On the second day of plenary session, the Senators considered a report of Prosecutor-General on current state and measures on further strengthening prosecutor supervision over adherence of legislation on ensuring human rights and freedoms.

It was noted that Uzbekistan pays attention to ensuring human rights and freedoms. The country created a legal base for protection of personnel, political, economic and social rights and freedoms of the citizens.

The country created a system on organization-legal mechanism of protection of human rights. Uzbekistan founded Human Rights Commissionaire of Oliy Majlis (Ombudsperson), National Center for Human Rights, Ijtimoiy Fikr, etc. NGOs and self-governing bodies are also play important role in strengthening protection of human rights and freedoms.

Uzbekistan introduced habeas corpus institute and launched human rights departments under the law enforcement bodies.

However, the report of the Prosecutor-General said that there are some shortages on processing applications of citizens and violation at solving issues related to economic, social labour and other interests of the citizens. Such violations were revealed at the work of State Architecture Construction Committee, Ministry of Culture and Sport Affairs, Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education, etc.

Prosecutor-General’s Office monitored implementation of laws in Uzbekistan, including law “On addresses of the citizens” and other legal acts in sphere of ensuring human rights and freedoms. In 2012, Prosecutor-General’s Office issued protests to 1,350 acts of state and law enforcement bodies, which contradict to requirements of legislation.

Prosecutor-General’s Office attracted officials to disciplinary, administrative and material responsibility for their failure to meet requirements of legislation on human rights, consider addresses of citizens. There were also criminal cases. Prosecutor-General’s Office carried out 125,000 events to explain legislation to population and published over 23,000 articles in mass media.

Prosecutor-General noted that it is planning to submit a draft law directed at increasing responsibility of officials of the state bodies for violation of requirements of the law on protection of human rights and freedoms.

Senators noted that there is need to improve work of state bodies on their adherence to requirements of legislation.

Senators expressed their proposals and recommendations on improving work of the prosecutors’ bodies on protection of human rights and freedoms.

Senate also considered a report of the chairperson of the State Committee of Uzbekistan on protection of nature. It was said that the committee’s activities in 2012 were directed at ensuring state control over execution of laws in the area of protection of environment and rational use of natural resources, improving ecologic situation in the country.

In 2012, the committee implemented 48 measures on 12 directions to realize programme, adopted by Senate. The committee also paid attention to implementation of action programme on protection of environment of Uzbekistan for 2008-2012.

During the discussions, Senators shared their opinion and recommendation on further improving activities of the committee and introduction of ecologically clean and resource saving technologies.

Senators also considered information of Minister of Justice of Uzbekistan on ensuring legality of activities of state bodies, law and control bodies in 2012. It was said that the ministry inspected activities of over 20 state bodies on their adherence to legislation of Uzbekistan.

Ministry of Justice hand over 616 orders to the state bodies on elimination of reveled violations and their reasons.

Senators underlined that it is necessary to improve systematic control over legality of activities of state bodies, law and control bodies.

Later, Senate introduced changes to structure of Supreme Court and Supreme Economic Court of Uzbekistan. They also considered other issues of jurisdiction of Senate. The decisions were adopted on all discussed issues.

Overall, Senate considered 17 issues at its plenary session, including seven laws.