A scientific and practical seminar on how the convention on the rights of the child are reflected in the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan has been held in Tashkent, Uzbek newspaper Khalq Sozi reported on 20 November.

The event was arranged by the Committee of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis [parliament] of the Republic of Uzbekistan on democratic institutes, non-governmental organizations and the committee for local governments jointly with the UN Development Program project. It was attended by members of parliament’s Legislative Chamber and the Senate, the parliament’s human rights commissioner; representatives from the relevant ministries, departments, organizations and law-enforcement agencies; from the UN and UNICEF in our country; representatives of NGOs and the media.

The seminar, presided by the chairman of the [above mentioned] committee Akmal Saidov, particularly noted that all the provisions of the said convention are fully reflected in the legislation of our country. Under the leadership of President Islam Karimov children are in constant care. Issues of further improving their lives, protecting their rights and interests are reflected in all adopted laws and regulations.

Uzbekistan submits regular national reports on implementing the provisions of the convention to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. A national action programme has been developed and implemented for this purpose. A legal and institutional framework for child protection has been created in Uzbekistan.

Provisions of international documents on the rights of the child are fully incorporated into the national legislation. In particular, provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child are reflected in the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan; in the civil, family and labour procedure codes; in the criminal and criminal procedure codes; in the laws on the principles of national youth policy in the Republic of Uzbekistan, on education, on citizenship of the Republic of Uzbekistan, on citizens’ health care, on social protection of the disabled in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

As was noted at the seminar, consistent large-scale work is being carried on for further enhancing the national legislation on the rights of the child. For this particular purpose, based on a decree of President Islam Karimov on a state programme for the Year of Social Protection dated 23 January 2007, a draft of a new law on Child Rights Guarantees has been developed, which was adopted at the first reading at a plenary session of the parliament’s Legislative Chamber.

At the moment, the draft is being studied in detail by the members of the Legislative Chamber and civil society representatives, and is being improved based on recommendations and views.