US Department of State recognizes significant improvement in human rights situation in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In its annual report on the situation of human rights in the world for 2018, published on 13 March 2019, the US Department of State recognized a significant improvement in the human rights situation in Uzbekistan in many respects, which was a recognition of the effectiveness of this direction and the firm commitment of the leadership of the republic to serve the interests of the person. It is reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.

In particular, an objective assessment in the report, primarily in the areas of criminal justice, ensuring greater transparency of the judicial process, wider access by the defense to the evidence base of the prosecution and, as a result, an increase in the number of acquittals, draws attention to itself.

The document also recognizes the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts, the adoption of a wide range of measures to prevent the use of torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment, as well as increased responsibility for such crimes.

As part of measures to enhance freedom of speech and expression, the fact of improving the situation with ensuring freedom of the press is recognized, as well as the open interaction of Uzbekistan with human rights organizations and civil society activists.

The report separately stated that thousands of people suspected of religious extremism were removed from the list of law enforcement agencies, as well as numerous cases of pardon and programs implemented for their social adaptation.

It is noteworthy that with reference to Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists, the report acknowledges that “in Uzbekistan for the first time in more than two decades, not a single journalist and civil society activist remained in prison.”

The document separately outlines the successfully adopted legal and administrative measures to prevent forced labor. The progress of Uzbekistan in the field of labor rights protection has been repeatedly recognized in the thematic reports of the State Department and the US Department of Labor in 2018.

Another important recognition of the republic’s achievements in the field of human rights was the adoption last December of the decision of the US Secretary of State to withdraw Uzbekistan from the so-called “list of countries of particular concern in the field of religious freedom.”

The results achieved in the field of human rights protection in Uzbekistan are undoubtedly due to the irreversible reforms undertaken by the Government in the framework of the adopted “Action Strategy for the Five Priority Development Areas of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2017–2021,” which marked the beginning of a new phase of radical democratic reforms.

Uzbekistan is firmly committed to further improving the system of ensuring the rights, freedoms and legitimate human interests in the country and will continue to move along the path of “real reforms”, and the efforts being made are holistic, stable and irreversible. Work will also continue to further improve the institutions and mechanisms for the protection of human rights in the republic, including by enhancing interaction with international and non-governmental organizations.

This is the decisive condition for the successful implementation of the most important tasks of the reforms carried out in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, whose main goal is the person, his needs and interests.