a national preventive mechanism against torture with the participation of civil society institutions, as well as the repatriation of women and children from conflict zones and creation of all necessary conditions for their social reintegration were particularly noted.

The election of Uzbekistan to the UN Human Rights Council for 2021-2023 and the adoption of a number of resolutions on the rights of young people initiated by our country were indications of the wide recognition of achievements in ensuring human rights.

The High Commissioner reaffirmed the firm determination of UN agencies to continue to support the irreversible reforms in Uzbekistan. The sides expressed willingness to implement joint projects on strengthening the role of civil society institutions in human rights monitoring, training of law-enforcement agencies and penitentiary institutions.

Following the meeting, an agreement was reached on further strengthening the constructive dialogue and deepening practical cooperation, including through the implementation of joint programs and projects.