Mar 31, 2021 | Новости, Пресс-релизы, Событие, Статьи
Ташкент, 25 Марта 2021 года – Сегодня Международная комиссия юристов (МКЮ), Региональное отделение Верховного комиссара ООН по правам человека (УВКПЧ) для Центральной Азии и Высшая школа судей Республики Узбекистан (ВШС) проводят заключительную конференцию по реализации международного права по экономическим, социальным и культурным правам на национальном уровне в Узбекистане. Данное мероприятие является завершающим в трехлетнем проекте «Усиление роли гражданского общества в продвижении стандартов в области экономических, социальных и культурных прав» (ACCESS), реализуемым Международной комиссией юристов при финансовой поддержке Европейского Союза.
Участники обсудят препятствия на пути к осуществлению экономических, социальных и культурных (ЭКС) прав в Узбекистане и способы усиления защиты этих прав посредством доступа к правосудию и средствам правовой защиты. Обсуждения будут направлены на усиление имплементации международного права в отношении ЭСК прав, включая права на жилище, здравоохранение и права на равную защиту в рабочем месте, а также на обеспечение того, чтобы система правосудия гарантировала эффективную защиту и средства правовой защиты в случае их нарушения.
В итоговой конференции примут участие УВКПЧ по Центральной Азии, ВШС, Ташкентский государственный юридический университет, Общенациональное движение «Юксалиш», национальные и международные эксперты.=
«Это очень важный проект, который был своевременным, но и сложным для реализации в период пандемии COVID-19. В частности, было подходящее время для повышения осведомленности об экономических, социальных и культурных правах. Проект проводится во время важных реформ правительства Республики Узбекистан, он посвящен продвижению прав человека и верховенства закона, что также является важной частью нашей Стратегии ЕС в Центральной Азии,» отметила г-жа Шарлот Адриан, Посол Европейского Союза в Республике Узбекистан.
Ришард Коменда, региональный представитель Управления ООН по правам человека в Центральной Азии отметил, что «этот проект по продвижению экономических, социальных и культурных прав в Узбекистане был и остается весьма актуальным и необходимым, в том числе для распространения правовых знаний о правах человека среди юристов и представителей гражданского общества. Реализация данного проекта в период проводимых в стране реформ и участие экспертов ООН из комитетов ООН по правам женщин (CEDAW) и по правам ребенка (CRC), делает проект особенно эффективным, уникальным и своевременным.»
«Узбекистан имеет прочную правовую основу для выполнения своих обязательств по защите экономических, социальных и культурных прав. Но для реализации вего потенциала законодательства на практике людям, чьи права нарушаются, необходим эффективный доступ к системе правосудия, а суды должны применять права, изложенные в международном праве,» – сказала Роушин Пиллэй, директор программы Европа и Центральной Азии МКЮ. «Мы рады поделиться нашими рекомендациями направленные на обеспечение экономических и социальных прав людей, гарантированных международным правом, защищены на практике, в том числе через систему правосудия. Я с нетерпением жду обсуждения с национальными и международными партнерами во время нашего заключительного мероприятия» – добавила она.
«Этот проект является ярким примером международного сотрудничества Высшей школы судей, которое полностью соответствует ее приоритетам. Безусловно, реализация международного права об экономических, социальных и культурных правах на национальном уровне в Узбекистане является одним из важнейших национальных приоритетов, что требует активного взаимодействия между государственными органами, академическими кругами и экспертным сообществом и, конечно же, сотрудничества с международными организациями» – сказал Хожи-Мурод Исаков, директор Высшей школы судей при Высшем судейском совете Республики Узбекистан.
Для получения более подробной информации, пожалуйста, свяжитесь с:
Дилфуза Куролова, Консультант Международной комиссии юристов по правовым вопросам (МКЮ),
E-mail: dilfuza.kurolova@icj.org
Программа мероприятия на русском языке.
Программа мероприятия на английском языке.
Mar 29, 2021 | News, Publications, Reports, Thematic reports, Uncategorized
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has published a new report Accessing Economic and Social Rights in Uzbekistan: An Analysis of Selected Laws and Practices. In the report, it considers aspects of Uzbekistan’s implementation of its obligations to respect, protect and fulfil economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights through laws and policies as well as through access to justice and remedies for those who allege that their ESC rights have been violated.
Analysing the general legal framework for protection of these rights, the report considers in more detail particular challenges in Uzbekistan, in respect of the right to adequate housing, the right to health, and rights in the workplace.
In the report, the ICJ concludes that in-depth reforms of the justice system are still needed to ensure effective remedies for ESC rights violations in practice, including through genuine independence of the judiciary and regular application of international human rights law in and by the courts.
In general, the use of international law in the Uzbekistan justice system remains weak and underdeveloped. International law is to a high degree theoretical for most legal practitioners, an approach that appears to have its roots in legal tradition and culture, lack of political will and a lack of concrete programmes of measures to make progress in this regard. In practice, judges, prosecutors and lawyers continue not to be exposed to international law on ESC rights, and usually do not apply it in their work directly.
The report concludes that in Uzbekistan the justiciability of ESC rights is not always accepted, as some ESC rights are not seen as rights whose violation could or should be remedied through and by the courts. Rather, many actors see guarantees of non-discrimination or aspects of the right to health or education as benefits which are not of a justiciable nature. Lawyers, sharing a similar legal mindset and background, do not tend to demonstrate the necessary legal activism in pursuing judicial remedies in such cases.
The report contains five chapters. Chapter 1 of the report outlines the general issues which are essential to ensure access to justice for ESC rights in Uzbekistan. Chapter 2 is dedicated to issues related to the right to housing, its international legal aspects and national implementation. Chapter 3 discusses issues related to the right to health while Chapter 4 describes the aspects of the protection of the right to work internationally as well as in Uzbekistan. In Chapter 5, the report sets out conclusions and recommendations on access to justice as well as the measures to protect specific rights addressed in the report.
The publication of the report marks the conclusion of a three-year project, ACCESS, of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), which has worked to advance civil society engagement for the protection of ESC rights in Uzbekistan. It draws on several discussions in Uzbekistan, as well as on legal research carried out throughout the project.
Please see the report below:
In English: Accessing Economic and Social rights in Uzbekistan: an analysis of selected laws and practices
In Russian: Доступ к экономическим и социальным правам в Узбекистане: анализ законодательства и практики
In Uzbek: Ўзбекистонда иқтисодий ва ижтимоий ҳуқуқларни баҳолаш: айрим қонунлар ва амалиёт таҳлили
Please see the executive summaries below:
In English: Accessing Economic and Social rights in Uzbekistan: an analysis of selected laws and practices. Executive summary
In Russian: Доступ к экономическим и социальным правам в Узбекистане: анализ нормативно-правовых актов и практики. Резюме отчета.
In Uzbek: Ўзбекистонда иқтисодий ва ижтимоий ҳуқуқлардан фойдаланиш имкониятлари: алоҳида норматив-ҳуқуқий ҳужжатлар ва амалиёт таҳлили.Ҳисоботнинг қисқача мазмуни
Mar 25, 2021 | Agendas, Events, News
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:gamanova@ohchr.org
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: inter.dep.ssj@mail.ru
The Project is financed by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Uzbekistan
Watch the video
Mar 22, 2021 | Advocacy, Non-legal submissions
Today, before the UN Human Rights Council, the ICJ called on Ukrainian authorities to ensure the security of lawyers and the independence of the judiciary, essential elements to make effective any human rights technical assistance and capacity building.
The statement reads as follows:
“Madame President,
In Ukraine, a number of lawyers, including those who defend human rights, in and outside of courts, including to face threats, harassment, and other attacks on their security.
Lawyers continue to be associated with their clients and may face detrimental consequences for representing them.
For example, in November 2020, lawyer Nikolay Osipchuk was physically attacked by the local Prosecutor and several other people in the court room of a district court. A pattern of such attacks was identified by the ICJ in a report issued last year.
The ICJ is further concerned at recent the attempts of interference by the Government with the independence of the judiciary in Ukraine.
The ICJ welcomes the withdrawal of the presidential draft law by which all judges of the Constitutional Court would have been dismissed. However, it is concerning that, following a criminal case initiated against him, the President of the Constitutional Court was suspended by a decision of the President of Ukraine. This decision, on dubious legal grounds, undermines the independence of the judiciary.
The ICJ urges that Ukraine:
- Ensure prompt, thorough, impartial and independent investigations of all attacks on lawyers, leading where appropriate, to bringing those responsible to justice;
- refrain from any acts which interfere with the independence of the judiciary and annul the suspension of the President of the Constitutional Court.
I thank you.”
Contact:
Massimo Frigo, ICJ UN Representative, e: massimo.frigo(a)icj.org, t: +41797499949
Mar 19, 2021 | News
The ICJ called today on the Turkish authorities to immediately release human rights defender and lawyer Öztürk Türkdoğan, who was arrested this morning after an unlawful search of his home. The charges against him, if any, are unkown and he is currently being held without access to his lawyer.
Öztürk Türkdoğan is the chair of the Human Rights Association and a lawyer and member of the Ankara Bar Association.
“The arrest and search of Öztürk Türkdoğan’s continues a systematic pattern of misuse of the criminal law to harass and persecute human rights defenders and lawyers in Turkey in recent years,” said Roisin Pillay, ICJ’s Europe and Central Asia Programme Director. “Öztürk Türkdoğan must be released immediately. If he remains in detention then he must be ensured immediate and confidential access to a lawyer, and be informed of the nature of any charges against him and brought promptly before a court.”
The arrest occurred during a search of Öztürk Türkdoğan’s home without the presence of a lawyer, which is in direct contravention of Turkish criminal procedural law.
While no information has been made available on the charges against Öztürk Türkdoğan, he is currently being detained without access to a lawyer for 24 hours, which indicates that the charges are likely related to terrorism or to offences against the State. These offences, contrary to obligations under international human rights law, are vaguely and broadly defined and have been long used and abused by prosecutors in Turkey to suppress human rights defenders, lawyers and political opponents.
Under international human rights law, anyone arrested has a right to prompt and confidential access to a lawyer, and to information on the charges against them. Arrests and searches of homes must not be arbitrary and must be carried out in compliance with international standards and national laws and procedures.
“Hundreds of lawyers, judges and prosecutors have been improperly arrested, harassed and detained in the past few years by Turkish authorities ” said Roisin Pillay. “Using the criminal justice system in this way is contrary to the most fundamental principles of the rule of law.”
Background
Systematic violations of human rights in investigation and prosecution of counter-terrorism offences in Turkey have also been documented by the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, theWorking Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe.
The ICJ has extensively documented these violations:
