Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

100th session

25 November–13 December 2019

Item 4 of the provisional agenda

Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention

List of themes in relation to the combined tenth to twelfth reports of Uzbekistan

Note by the Country Rapporteur

1.The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination decided at its seventy-sixth session (A/65/18, para. 85) that the Country Rapporteur would send to the State party concerned a short list of themes with a view to guiding and focusing the dialogue between the State party’s delegation and the Committee during the consideration of the State party’s report. The present document contains a list of such themes. It is not an exhaustive list; other issues may also be raised in the course of the dialogue. No written replies are required.

The Convention in domestic law and the institutional and policy framework for its implementation (arts. 1–5 and 6)

2.Legislation of general application to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination, including direct and indirect discrimination in the context of article 5 of the Convention. Full compliance of the domestic legislation with all elements of the definition of racial discrimination set out in article 1 of the Convention (CERD/C/UZB/CO/8-9, para. 5; CERD/C/UZB/10-12, paras. 34 and 48).

3.Conformity of the Criminal Code with the provisions set out in article 4 of the Convention, including regarding the recognition of race motives as aggravating circumstances for all crimes.

4.Access to judicial and non-judicial mechanisms that receive complaints of racial discrimination and provide redress, including information on legal aid (CERD/C/UZB/CO/8-9, paras. 5 and 22; CERD/C/UZB/10-12, paras. 60 and 176–177).

5.Information on the legal framework and measures for the protection of human rights defenders who belong to ethnic minorities and/or are women (CERD/C/UZB/CO/8-9, para. 12; CERD/C/UZB/10-12, para. 12).

6.Progress made under the national plan of action for implementing the recommendations made by the Committee (CERD/C/UZB/CO/8-9, para. 3; CERD/C/UZB/10-12, para. 17).

7.Information on the institutions, mechanisms and methodology for monitoring the situation of racial discrimination (CERD/C/UZB/CO/8-9, para. 9; CERD/C/UZB/10-12, para. 59).

8.Measures taken to combat racist hate speech and to prohibit organizations that promote and incite racial discrimination (CERD/C/UZB/CO/8-9, para. 6; CERD/C/UZB/10-12, paras. 47 and 52–57).

9.Measures to eliminate racial discrimination taken by the Cabinet of Ministers Committee on Inter-Ethnic Relations and Friendly Ties with Foreign Countries (CERD/C/UZB/10-12, paras. 17 and 178).

10.Measures taken to ensure a human rights-based approach, including the participation of all ethnic groups in the implementation of the 2017–2021 Strategy of Action on Five Priority Areas for the Development of Uzbekistan and in the preparation of the voluntary national review for the high-level political forum on sustainable development.

Situation of ethnic groups (arts. 2, 5 and 7)

11.Lack of legislative framework on the rights of ethnic minorities. Measures taken for systematic consultation with representatives of minority groups on issues concerning them, including in law-making (CERD/C/UZB/CO/8-9, para. 10; CERD/C/UZB/10-12, para. 154).

12.Socioeconomic statistics, disaggregated by ethnic group, including specific information on housing, education in minority languages and social protection. Information on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by Luli/Roma and Meskhetian Turks (CERD/C/UZB/CO/8-9, paras. 10–13; CERD/C/UZB/10-12, paras. 154–157).

13.Measures to guarantee access by members of all ethnic minority groups to high-level positions as public service officials. Statistics on ethnic representation in high-level positions in the judiciary and public administration. Ethnic representation in the legislative branch (CERD/C/UZB/CO/8-9, para. 14; CERD/C/UZB/10-12, paras. 120–121).

14.The impact that the measures taken to alleviate the impact Aral Sea ecological disaster, in particular the Aral Sea region development programme for 2017 to 2021, has had on the socioeconomic situation of ethnic groups living in Karakalpakstan (CERD/C/UZB/CO/8-9, para. 17; CERD/C/UZB/10-12, para. 159).

15.Investigations of allegations of forced sterilization of women in the State party, in particular Roma women (CERD/C/UZB/CO/8-9, para. 12; CERD/C/UZB/10-12, para. 155).

Situation of non-citizens, including migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons (arts. 1, 2, 5 and 6)

16.The new legislation framework for the protection of non-citizens. Information on the progress made in eliminating the use of child labour and forced labour during the cotton harvest, in particular among non-citizens (CERD/C/UZB/CO/8-9, paras. 11 and 21; CERD/C/UZB/10-12, paras. 128–129).