Uzbekistan

The National Centre for Human Rights is Uzbekistan's standing national mechanism for implementation, reporting and follow-up.
The Centre coordinates with State bodies, civil society, educational and research institutions to fulfill Uzbekistan’s international human rights obligations, including through reporting and follow-up.

INSTITUTIONAL SET-UP

The National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) is Uzbekistan's standing national mechanism for implementation, reporting and follow-up. It was established by Presidential Decree (1996) and reinforced by Presidential Decree N° PP-4056 of 10 December 2018.

Composition A wide range of ministries, departments and other state bodies are involved in the work of the NCHR including through the official appointment of focal points. The main ministries and state bodies involved in the national mechanism are:

• Ministry of Justice;
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
• Ministry of Internal Affairs;
• Ministry of Health;
• Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction;
• Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation;
• Ministry of Preschool and School Education;
• Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change;
• Ministry of Economy and Finance;
• the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
• the Committee on Family and Women's Affairs;
• the National Statistics Committee;
• the Office of the Prosecutor General;
• the Supreme Court;
• the Ombudsman of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights;

Pursuant to paragraph 4 of Presidential Decision No. PP-4056 of 10 December 2018, the ministries, departments and other State bodies involved in the implementation of Uzbekistan's international human rights obligations shall determine the structures and officials responsible for constant interaction with the Centre and the provision of relevant information and statistics in the field of human rights at its request.

Methods of work Contact persons are usually appointed on the basis of: an official letter/request from the NCHR; an internal order or directive from the head of the relevant ministry or agency; or through the institution's permanent representative in coordination activities. The contact person is usually a specialist of the relevant department in charge of human rights, international co-operation, legal expertise or monitoring. Their involvement is included in their job description.

Focal points may vary depending on the topic or human rights mechanism: On issues related to <u>women's rights</u> -active participation of the Committee on Family and Women's Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, National Agency for Social Protection; On <u>migration and labour issues</u> - Ministry of Internal Affairs; Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction, General Prosecutor's Office On <u>education issues</u> - Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Ministry of Preschool and School Education; on children's rights issues - Ministry of Preschool and School Education Ombudsman for Children's Rights;

Secretariat NCHR is led by a Director with two deputies. They work closely with departments such as Human Rights Analysis and Research, International Cooperation, Training and Education, Treaty Implementation, Communications, Press Service, Information & Multimedia, and Human Rights Library.
NCHR works with relevant ministries, agencies, the judiciary, Parliament, and civil society organizations. Focal points within these bodies assist in information collection and coordination.

Institutional memory Uzbekistan is taking comprehensive measures to preserve institutional memory. The main areas of work include the following:

1. Centralised storage of documentation at the National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR). All draft national reports, replies to enquiries from human rights mechanisms, correspondence with United Nations bodies, analyses and plans of action are accumulated in the NCHR's archives and electronic database. In case of personnel changes, documents are transferred by internal act, which ensures continuity and accessibility of information for new employees.
2. Creation and maintenance of a database of recommendations of international organisations (NRTD). A systematised register of received international recommendations (including from NGOs, UN treaty bodies, special procedures) is formed and updated in the NCHR. It is used for action planning, monitoring and reporting.
3. Development of guidance materials and templates. The NCHR prepares model methodologies, templates and guidelines for report preparation, inter-agency coordination, record-keeping and the incorporation of recommendations of international mechanisms. These materials are available to new NCHR staff as well as to government contacts.
4. Training and transfer of experience. Seminars and trainings are regularly organised for government officials, including newly appointed contact points in ministries and agencies. A mentoring system is practised within the NCHR: experienced staff members accompany new specialists in the process of preparing reports and implementing recommendations.
5. Publication of reports and analyses. The NCHR publishes a scientific and practical journal "Democratisation and Human Rights", which covers both theoretical and applied aspects of human rights work. The published materials form an academic and public archive of knowledge, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of accumulated experience. These measures are an important prerequisite for the institutional sustainability of activities in the fulfilment of international obligations and interaction with United Nations human rights mechanisms.

MANDATE

The NCHR fulfils the following key tasks: • Preparation of national reports on the implementation of the recommendations of United Nations statutory and treaty bodies; • Developing national action plans ("roadmaps") to implement the recommendations of international and regional human rights protection structures; • Monitoring the implementation of recommendations, maintaining a database of recommendations and statistical/analytical information; systemic analyses. • Reception and consideration of applications from individuals and legal entities, preparation of responses to individual communications under international procedures; • Promoting human rights legal education of the population, organising and conducting scientific research on the observance of human rights, and carrying out publishing activities; • Preparation of proposals for improving legal and regulatory instruments and ensuring the implementation of Uzbekistan's international human rights treaties in domestic legislation and law enforcement practice; • Cooperating with international and regional organizations and structures and the national institutions of foreign countries in the field of human rights. The Centre is headed by a director, who has two deputies. The Centre's main structural subdivisions are the departments for human rights analysis and research; international cooperation in human rights; training and education; implementation of international treaties; work with communications; the press service; the information and resources and multimedia department; and the Human Rights House information and library centre.

The National Centre for Human Rights engages with all UN and regional human rights mechanisms.

Process for the preparation of state reports The NCHR coordinates the preparation of initial and periodic reports, responses to lists of issues prior to reporting, State reports under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and responses to requests from treaty bodies and UN special procedures. The preparation of national reports is carried out in stages and includes:

1. Process initiation. Upon receipt of a notification or request from the relevant international mechanism, the NCHR initiates the drafting process and adopts an internal timeline, including deadlines for information gathering, negotiation and submission of the final text.
2. Information gathering. The NCHR sends formal requests to relevant government bodies, parliamentary structures, Ombudsman institutions and the National Statistics Committee. The requested information is structured by subject and includes statistical data, legislative and institutional measures, law enforcement practices and other information. The data are collected according to a common methodology and using approved templates.
3. Establishment of working groups. To prepare specific reports or responses to a list of questions, the NCHR may initiate the establishment of temporary interagency working groups or expert meeting. The composition of the groups varies depending on the subject matter of the report. The groups include representatives of: line ministries (e.g. justice, interior, health); statistical authorities; parliament and ombudsman institutions; NGOs and academic institutions as appropriate. Civil society is also consulted. The frequency of meetings is determined by the stages of preparation, with an average of 2 to 5 meetings per reporting cycle.
4. Verification and harmonization. The materials received are analyzed, systematized and verified by the NCHR. The draft report is sent for interagency harmonization. If necessary, the text is finalized taking into account the comments and resubmitted for agreement. The final document is approved in accordance with the established procedure.
5. Submission of the report. The NCHR ensures that submission deadlines are met through ongoing co-ordination with government bodies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Requests for extensions of deadlines are co-ordinated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) where necessary.
6. Stakeholder engagement. Public consultations involving non-governmental organizations, academia and international partners are organized in the preparation of UPR reports as well as treaty reports.
7. Parliamentary participation. In line with the recommendations of OHCHR and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, a Parliamentary Commission on Compliance with International Human Rights Obligations was established in 2020. National reports are heard at a meeting of the Parliamentary Commission with the participation of State bodies, civil society institutions and other stakeholders. Uzbekistan thus adopts a systematic and consistent approach to the preparation of reports based on interdepartmental cooperation, unified procedures for the collection and verification of information, and broad stakeholder involvement.

Interaction with the National Statistical Agency, local/regional authorities, Parliament, and the judiciary is maintained for reporting and follow-up purposes.

COORDINATION

The NCHR holds regular coordination meetings with State bodies and civil society institutions to discuss Uzbekistan's draft periodic reports on the implementation of the recommendations of United Nations statutory and treaty bodies; and holds consultations on the elaboration of national plans of action ("road maps") with the State bodies concerned, civil society institutions and international and foreign organisations.

Such meetings are held regularly under the leadership of the NCHR depending on the human rights agenda:

• During the preparation and finalization of national reports (UPR, Treaty bodies etc..);
• in the process of discussing draft action plans for the implementation of international recommendations;
• when it is necessary to harmonize inter-agency information. The meetings are attended by focal points from State bodies, parliamentary structures, civil society institutions and international partners, which ensures that coordination is broad and inclusive.

Linkages with the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable development Goals (SDGs) The National Center's work is closely linked to SDG implementation, including through contributions to the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and though coordination with national SDG mechanisms.

Channel of communication with the National Statistics Office The interaction between the NCHR and the National Committee on Statistics is institutionalized and includes the following forms of cooperation: • Participation of representatives of the National Committee on Statistics in working groups established for the preparation of periodic reports to UN treaty bodies (including the YPO, the Human Rights Committee, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, etc.); • making formal requests from the NCHR to the National Statistics Committee for statistical information, including disaggregated data; • joint work on national action plans for the implementation of recommendations of international and regional human rights mechanisms. Within the framework of information exchange, the National Committee on Statistics provides: ° official statistical data on key areas related to human rights, including education, health, social protection, employment, women's participation, discrimination issues and others; • disaggregated data by sex, age, region and vulnerable groups; • Technical advice in the development of national indicators and mechanisms for monitoring the fulfilment of international human rights obligations. The participation of the National Statistics Committee contributes to improving the reliability, transparency and validity of Uzbekistan's national reporting to international human rights mechanisms.

Local and regional governments In Uzbekistan, local and regional bodies can participate in the national mechanism. Their participation is realized through: • providing information on official requests from the NCHR; ° participation in the implementation of national action plans and monitoring the implementation of international recommendations on the ground; holding regional consultations, seminars and roundtables with local authorities and civil society institutions; • mainstreaming human rights-based approaches into regional programmes and policies (e.g. gender equality, social protection). The participation of local and regional bodies contributes to the practical implementation of international human rights obligations at the regional level.

Channel of communication with the Parliament Interaction between the National Centre for Human Rights and Parliament is systematic and coordinated and takes place through the following forms of interaction:: • ° holding discussions on draft periodic reports in the relevant committees and commissions of the two chambers on the fulfilment of Uzbekistan's international human rights obligations; Hearing the outcome of the consideration of periodic reports in United Nations statutory and treaty bodies; • Approval of national plans of action (road maps) for the implementation of the recommendations of international and regional human rights mechanisms; Introduction of the practice of compulsory consultation of draft legislation affecting civil rights and freedoms with the National Centre for Human Rights in order to ensure compliance with international standards and obligations; • Parliamentary oversight of the implementation of international obligations through the participation of committees of both chambers of the Oliy Majlis in monitoring the implementation of national action plans for the implementation of recommendations of human rights mechanisms; hearing reports from the executive branch and discussing progress in specific areas (e.g., the rights of women, children, persons with disabilities). In addition, parliamentary bodies regularly provide information as part of the preparation of national reports, participate in monitoring the implementation of recommendations, and send representatives to participate in international events. For example, members of parliament participate in government delegations to United Nations sessions (for example, in Geneva as part of the YPO) and in international dialogues and forums where they represent Uzbekistan's position on human rights issues. The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) and the Commissioner for Children's Rights are attached to the Parliament and actively co-operate with the NCHR in the preparation of reports and monitoring of the implementation of recommendations. Parliament plays an important and active role within the national mechanism, providing legislative expertise, monitoring the fulfilment of international obligations, participating in shaping the human rights agenda and promoting adopted recommendations at the national level.

Channel of communication with the Judiciary

The NCHR interacts with the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court. As part of this interaction, the NCHR makes formal requests to the courts for information necessary for the preparation of national reports, including statistics on human rights cases, analyses of law enforcement practice, and data on the application of international treaties in court decisions.

Representatives of the judiciary participate in inter-ministerial meetings and discussions on draft reports, especially when recommendations of international mechanisms relate to issues of access to justice, judicial independence, protection of the rights of vulnerable groups and fair trial. The judiciary is also involved in the implementation of national action plans for the implementation of international recommendations. This includes analyzing judicial practice, participating in working groups, preparing proposals to improve legislation, and conducting training activities for judges on international human rights standards. The Centre has the right to submit questions for consideration by the Constitutional Court in accordance with the law.

Thus, co-operation with the judiciary is an important component of the work of the national mechanism, ensuring the completeness, reliability and professional depth of the reporting provided, as well as facilitating the integration of international standards into national judicial practice.

CONSULTATION

The NCHR conducts regular consultations and dialogues with NGOs in the preparation of national reports and the implementation of international recommendations.

Consultations are organized in various formats: public hearings, round tables, seminars, focus groups and expert discussions with the participation of NGOs, representatives of vulnerable and marginalized groups, academia, independent experts and international partners.

The following are actively involved in the consultations: the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman); the Ombudsman for Children's Rights; the Business Ombudsman, who provides information on the observance of rights in places of detention. In a number of cases, especially in the preparation of UPR reports, the NCHR sends questionnaires and requests to NGOs, inviting them to provide their own reviews of the human rights situation; to assess the implementation of recommendations; and to make suggestions for inclusion in the report. Electronic surveys, online discussions, and e-mail are used to engage a wider range of participants, especially from the regions. The NCHR publishes draft reports on its website or sends them to stakeholders for review and feedback. Comments received are analyzed and taken into account when preparing the final version.

For example, in preparing the national report within the framework of the UPR (2023), more than 10 consultation events were held in Tashkent and the regions; the opinions of more than 50 NGOs and independent experts were collected; the Ombudsman provided a separate analytical brief; and the National Preventive Mechanism provided data on the monitoring of places of detention.

The involvement of non-governmental stakeholders is an integral part of the work of the national mechanism in Uzbekistan. This ensures inclusiveness, transparency and completeness of the national reports, and contributes to more effective implementation of international recommendations in practice

In October 2020, the NCHR launched the National Recommendations Tracking Database (NRTD) with the assistance of the UN OHCHR. Work is underway to develop standard operating procedures that will ensure the sustainability of the database and its integration into inter-agency processes. The draft document provides clear instructions on how to create, maintain and use spreadsheets, databases, cloud storage and other digital tools. The SOPs define responsible persons in each state body, establish formats for providing information, timelines and procedures for interdepartmental interaction, as well as procedures for validation, coordination and archiving of data. These efforts are aimed at creating a unified digital infrastructure to ensure transparency, efficiency and accountability in the implementation of international commitments.

Uzbekistan regularly develops national plans of action and road maps for the fulfilment of its international human rights obligations. These documents cover both nationwide and thematic (sectoral) areas in line with the recommendations of the universal and United Nations treaty mechanisms. Key strategic documents include:

• The National Human Rights Strategy, approved by Presidential Decree No. UGl-b0J2 of 22 June 2020. The Strategy was developed on the basis of the recommendations of the Third Cycle of the UPR (2018) and includes provisions to improve legislation, judicial protection, human rights education and international cooperation. It contains a Roadmap for implementation with responsible executors and deadlines.
• National action plans for the implementation of recommendations of UN treaty bodies, which are drawn up on the basis of concluding observations of UN committees (on human rights, on women's rights, on children's rights, on the rights of persons with disabilities, etc.);
• Separate thematic roadmaps for the implementation of the recommendations of the special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council or OHCHR.
• Sectoral programmes with a human rights component - for example, on gender equality, protection of children's rights, reform of the judicial and legal system, etc.

Since 2018, a mechanism has been in place for the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) to approve national action plans ("road maps") for the implementation of recommendations of UN statutory and treaty bodies. The implementation of the recommendations is monitored by the NCHR together with the relevant ministries.

All relevant action plans and documents on their implementation are submitted to international organisations, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), as they are prepared and approved. The documents are available at Iex.uz

National Centre for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan (NCHR) Address: . Tashkent, Mirzo Ulugbek St., J5 Telephone: +998 (7J) 239-47-72 E-mail:info@nhrc.uz Website: http://nhrc.uz