Today, the ICJ, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) and the Supreme School of Judges of the Republic of Uzbekistan (SSJ) are holding a final conference on the implementation of international law on economic, social and cultural rights in the national legal framework of Uzbekistan.
This is the final event of a three-year project “Advancing Civil Society in Promoting economic, social and cultural rights Standards” (ACCESS), implemented by the ICJ, funded by the European Union.
Participants will discuss the obstacles to the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights in Uzbekistan and how to strengthen protection of these rights through access to justice and legal remedies. The discussions will aim to strengthen the implementation of international law on ESC rights, including rights to housing, healthcare and rights to equal protection in the workplace, and ensure that the justice system provides effective protection and remedies where they are violated.
The OHCHR for Central Asia, the SSJ, Tashkent State University of Law, the Nationwide Movement “Yuksalish,” national and international experts will participate in the final conference.
“This is a very important project, which was timely but also challenging to implement during the period of COVID-19 pandemic. The right time to raise awareness around economic, social and cultural rights in particular. This is about accompanying the important reforms of the Government of Uzbekistan, it is about promoting human rights and the rule of law, which is also an important part of our EU Central Asia Strategy,” said H.E. Charlotte Adriaen, Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan.
Ryszard Komenda, Regional Representative of the UN Human Rights Office for Central Asia noted that “this project to promote economic, social and cultural rights in Uzbekistan was and remains highly relevant and needed, including for the dissemination of legal knowledge on human rights among lawyers and representatives of civil society. The implementation of this project during the period of ongoing reforms in the country and participation of UN experts from CEDAW and CRC, makes the project especially effective, unique and timely.”
“Uzbekistan has a solid legal basis to meet its obligations to protect economic, social and cultural rights. But to realize the law’s potential in practice, people whose rights are violated need effective access to the justice system, and the courts need to apply the rights set out in international law,” said Róisín Pillay, Director of the ICJ Europe and Centra Asia Programme.
“We are happy to share our recommendations designed to ensure that people’s economic and social rights, as guaranteed in international law, are protected in practice, including through the justice system. I look forward to discussions with national and international partners during our final event,” she added.
“This project is a clear example of international cooperation of the Supreme School of Judges, which is fully consistent with its priorities. Of course, the implementation of international law on economic, social and cultural rights at the national level in Uzbekistan is one of the most significant national priorities, which requires active interaction between State authorities, the academic and expert community, and of course cooperation with international organizations,” said Khadji-Murod Isakov, the Director of the Supreme School of Judges under the Supreme Judiciary Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Agenda in English
Agenda in Russian
Compilation of papers in Uzbek, Russian and English: Realising economic, social and cultural rights-2021
Contacts:
Ms. Dilfuza Kurolova, ICJ Legal consultant, t: +998 90 9050099 ; e: dilfuza.kurolova(a)icj.org
Ms. Guljakhon Amanova, National Program Officer, Uzbekistan, Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), e:[email protected]
Mr. Utkir Khalikov, Head of the international department The Supreme School of Judges under the Supreme Judicial council of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Central Asia, e: [email protected]
The Project is financed by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Uzbekistan
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