Common core document forming part of the reports of States parties

Uzbekistan * , **

[Date received: 23 October 2017]

Working group for the preparation of the core document forming part of the reports of States parties

A. Saidov, Director of the National Centre for Human Rights, Doctor of Legal Sciences and Professor

F. Bakaeva, Head of the Human Rights Analysis and Research Department, Candidate of Legal Sciences

I. Saipov, Chief Consultant of the Human Rights Analysis and Research Department

Y. Kvitkov, Senior Specialist of the Human Rights Analysis and Research Department

R. Atovulaev, Senior Specialist of the Human Rights Analysis and Research Department

Contents

Page

Introduction4

I.General information about the reporting State11

A.Demographic, economic, social and cultural characteristics of the State11

B.Constitutional, political and legal structure of the State21

II.General framework for the protection and promotion of human rights29

C.Acceptance of international human rights standards29

D.General legal framework for the protection of human rights at the national level34

E.General framework for the promotion of human rights at the national level41

F.Reporting process at the national level49

III.Implementation of substantive human rights provisions common to all or several treaties50

G.Non-discrimination and equality50

Annexes52

Introduction

1.This common core document of Uzbekistan, forming part of the human rights reports, was prepared on an exceptional basis to supplement the common core document submitted on 3 November 2015 in connection with the fundamental reforms that have been carried out in the country since late 2016.

2.The current strategic programme of political and economic reform in the country, the Strategy of Action for Development in Five Priority Areas of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the period 2017–2021, approved by the President of Uzbekistan on 7 February 2017, establishes a methodological framework for enhancing the “Uzbek model” of development, which has led to a new stage of democratizing and modernizing the country and improving the system of protection of human rights and freedoms and the legitimate interests of individual persons.

3.The Strategy of Action is aimed at dramatically increasing the effectiveness of the reforms, laying the groundwork for the comprehensive and rapid advancement of the State and society and achieving the primary goals of modernizing the country and liberalizing all spheres of life.

4.The programme’s first strategic priority is promoting the building of the State and society with a view to strengthening the role of the parliament and political parties in carrying through democratic reforms and the country’s modernization, implementing public administration reforms, developing the organizational and legal framework for public service, developing e-governance, improving the quality and effectiveness of public services, putting in place public monitoring mechanisms and enhancing the role of civil society and the news media.

5.The second is ensuring the rule of law and reform of the judicial system with a view to bringing about the full independence of the judiciary, guaranteeing the effective protection of civil rights and freedoms, improving the country’s administrative, criminal, civil and economic legislation, increasing the effectiveness of the crime prevention and control system, ensuring the full implementation of the adversarial principle in court proceedings and improving the provision of legal aid and legal services.

6.The third involves developing and liberalizing the economy with a view to ensuring greater macroeconomic stability and maintaining high economic growth rates, increasing the economy’s competitiveness, modernizing and developing the agricultural sector, pursuing institutional and structural reforms to reduce the State’s role in the economy, enhance the protection of rights and give greater priority to private property, stimulating the development of small business and private enterprise, promoting the social and economic development of regions, districts and cities in a comprehensive and balanced manner and actively seeking to attract foreign investment in sectors of the economy and the country’s regions by improving the investment climate.

7.The fourth is social development with a view to steadily increasing employment and real income, improving the social protection and health-care system, increasing women’s involvement in social and political life, carrying out programmes for the construction of affordable housing and the development and upgrading of road transport, communications and social infrastructure, making advances in the fields of education, culture, science, art and sport and improving State youth policy.

8.The fifth is ensuring security, inter-ethnic harmony and religious tolerance and pursuing a prudent, mutually beneficial and constructive foreign policy aimed at strengthening the independence and sovereignty of the State, establishing around Uzbekistan a zone of security, stability and good neighbourliness and strengthening the country’s international image.

9.2017 has been declared the Year of Dialogue with the People and Human Interests in Uzbekistan.

10.A preliminary analysis of the implementation of the Strategy of Action has shown that, since February 2017, more than 15 statutes and 700 other laws and regulations aimed at the development of all spheres of public and social life have been passed. For the purpose of building the State and society, taking account of present-day needs and priorities, the make-up, responsibilities and functions of more than 16 ministries, departments and other organizations have been reviewed and 20 State and economic authorities and other organizations have been reformed.

11.As part of the Strategy, a number of presidential decisions were taken, including on measures to radically overhaul the distribution system of legislative acts, of 2 February 2017, measures to streamline the activities of legal services, of 8 February 2017, measures to implement the Anti-Corruption Act of Uzbekistan, of 12 April 2017, measures to radically overhaul the system for processing communications from natural and legal persons, of 10 April 2017, measures to further improve the institution of the mahalla (local self-government), of 3 February 2017, and measures to further improve the work of the Office of the President of Uzbekistan in the area of the protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms of 4 May 2017.

12.A fundamentally new system has been established to monitor the activities of State authorities and officials responsible for receiving and reviewing citizens’ communications and providing remedies for persons whose rights and interests have been violated. Public reception desks attached to the Office of the President of Uzbekistan have been set up in the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, the provinces and Tashkent and in every district and city, except in towns under district jurisdiction, and virtual reception desks attached to the Office of the President and Office of the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan have been tasked with facilitating direct dialogue with the people, ensuring that the new system for handling communications from natural and legal persons runs smoothly and systematically monitoring and following up on communications sent to the relevant State and economic authorities.

13.The Service for the Protection of Citizens’ Rights and Monitoring and Coordination of Work with Communications of Natural and Legal Persons attached to the Office of the President, established pursuant to the presidential decree on enhancing the work of the Office of the President of Uzbekistan, has been tasked with carrying out an in-depth analysis of the safeguards of citizens’ rights and freedoms provided by State and economic authorities, identifying problems and shortcomings in their work and coming up with proposals to improve law enforcement practice and existing law with a view to eliminating the factors and circumstances that lead to violations of citizens’ rights and freedoms, particularly those found during the consideration of communications. An Ombudsman’s Office has also been set up under the Office of the President for the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of business entities and other organizations.

14.The great importance attached in the country to ensuring citizens’ rights to obtain and disseminate information, strengthening the autonomy and independence of the media and their role in the democratization process and democratic reform of the information sector and creating safeguards for freedom of speech and information has promoted considerable growth in the number of news media outlets. The more than 1,500 media outlets currently operating in the country have fundamentally changed their structures, and about 53 per cent of all television stations and 85 per cent of radio stations are independent. There are more than 400 websites and information portals with the uz domain name on the Internet, most of which are multilingual.

15.The country also attaches great importance to enhancing the effectiveness of the book publishing and distribution system and promoting a culture of reading. Some 118 publishing houses, 1,760 print shops and thousands of technicians and editors and writers are involved in fulfilling this important mission. Thanks to their efforts and work, more than 60 million books in seven languages are published every year.

16.Much has been done to strengthen the legal framework for the development of civil society institutions and for the independence of the media. Approximately 10 pieces of legislation, including the amended Local Authorities Act, the Social Partnership Act and other laws and regulations, have significantly strengthened the role and importance of civil society in tackling the issues of social and economic development facing the country and have led to greater engagement on the part of the public and a better balance of interests in society.

17.Particular attention is being paid to local self-governing bodies known as mahallas and to non-governmental youth organizations that provide real help to the population in realizing their rights and interests and facilitate cooperation between civil society organizations and State authorities. The responsibilities placed on the mahallas in helping to preserve national and universal values, educating young people, supporting socially vulnerable groups, preventing crime and strengthening the public’s respect for the law are specified in the presidential decree on measures to further improve the institution of the mahalla of 3 February 2017.

18.A new youth organization based on the Kamolot social youth movement, the Youth Union of Uzbekistan, was established pursuant to the presidential decree of 5 July 2017 on measures to enhance the effectiveness of youth policy in support of the work of the Youth Union of Uzbekistan; the Union has been entrusted with the great responsibility of increasing the level of young people’s involvement in carrying out the fundamental reforms currently under way in many areas of social life, making a real contribution to the implementation of the State Youth Policy Act and safeguarding the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of young people. The Youth Policy Service attached to the Office of the President was established to support the development of the youth movement in the country and is headed by the Chair of the Youth Union, who is an ex officio member of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, the parliament of Uzbekistan. In order to facilitate the work of the Youth Union, a programme of comprehensive measures has been adopted, national and regional interdepartmental councils on youth matters have been set up, which monitor the situation of young people, and ongoing discussions on whether a children’s and young persons’ ombudsman should be appointed are under way.

19.The most significant reforms of the justice and legal system conducted in recent years include:

Adoption of fundamental measures to strengthen the independence and autonomy of the judiciary, introduction of added human rights protections in the justice system and improvements in the court system, law enforcement agencies, procurator’s offices, internal affairs bodies and prison institutions;

Establishment of the Supreme Judicial Council of Uzbekistan pursuant to the decree of 21 February 2017 on measures to fundamentally improve the organization and enhance the effectiveness of the court system as part of efforts to implement the recommendations of the international treaty bodies of the United Nations; the Council is the body of the judiciary responsible for helping to ensure that the constitutional principle of judicial independence in Uzbekistan is upheld, forming the judiciary through a competitive selection of candidates for judgeships, appointing judges, giving recommendations on the promotion of judges and taking measures to prevent breaches of the immunity of judges and interference in their work in the administration of justice.

20.As at 1 June 2017, the following has been carried out in Uzbekistan:

Merging of the Supreme Court and the Higher Economic Court of Uzbekistan and the establishment of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan as the final court for civil, criminal, administrative and economic proceedings;

Establishment of administrative courts of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, the provinces and Tashkent and district or city administrative courts with the power to adjudicate administrative disputes arising from relationships governed by public law and cases of administrative offences;

Establishment of an administrative division of the Supreme Court and dissolution of the Military Chamber of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan;

Reform of the economic courts of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, the provinces and Tashkent;

Establishment of a department to facilitate the work of the courts under the Supreme Court by organizing logistical and financial support for the courts.

21.New legislative provisions on the court system of Uzbekistan are contained in the Constitution, the Courts Act, the Supreme Judicial Council Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Code of Civil Procedure, the Code of Economic Procedure, the presidential decree of 19 April 2017 on the organization of the work of the Research Centre for the Study of Justice of the Supreme Judicial Council, presidential decree of 10 April 2017 on the establishment of the Supreme Judicial Council and others.

22.It is worth noting that changes in the justice system have affected the Constitutional Court’s legal status itself. In particular, in accordance with the Constitution and the Act on the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Constitutional Court is now elected by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis on the application of the President of Uzbekistan from among experts in policy and the law recommended by the Supreme Judicial Council, including a representative of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston.

23.For the first time, the Constitutional Court is required every year to submit information on the observance of constitutional law in the country to the houses of the Oliy Majlis and the President, drawing on its distillation of judicial practice in constitutional proceedings, and the Human Rights Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis has been given the right of appeal to the Constitutional Court.

24.The following are aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the procuratorial, internal affairs and prison authorities: the Internal Affairs Agencies Act; the amended Procurator’s Office Act; the Act on the Serving of Sentences of Administrative Detention; and presidential decrees on measures to significantly enhance the effectiveness of the work of internal affairs bodies and give them greater responsibility for ensuring public order and adequate protection of citizens’ rights, freedoms and legitimate interests, issued on 10 April 2017, measures to further improve the system to prevent violations of the law and combat crime, issued on 14 March 2017, measures to fundamentally improve the work of internal affairs bodies in criminal investigations, issued on 18 April 2017, and others.

25.As part of the reform of the internal affairs authorities, a reporting system has been introduced requiring the Minister of Internal Affairs to appear before the Senate of the Oliy Majlis twice a year, the Minister of the Internal Affairs of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston before the Jokargy Kenes (parliament) of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, the chiefs of the main internal affairs offices of the provinces and Tashkent before the provincial and Tashkent Kengash (council) of People’s Deputies and the chiefs of district or city offices or units before the Kengashes of People’s Deputies on a quarterly basis. A programme of comprehensive measures has been adopted to fundamentally reform the internal affairs agency system; every Thursday of the week is declared a Day of Crime Prevention; the practice of law enforcement officers conducting outreach meetings with the people has been introduced; and special radio and television broadcasts devoted to fighting crime are aired.

26.The following amendments to criminal and criminal procedural law have played a significant role in improving the mechanisms for the effective protection of human rights in the area of justice: penalties such as pretrial detention have been removed from article 43 of the Criminal Code, and consideration of applications for the seizure of postal and telegraphic communications now falls to the courts under article 1661 of the Code of Criminal Procedure; the maximum length of detention before a criminal case is brought has decreased from 72 to 48 hours from the moment that a person is held in a station of the internal affairs or other law enforcement agency under article 226 of the Code of Criminal Procedure; article 4151 of the Code sets new rules for courts to immediately compensate for shortcomings in pretrial investigations or substantial procedural violations without referring the criminal case for further investigation.

27.Furthermore, significant further safeguards of the rights and interests of persons serving sentences in places of deprivation of liberty have been introduced. The Penal Enforcement Code has been amended to provide for the right of convicted persons to file complaints in their mother tongue and use the services of interpreters, to receive outpatient and inpatient medical attention, to enjoy security of person, to worship, to be exempt from punishment in the event of illness or as a result of loss of capacity to work and other rights.

28.From 2016 to 2017, special attention was paid to the democratization and liberalization of the economy and to the creation of effective support mechanisms for small business and private enterprise. Presidential decrees on further measures to accelerate the development of entrepreneurial activity, fully protect private property and improve the business climate in Uzbekistan and on the establishment of the post of Ombudsman for the protection of the rights and interests of employers have been adopted.

29.In general, the new legal and regulatory framework contributed considerably to the country’s steady social and economic development in the face of the ongoing financial and economic crisis affecting the world. In the last 10 years, Uzbekistan, with its industrial output, investment and real income rising dynamically, has been one of the few States with a gross national product (GDP) growth rate of at least 8 per cent.

30.The tax system has been reformed as part of efforts to develop and liberalize the economy, including granting tax holidays for bona fide taxpaying economic entities. Under regional social and economic development projects, 13,339 projects have been carried out, 2.1 trillion sum in loans disbursed and 10 free economic zones and 5 small industrial zones established, and a Peugeot-Citroёn plant is being built to produce commercial vehicles.

31.Today, remnants from the past such as exit visas and restrictions on freedom of movement have been removed and, since September 2017, the national currency has been made fully convertible. Furthermore, all the necessary measures have been taken to mitigate any possible negative consequences for the population. Uzbekistan is cooperating with international financial institutions and has developed a successful partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

32.Having signed the Millennium Declaration in 2000, Uzbekistan has successfully fulfilled its obligations arising from the Millennium Development Goals, as follows:

The objective of reducing poverty rates by half under Goal 1 was met, with a decrease from 27.5 per cent in 2001 to 13.7 per cent in 2015, in rural areas from 30.5 per cent to 17.3 per cent and cities from 22.5 per cent to 10.6 per cent;

The objective under Goal 2 was met, with the general secondary education coverage consistently reaching 98.9 per cent between 2001 and 2015 and the transition to a two-tier system of compulsory secondary education increasing the coverage of secondary specialized vocational education from 34.4 per cent in 2002 to 89.4 per cent;

The objective of promoting gender equality under Goal 3 was met in general secondary education, including the achievement of gender parity in vocational colleges since 2009; women account for 45.7 per cent of the workforce and women’s employment has increased significantly in small businesses and private enterprise;

The objective of reducing child mortality and malnutrition under Goal 4 has been achieved, with the under-5 mortality rate declining from 24.3 per 1,000 live births to 15.1 per 1,000 live births and the proportion of underweight children under 5 declining from 3.1 per cent in 2001 to 1.4 per cent in 2015;

The objective of reducing the maternal mortality rate by a third under Goal 5 was met, with the rate decreasing from 34.1 per 100,000 live births in 2001 to 18.9 per 100,000 live births in 2015;

With respect to Goal 6, the country managed to slow down the spread of HIV/AIDS after a peak in 2009; morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis was significantly reduced compared with the peak in 2002; since 2013, not a single case of malaria has been registered in the country;

Significant results were obtained with respect to Goal 7, with the improvement in the management of water and land resources greatly reducing water losses and enhancing the quality of land resources, the protected areas of Uzbekistan providing for the effective preservation of biological resources and ecosystems and their sustainable use and the development of energy infrastructure and implementation of energy efficiency measures improving the power supply and reducing the economy’s energy intensity;

Significant progress was made with respect to Goal 8, whose main objective is to use international partnerships effectively for the purpose of achieving sustainable development and the implementation of Goals 1­7, including a substantial increase in the volume of grants and concessional loans and foreign trade turnover and the diversification of the country’s export product mix and geographical destinations for foreign trade.

33.Following the adoption of the General Assembly resolution on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Council of Ministers issued an order on 15 February 2016 to set up a council to coordinate the development and implementation of measures for the incorporation of the Goals into the national legal framework and six thematic working groups to develop and implement measures in areas such as economic well-being, social protection, health care, education, environmental protection and good governance. As a result of the work carried out, 16 goals and 117 targets adapted to the needs of Uzbekistan were defined for inclusion in the national system of sustainable development goals.

34.In addition, the main priorities under the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) were set with the involvement of representatives from 40 ministries and departments, academic research centres and major non-governmental organizations (NGOs). UNDAF specifies strategic areas of development that meet the country’s main needs with a focus on decent employment and social protection, better health care and education, environmental protection and improved public services.

35.In 2015, the Government amended the national plan of action to implement the recommendations of the Human Rights Council and United Nations treaty bodies arising from the consideration of the periodic reports of Uzbekistan on human rights and freedoms (for the period 2014–2016) to include a section on the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination following its consideration of the eighth and ninth periodic reports (for the period 2015–2018) and a section on the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights following its consideration of the second periodic report of Uzbekistan (for the period 2015–2018).

36.In 2016, a national plan of action was adopted to implement the recommendations of the Human Rights Committee following its consideration of the fourth periodic report on the status of implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (for the period 2015–2019).

37.On 16 June 2017, the parliament adopted the plan of action to further develop cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which envisages Uzbekistan working more closely with OHCHR and its Central Asia Regional Office and the special procedures of the Human Rights Council to improve national legislation and law enforcement activities and accede to international human rights treaties.

38.The annual State programmes approved by the President of Uzbekistan were crucial to social, economic and other support for vulnerable social groups. 2015 was declared the Year of Attention to and Care for Older Persons, 2016 the Year of the Healthy Mother and Child and 2017 the Year of Dialogue with the People and Human Interests.

39.Great importance is attached to parliamentary oversight of the work of State and administrative authorities and officials in upholding the Constitution and the laws of Uzbekistan, the decisions of the Oliy Majlis and their bodies and State programmes and in carrying out the responsibilities and functions entrusted to them. In accordance with the Parliamentary Oversight Act of 11 August 2016, parliamentary oversight is to be carried out during the adoption and monitoring of the course of implementation of the State budget of Uzbekistan, at hearings of reports of the Cabinet of Ministers on issues of crucial importance for the country’s economic and social development, reports of the Prime Minister, members of the government, the Accounts Chamber, the Office of the Procurator General, the Central Bank and the State Committee on Environmental Science and Protection, during parliamentary and deputies’ questions and parliamentary inquiries, etc.

40.Added attention has been given to the work of law enforcement agencies and, for this purpose, the Senate has set up special commissions to exercise parliamentary oversight to ensure that the procuratorial and internal affairs authorities abide by the law and human rights standards.

41.In 2017, a law was passed to amend the Oliy Majlis Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Act which envisaged strengthening the legal status of the Office and granting it additional rights and powers to enable it to work more effectively in providing remedies to citizens whose rights have been violated.

42.Drawing on the evolving good relations between Uzbekistan and OHCHR, in 2016, the National Human Rights Centre of Uzbekistan concluded a memorandum of understanding with the country office and other international organizations. As part of the endeavours to promote greater international cooperation in the area of human rights and freedoms, from 10 to 12 May 2017, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein paid the first visit ever by a High Commissioner to Uzbekistan, where he noted the progress achieved in recent years in defending human rights and freedoms in the country and expressed his support for the efforts to improve the national system for the protection of human rights and freedoms and the Strategy of Action for Development for the period 2017–2021. He welcomed the efforts of the Government of Uzbekistan to end child labour in agricultural production, to release political prisoners, to introduce an independent system for monitoring places of deprivation of liberty, to draft bills on gender equality and the prevention of domestic violence and to cooperate more closely with the special procedures of the Human Rights Council and the OHCHR Central Asia Regional Office.

43.Another good indicator of closer cooperation with the United Nations is the visit to the country in 2017 by Secretary-General António Guterres, who took an active part in discussions on the current state of and prospects for cooperation between Uzbekistan and the United Nations and its organizations and on pressing regional and international issues, particularly relating to mitigation of the consequences of the Aral Sea disaster.

44.Furthermore, in September 2017, a delegation from the OHCHR Central Asia Regional Office, headed by Ryszard Komenda, visited the country for the first time accompanied by a delegation from Human Rights Watch.

45.From 2 to 12 October 2017, a visit to Uzbekistan was undertaken by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ahmed Shaheed, who had an opportunity to become familiar with the implementation on the ground of State policy to ensure inter-ethnic and interfaith tolerance and harmony and combating religious extremism on the basis of the country’s rich cultural and historical heritage. He held meetings and discussions with representatives of State and non-governmental organizations, religious denominations and ethnic cultural centres, and pupils and students from religious schools.

46.On 19 September 2017, the President of Uzbekistan addressed the General Assembly at its seventy-second session and put forward proposals aimed at ensuring stability and sustainable development in the Central Asian region and the adoption of a special General Assembly resolution on that question, the stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan, the drafting of a United Nations convention on the rights of young persons and the adoption of a General Assembly resolution on education and religious tolerance.

47.This revised core document was prepared on the basis of the guidelines for the introduction to reports of States parties under the six core international human rights instruments and the latest compilation of guidelines on the form and content of reports to be submitted by States parties to the international human rights treaties. It contains information to supplement the previous core document submitted in 2015. The structure corresponds to the suggestions contained in the guidelines. This document presents Uzbekistan in all its cultural, historical, political and legal diversity, including information on the land and the people, the political structure, the foundations of democratic society and the defence of human rights, information and communications, and effective legal remedies.

I.General information about the reporting State

A.Demographic, economic, social and cultural characteristics of the State

48.Uzbekistan is situated in Central Asia between the region’s two biggest rivers, the Amudaryo and the Sirdarya. It borders Kazakhstan to the north and north-east, Turkmenistan to the south-west, Afghanistan to the south, Tajikistan to the south-east and Kyrgyzstan to the north-east. Approximately four fifths of Uzbekistan are made up of desert plains. The eastern and south-eastern regions include the hills and foothills of Tien Shan and the Gissar range. Within the Turan Plate lie the Ustyurt Plateau, the Amudaryo Delta on the southern shore of the Aral Sea and the enormous Qizilqum Desert. Uzbekistan has an extreme continental climate.

49.Uzbekistan has a total area of 447,400 km2. The country comprises the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, 12 viloyatlar (provinces) and Tashkent, 121 towns and cities and 163 rural districts. As of 1 January 2017, Uzbekistan had a population of 32,120,400 inhabitants. The capital is Tashkent.

(a)Historical background

50.The first bits of historical information about the population of Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, date to the middle of the first millennium BCE. In the sixth century BCE, Central Asia was under the rule of the Persian dynasty of the Achaemenids. In the fourth century BCE, Alexander the Great conquered the Achaemenid dynasty. After that, all or part of Uzbekistan belonged to a series of large ancient States: to the successors of Alexander the Great, the Seleucids (fourth and third centuries BCE); the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom (third and second centuries BCE); and the powerful middle-India Kushan Kingdom (first century BCE to fourth century CE).

51.Various cultures and civilizations helped shape the Uzbek ethnic group, a people with Turkic roots who gave their name to the nation. The historical development of the Uzbeks took place in conditions of close contact and intermingling with Iranian peoples and culture.

52. In the eighth century, Central Asia, including the area occupied by Uzbekistan, was conquered by Arabs and was added to the possessions of the Arab Caliphate. The conquest was accompanied by the introduction of Islam. The new religion spread quickly among the people, although they continued to observe aspects of Zoroastrianism and other religions (Buddhism, Manichaeism and Nestorianism). The spread of Islam brought the region into the realm of Islamic civilization.

53. In the late ninth century, the reign of the Arabs was replaced by the rule of local dynasties. The territory of Uzbekistan was ruled by the Samanid, Qarakhanid and Seljuq dynasties from the ninth to the twelfth centuries.

54. In the early thirteenth century, Central Asia (along with Azerbaijan and Iran) belonged for a short period to the State of the Shahs of Xorazm, which ceased to exist after the attack of the hordes of Genghis Khan. It did not take long before power shifted to the dynasty of the Temurids. This was the era of the greatest economic development and a thriving culture (second half of the fourteenth to the fifteenth century). Samarqand was the capital of the State of Amir Temur. In the Middle Ages the Timurid State united a vast territory under its rule and created a single legal and economic space. This period, and the absolute monarchy that emerged at the time, may be regarded as the foundation for the nationhood of Uzbekistan.

55. On the cusp of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the Timurid State was replaced by the Sheibanid State, which ruled throughout the sixteenth century. For nearly four centuries, from the sixteenth to the conquest of Central Asia by Russia in the second half of the nineteenth century, the territory of Uzbekistan was home to three Uzbek khanates: the Bukhara Khanate (an emirate beginning in the mid-eighteenth century), the Khivin Khanate and the Kokand Khanate.

56. In the second half of the nineteenth century, a large part of Central Asia, including modern Uzbekistan, was annexed to Russia. The Governorate-General of Turkestan was created.

57.1918 saw the establishment of the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in the wake of the revolution in Russia and 1920 of the Buxoro People’s Soviet Republic and Xorazm People’s Soviet Republic.

58.In 1924, Central Asia was divided up into ethnic States. The Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic was established on 27 October 1924. Under this ethnic division, the territories populated chiefly by Uzbeks became part of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. The Republic had 82 per cent of all Uzbeks living in the Soviet Union (USSR); they accounted for 76 per cent of the total population of the newly formed Republic. Uzbekistan was part of the USSR for nearly 70 years, and its demographic, social and economic development was influenced by processes characteristic of the Soviet Union.

59.The country reached a turning point in its history on 1 September 1991 when it declared itself an independent State. On 31 August 1991, the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted a decision proclaiming the independent statehood of the Republic of Uzbekistan and a constitutional act on the legal foundations of the independent statehood of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

(b)Population

60.As of 1 January 2017, there were 32,120,463 people living in Uzbekistan, with the majority of the country’s population (around 27 million) made up of Uzbeks, a Turkic-speaking people with an ancient, distinctive culture. Uzbekistan is also home to significant numbers of other peoples: Kazakhs, Tajiks, Karakalpaks, Kyrgyz, Turkmens, Russians, Ukrainians, Tatars, Armenians, Koreans, Uigurs, Belarusians and others.

61.In anthropological terms, the Uzbeks are a people of mixed descent, with both European and Asian traits. Anthropologists regard the Uzbeks as southern Europeans from the Central Asian valleys. The Uzbek urban and oasis-dwelling populations have relatively few Asian traits.

62.Uzbek is the official language of Uzbekistan. Literary Uzbek belongs to the Karluk group of the western branch of the Turkic languages. One of the characteristic features of the Uzbek language is its profound historical link with Tajik. The Karakalpak language belongs to the Kipchak group of Turkic languages.

63.In terms of religious affiliation, believers among Uzbeks and Karakalpaks are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi madhab (school of law). In Uzbekistan, and indeed throughout Central Asia, the orthodox form of Islam has typically merged with mystical elements such as Sufism and pre-Islamic beliefs.

(c)Economy

64.A critical challenge in ensuring the country’s further sustainable economic growth is to mobilize all available reserves and opportunities in order to secure full implementation of the approved medium-term structural adjustment programmes, accelerate the diversification of the various sectors of the economy, enhance their competitiveness and export capacity, remove all obstacles and constraints to the development of private enterprise and, ultimately, achieve a steady rise in employment and in the quality of life and standard of living of the country’s population.

65.The implementation of a comprehensive programme for further reforms, structural changes and economic diversification for the period 2015–2019 had made it possible to maintain a high GDP growth rate in 2016 of 7.8 per cent. The industrial production index stood at 6.6 per cent for manufacturing, 12.5 per cent for contracted construction work, 14.4 per cent for retail trade and 12.5 per cent for services.

66.More than $16.6 billion (an increase of 9.6 per cent) was invested in the economy compared with 2015. Foreign investments and loans increased by 11.3 per cent. In 2016, 164 large manufacturing facilities were put into operation with a total value of $5.2 billion. More than 80 new types of industrial products have been developed by businesses that are included in a 2015–2019 programme for the localization of finished products, component parts and materials.

67.Positive structural changes, economic expansion and employment programmes have ensured a growth rate of 113.5 per cent in per capita real aggregate income. Under the service sector development programme for 2016–2020, in 2016, some 14,600 new items have been established in the service sector, 194 new model service packages have been introduced, 1,632 new mobile communications stations have been set up and public transport services have been improved with the addition of 63 new passenger transportation links and 54 new hotels in the regions.

68.Some 545 investment projects with a total value of $50 billion have been included in the 2017 Investment Programme and $7.3 billion in investment is expected to be spent in 2017. In 2017, 170 new production facilities with a total value of $2.4 billion are expected to be up and running.

69.Economic policy priorities for the liberalization of the currency market were set under the presidential decree issued on 2 September 2017 on urgent measures to liberalize the currency regime. Under the decree, as of 5 September 2017: Uzbek legal entities may purchase foreign currency from banks and individuals may freely exchange foreign currency without restriction; the requirement that exporters must sell their foreign currency proceeds has been repealed; payments in foreign currency for goods and services are prohibited; and stricter controls on unjustified rises in prices for essential consumer goods have been imposed.

70.As a result of programmes designed to create decent living conditions for the population, improve the efficiency of diagnostic and outpatient health facilities and enhance prevention, the incidence of hepatitis was almost halved and the rate of pulmonary tuberculosis decreased by 4 per cent.

71.Infectious disease control is a priority public health goal in Uzbekistan. In 2016, the rate of incidence of viral hepatitis in Uzbekistan decreased by comparison with 2014, to 7.3 per cent. An immunization campaign against viral hepatitis began in 2014 and, by 2017, a total of 400,116 persons had been vaccinated against hepatitis A. Since 2001, the vaccination of newborns against hepatitis B has been included in the national immunization schedule. The introduction of vaccinations against hepatitis B for newborns in 2001 has greatly helped stop the spread of the disease, with the incidence rate for hepatitis B decreasing by a factor of 29.4 in 2016 and a factor of 807.1 for children under the age of 2.

72.In 2016, compared with 2014, the incidence rate of tuberculosis decreased by 11.8 per cent, and, in first half of 2017 compared with the same period the year before, there was a decrease in the incidence of acute respiratory infections by 10.9 per cent and pulmonary tuberculosis by 7.0 per cent.

73.Systematic efforts have been made to promote better reproductive health as an important factor in ensuring that children are born healthy and preventing them from entering this world with congenital anomalies and diseases, and to improve the infrastructure and human resources of medical facilities.

74.In 2016, $80 million in loans and credits went towards providing the country’s health-care facilities with modern medical equipment; in 2017, the Year of the Healthy Mother and Child, approximately 9 million women of childbearing age and nearly 10 million children were given medical check-ups and care; and more than 350 hard-of-hearing children underwent cochlear implant surgery at the National Pediatric Care Applied Research Medical Centre. Approximately 21 billion sum were allocated for that purpose; 700,000 children were vaccinated against pneumococcal and other infectious diseases; and, with the involvement of foreign investors, $100,000 was raised to provide rural populations with safe drinking water and modernize water networks in the districts and towns.

(d)Administration of justice

75.The procedural rules applied by the courts in the administration of justice are set out in a series of laws and regulations, namely the Courts Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Code of Civil Procedure. Constitutional proceedings are conducted in accordance with the Constitutional Court Act.

76.The following courts function in Uzbekistan:

Constitutional Court;

Supreme Court;

Military courts;

Supreme Civil Court of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, provincial civil courts and Tashkent City Civil Court;

Supreme Criminal Court of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, provincial criminal courts and Tashkent City Criminal Court;

Economic courts of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, provincial economic courts and Tashkent City Economic Court;

Administrative courts of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, provincial administrative courts and Tashkent City Administrative Court;

Interdistrict, district and city civil courts;

District and city criminal courts;

Interdistrict, district and city economic courts;

District and city administrative courts.

77.The Constitutional Court is elected by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis on the application of the President of Uzbekistan from among the professionals in the field of politics and the law recommended by the Supreme Judicial Council, including a representative from the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston. The Court has the right to initiate legislation.

78.The Constitutional Court:

Determines the constitutionality of laws, decisions taken by the chambers of the Oliy Majlis, decisions and orders issued by the President, decisions taken by the Government and local authorities, inter-State treaties and other obligations undertaken by Uzbekistan;

Determines whether constitutional laws and laws on the ratification of international agreements entered into by Uzbekistan are consistent with the Constitution before they are signed into law;

Issues findings on whether the Constitution of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston is in conformity with the Constitution of Uzbekistan, and whether the laws of Qoraqalpog’iston are consistent with the laws of Uzbekistan;

Provides interpretations of the provisions of the Constitution and laws;

Reviews appeals brought before the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan by the courts involving the constitutionality of laws and regulations that are to be enforced in specific cases;

Reports to the chambers of the Oliy Majlis and the President of Uzbekistan every year on the extent to which constitutionality in the country is upheld based on its distillation of judicial practice in constitutional proceedings;

Overturns orders and other applications of the Procurator General of Uzbekistan (except those in individual cases) in the event that they are at variance with the Constitution or the national laws in accordance with a decision of the Constitutional Court.

79.A Constitutional Court decision enters into force on the date of its official publication; it is final and not subject to further appeal. The organization and procedures of the Constitutional Court are established by the Constitutional Act on the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

80.The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the field of civil, criminal, economic and administrative justice. It has the right to supervise the judicial activities of the lower courts and to initiate legislation in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

81.The Supreme Court hears cases as a court of first instance or judicial supervision. Cases before the Supreme Court at first instance may be heard by it either on appeal or by way of cassation at the discretion of the persons with the right to lodge an appeal or protest under the appellate or cassational procedures. A case considered on appeal may not be considered by way of cassation.

82.The Supreme Court monitors the compliance of the courts with the opinions of the Plenum of the Supreme Court, systematically analyses jurisprudence and legal statistics and organizes further training for court personnel.

83.The Supreme Court is composed of a President, First Deputy President, President of the Criminal Divisions and deputies, Presidents of the Civil, Administrative and Economic Divisions and judges of the Court and includes the following:

Plenum;

Presidium;

Criminal Division;

Civil Division;

Administrative Division;

Economic Division.

84.The Plenum of the Supreme Court is composed of judges of the Supreme Court and the Presidents of the courts of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston. The Procurator General of Uzbekistan takes part in the meetings. The President of the Constitutional Court, President of the Supreme Judicial Council, the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan, judges and members of the Research Advisory Board of the Supreme Court may also participate. The Plenum is convened at least once every four months.

85.It is responsible for: reviewing material for the consolidation of judicial practice and giving opinions on matters involving the application of the law; and approving the members of the Research Advisory Board of the Supreme Court recommended by the President of the Court, the members of the Presidium of the Supreme Court recommended by the President, the members of the panels of judges, the secretary of the Plenum of the Supreme Court and others.

86.The Presidium of the Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority; it is made up of judges of the Court and its size is determined in a Plenum of the Court. The President of the Supreme Court, the First Deputy President and deputy Presidents are ex officio members of the Presidium of the Court. The meetings of the Presidium are held no less than once a month and require the majority of members of the Presidium to be present for a quorum.

87.The Presidium of the Supreme Court: considers cases under the supervisory procedure; reviews case files for the distillation of judicial practice; hears the reports of the Presidents of the courts of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, the provinces and Tashkent, and the Military Court of Uzbekistan on the work of those courts and the application of the law; and reviews the organization of the work of the divisions and staff of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan.

88.The divisions of the Supreme Court: review cases at first instance, on appeal, by way of cassation and under the supervisory procedure; study and distill judicial practice; and draft proposals to improve legislation, among other things.

89.The President of the Supreme Court: coordinates the work of the Court; lodges protests against court decisions, determinations and rulings; calls for judicial proceedings to be reviewed under the supervisory procedure; suspends the execution of judicial decisions, determinations and rulings; convenes the Plenum and Presidium of the Supreme Court and presides over their meetings; and refers matters to the Plenum and Presidium that fall within his or her jurisdiction under the law, among other things.

90.The First Deputy President and deputy Presidents, who preside over the divisions of the Supreme Court: lodge protests against the decisions, determinations and rulings of courts of all instances except the Presidium of the Supreme Court; lead the organizational work of the relevant divisions of the Supreme Court; submit reports to the Plenum of the Supreme Court on the work of the divisions; suspend the enforcement of court decisions, determinations and rulings against which they have the right to lodge protests; organize further training courses for judges and other judicial staff; meet privately with citizens, etc.

91.The Court of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, the provincial courts and the Tashkent City Court hear cases falling within their jurisdiction as courts of first instance, on appeal and by way of cassation; exercise supervisory control over the judicial activities of interdistrict and district or city courts and distill judicial practice; and organize further training for the staff of the courts, among other things.

92.Interdistrict and district or municipal civil courts hear civil and administrative cases over which they have jurisdiction under the law.

93.District or municipal criminal courts hear criminal and administrative cases over which they have jurisdiction under the law and consider applications for: remand in custody, house arrest or the extension of the period of remand in custody or house arrest as preventive measures; the removal of accused persons from office; the committal of a person to a medical institution or the extension of the period of an accused person’s stay in a medical institution; the exhumation of a human corpse; the seizure of postal and telegraphic communications; and the discontinuance of criminal proceedings or suspension of criminal proceedings or relief from a penalty by virtue of an amnesty.

94.Interdistrict and district or city economic courts hear disputes between economic entities over obligations arising from civil law and corporate disputes along with cases involving administrative offences falling within their jurisdiction under the law.

95.The district or city administrative courts hear administrative disputes involving complaints and claims against the actions or decisions of the State authorities and local self-governing bodies or individual officials arising from their public law relationships and cases involving administrative offences falling within their jurisdiction under the law.

96.The military court system of Uzbekistan is composed of the Military Court of Uzbekistan and regional military courts. The Military Court acts as a provincial court and includes a President, judges and lay judges. The regional military courts act as district courts and include a President and lay judges.

97.The military courts of Uzbekistan hear:

Cases involving offences committed by military personnel of the Ministry of Defence, the National Security Service, the Ministry for Emergency Response, the troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other military formations and units established in accordance with the law, and by reserve officers during musters;

Civil cases brought by members of military personnel against officers in charge of military units, tactical formations and major formations or the military administration and complaints against the actions or decisions of the military administration or officers that violate the rights and freedoms of military personnel;

All civil and criminal cases in areas where, as a result of exceptional circumstances, ordinary courts have no jurisdiction;

Cases involving State secrets;

Other cases in accordance with the law.

98.The civil courts adjudicate:

Cases involving disputes if at least one party is a citizen, unless the settlement of such disputes falls within the jurisdiction of other courts or other bodies under the law;

Cases subject to special proceedings (cases involving the establishment of legal facts, the adoption of a child, statements of disappearance or declarations of presumed death, declarations that a person has limited or no dispositive capacity, committal to a psychiatric hospital or the extension of the committal, committal to a specialized unit of tuberculosis treatment centres or the extension of the committal, declaration of ownerless property or goods (bona vacantia), the restoration of rights to owners of lost documents);

Other cases falling within their jurisdiction under the law.

99.The administrative courts adjudicate cases involving complaints and claims against the actions or decisions of State authorities and local self-governing bodies and their officials regarding their relations under public law.

100.The economic courts adjudicate:

Cases involving economic disputes over civil, administrative and other legal obligations between legal persons and natural persons carrying out business activities who are not established as legal entities and have acquired in the manner prescribed by law the status of individual entrepreneur;

Cases involving the establishment of facts that have a bearing on granting, changing or suspending the economic rights of organizations and citizens;

Cases of bankruptcy of organizations or citizens;

Cases of corporate disputes (disputes relating to the establishment, reorganization and liquidation of a legal entity, disputes relating to the ownership of shares, the authorized capital of business companies and partnerships, shares of members of cooperative societies, the determination of their liabilities and the rights membership confers, with the exception of disputes that arise in connection with the devolution of assets on the death of a spouse or division of community assets, including the stocks and authorized share capital of companies and partnerships and cooperative shares, disputes involving claims of participants (founders or members) of a legal entity over declaring transactions carried out by legal persons void and/or having the consequences of invalidity applied to a void transaction, disputes relating to the issue of securities, including the challenging of decisions by State and other authorities, the actions or omissions of their officials and the decisions of the governing board of the issuer, disputes relating to transactions carried out in the process of distributing securities and reporting on the results of the issue or additional issue of securities, disputes arising from the activities of nominee shareholders involving rights issues and the exercise by them of their rights and obligations under the law in connection with the issue and/or trading of securities, disputes over the convening of a company’s general meeting of shareholders disputes involving appeals against the decisions of a company’s board and management).

101.Economic courts also adjudicate disputes involving persons who have lost the status of self-employed entrepreneur but who meet the relevant requirements as a result of their previous business activities.

102.All judges in Uzbekistan have the same status.

103.Citizens of Uzbekistan at least 30 years of age, with higher education in law and at least 5 years of specialized experience in legal work, especially in law enforcement bodies, are eligible to become judges of interdistrict, district or city civil courts, district or city criminal courts, district or city economic courts, district or city administrative courts and regional military courts.

104.Citizens with higher education in law and at least seven years of specialized experience in legal work, including, as a rule, at least two years as a judge, are eligible to become judges of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, provincial courts, the Tashkent City Court and the Military Court of Uzbekistan.

105.Citizens with higher education in law and at least 10 years of specialized experience in legal work, including, as a rule, at least 5 years as a judge, are eligible to become judges of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan.

106.Successful candidates drawn from the roster for first-time appointments to a judgeship are required to have gone through training and a period of apprenticeship before they take the bench. During the period of training and apprenticeship, they are exempt from the performance of work duties and continue to be paid an average monthly salary by their employers.

107.Citizens at least 30 years of age are eligible to be elected as lay judges in a recorded vote at citizen’s meetings at their place of residence or work for a term of two and a half years. Military service members on active duty at least 30 years of age are eligible to be elected as lay judges of military courts in a recorded vote at meetings of military units for a period of two and a half years. Lay judges are called on to serve in courts in turns for no more than two weeks a year unless that period must be extended in order to complete the examination of a court case in which they were initially involved. They are paid the average monthly wage during these periods.

108.The President, Deputy Presidents and judges of the Supreme Court are elected by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis on the recommendation of the President of Uzbekistan.

109.The President and deputy Presidents of the provincial courts and Tashkent City Court and the President of the Military Court of Uzbekistan are appointed to and removed from office by the President on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council.

110.The President and deputy Presidents of the courts of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston are elected by the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston on the recommendation of the President of the Jokargy Kenes and subject to the agreement of the President of Uzbekistan on the basis of the findings of the Supreme Judicial Council of Uzbekistan.

111.The judges of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, the Presidents and judges of the interdistrict, district and city courts of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston are appointed by the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council and subject to the agreement of the President of Uzbekistan.

112.Judges of military courts, provincial courts and the Tashkent City Court and Presidents and judges of the interdistrict, provincial and city courts are appointed to and dismissed from office by the Supreme Judicial Council, subject to the agreement of the President.

113.Judges are appointed or elected under the established procedure for an initial term of 5 years, a subsequent 10-year term and a further indefinite term of office.

114.During their term of office, judges may be reappointed for further terms as judges of military courts, provincial courts and the Tashkent City Court and Presidents and judges of interdistrict, district or city courts by the Supreme Judicial Council of Uzbekistan and, in the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, as judges of a court of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, Presidents and judges of an interdistrict, district or city court of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston by the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council. Furthermore, terms of office in any court must be no less than two years.

115.Judges are reappointed at the recommendation of the High Qualification Board of Judges based on its representations.

116.Judges are elected or appointed for a period of five years. The same person may not be elected or appointed as President of the relevant court for more than two consecutive terms. The President of a court may consent to continue work as a judge in that court at the end of his or her term of office or to be elected or appointed to another judicial post for the remainder of his or her term of office.

117.Judicial qualification boards are set up to examine the following matters:

Discipline of judges;

Suspension of judicial power or removal from office of judges;

Judicial immunity;

Assignment of grades to judges;

Organization of the selection process and holding of elections of lay judges;

Monitoring judges’ compliance with their judicial oath and the rules of ethical conduct.

118.The qualification boards of judges assist the Supreme Judicial Council in carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to it.

119.The higher qualification board of judges is elected by the plenum of the Supreme Court for a term of five years.

120.The qualification boards of judges of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan, the courts of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, the provincial courts and the Tashkent City Court are elected for a term of five years at the conferences of judges of the relevant courts.

121.The Supreme Judicial Council is the body of the judiciary responsible for helping to ensure that the constitutional principle of judicial independence in Uzbekistan is upheld.

122.It is a legal person with its own seal with the depiction of the State coat of arms and its own name.

123.The Council is composed of 21 persons, including the President, Deputy President and members and a secretariat drawn from among judges, members of law enforcement bodies, members of civil society and highly qualified legal professionals. The President of the Council is appointed by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis on the recommendation of the President of Uzbekistan. The Deputy President of the Council is confirmed by the President of Uzbekistan and simultaneously heads the Research Centre for the Study of Justice attached to the Council.

124.The President of Uzbekistan confirms 11 members of the Council from among the judges recommended by the President of the Council. One member of the Council is confirmed from among the judges of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston.

125.The secretary and seven members of the Council are confirmed by the President from among the members of the law enforcement bodies, civil society and highly qualified legal professionals.

126.The President, secretary and 11 members of the Council confirmed from among the judges perform their work on a permanent basis while the remaining 8 members, including the Deputy President, perform their work pro bono.

127.The 11 members of the Council confirmed from among the judges and performing their work on a permanent basis are elected by the Senate on the recommendation of its President to serve in the sections and Judicial Inspectorate of the Council, including as heads of these units.

128.Council members are appointed or confirmed for a period of five years and members working on a permanent basis may not be appointed or confirmed for more than two consecutive terms. Members confirmed from among the judges are given the guarantees of immunity envisaged for judges under the Courts Act. A member of the Council may not be subject to criminal or administrative liability or remanded in custody without the consent of the Council. A criminal case against a Council member may be brought only by the Procurator General of Uzbekistan.

129.The main tasks of the Council include:

Forming a judiciary on the basis of competitive selection of candidates for the position of judges, appointing judges from among the most qualified and senior specialists and issuing recommendations for promotions to high-level judicial positions;

Taking measures to prevent breaches of the immunity of judges and interference in their work in the administration of justice;

Organizing training and capacity-building for judges, assessing their effectiveness and initiating discussion of the question of incentives for judges;

Preparing proposals for further improvements to legislation on judicial matters, ensuring the genuine independence of the judiciary and harmonized judicial practice and improving access to justice and the quality of its administration;

Considering matters involving disciplinary action against judges and making findings on whether to bring criminal or administrative proceedings against them.

130.Council decisions taken within their jurisdiction are binding on State authorities and other organizations.

(e)Periods of detention, remand in custody and preliminary inquiry

131.Under article 226 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended, the period of detention must not exceed 8 hours (72 hours under the previous version) from the moment the detained person is handed over to the law enforcement authority. The detention period may be extended by a court for a further 48 hours.

132.The time limit for preliminary investigations in criminal cases under article 351 of the Code is not to exceed three months from the date of the initiation of criminal proceedings. The period may be extended by the relevant procurator of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, the procurator of one of the provinces or of Tashkent or a procurator of equal rank for up to five months. A pretrial investigation may be further extended by the Procurator General of Uzbekistan or a deputy procurator general for up to seven months.

133.Article 245 of the Code of Criminal Procedure establishes that pretrial detention or house arrest during the investigation of a criminal offence must not exceed 3 months.

134.The courts examine applications for the extension of the three-month period of pretrial detention or house arrest for:

Up to 5 months if made by a procurator of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston or a procurator of a province or Tashkent or a procurator of equivalent rank;

Up to 7 months if made by the Procurator General of Uzbekistan or his or her deputies, without the possibility of further extensions in either case and taking due account of the weight of the evidence submitted and compliance with procedural rules and requirements.

135.In accordance with article 243 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, applications for the use of remand in custody or house arrest as a preventive measure are considered in camera within eight hours of receipt of the case file but no later than the maximum detention period. An application for the use of remand in custody or house arrest as a preventive measure is considered with the participation of the procurator and the defence counsel, if counsel is involved in the proceedings, and the detained suspect or accused person. Detained suspects or accused persons are brought before the court. The legal representative of the suspect or accused person and the investigator may participate in the court hearing. The investigator may be summoned to appear in court if necessary.

136.Between 2014 and the first quarter of 2017, 21,038 persons were remanded in custody as a preventive measure. The courts rejected seven applications for remand in custody as a preventive measure made by officers of the Department of Internal Affairs investigation units. The courts extended the period of remand in custody of 47 persons. As of 1 April 2017, the courts were authorized to use alternative measures of restraint when turning down applications for remand in custody. The investigation units of the Department used non-custodial preventive measures against 157,402 persons and remanded 307 young persons in custody as a preventive measure and used non-custodial measures against 3,964 young persons.

137.Article 247 of the Code specifies the procedure for extending the period of remand in custody. The relevant procurator must decide whether to file an application with the court for the extension of the period of remand in custody or house arrest of an accused person at least six days before the expiry of the established time limit for such custody or arrest.

138.The application to extend the period of remand in custody or house arrest is considered by a single-judge court in a district or city criminal court or a district military court in the place where the offence was committed or where the pretrial investigation is being conducted; in the absence of the judge of that court or under circumstances which prevent him or her from participating in the examination of the case file, the application is considered by a judge of an equivalent court on the instructions of the President of the Supreme Criminal Court of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, a provincial court, the Tashkent City Criminal Court or the Military Court of Uzbekistan.

139.Applications for an extension of the period of remand in custody or house arrest must be examined in camera within 72 hours after receipt of the case file. A judge’s ruling to extend or deny the extension of the period of remand in custody or house arrest as a preventive measure takes effect as soon as it is pronounced and must be enforced immediately. The ruling is sent to the procurator for enforcement and to the accused and defence counsel for information and may be the subject of an appeal or protest within 72 hours.

140.Once the appellate court has reviewed an appeal or protest, it may: uphold the court ruling and dismiss the appeal or protest; set aside the judge’s ruling and deny the extension of the period of remand in custody or house arrest or extend the period of remand in custody or house arrest. If extension of the period of remand in custody or house arrest is ordered in respect of an accused person who has been released from custody or house arrest on the expiry of an earlier period of remand or house arrest, the court must issue a new remand or house arrest order against such person.

B.Constitutional, political and legal structure of the State

141.The Republic of Uzbekistan was constituted on 31 August 1991 in the territory of the former Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, which had been part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Uzbekistan is a unitary State with a semi-presidential system of government.

142.The Constitution of Uzbekistan of 8 December 1992 is committed to the ideals of democracy and social justice, universal values and the universally recognized rules and principles of international law. It is free of any exclusive political ideology that would set an ethnic group or people living in the territory of the State against one another. It lays down the principles of the supremacy of the Constitution and the law, the separation of powers between the legislature, executive and judiciary and the accountability of State authorities and officials to society.

143.The rights and freedoms of citizens embodied in the Constitution and the law are immutable, and no one may alter or restrict them except by order of a court.

(a)Legislature

144.The highest representative body is the Oliy Majlis, which exercises legislative power. It is composed of two chambers — the Legislative Chamber (lower chamber) and the Senate (upper chamber). The term of office is five years.

145.The procedure governing the establishment and legal status of the Oliy Majlis is laid down in the Constitution (arts. 76–88), the constitutional laws on the Senate of the Oliy Majlis and the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, the Oliy Majlis Elections Act and the Legislative Chamber and the Legislative Chamber and Senate Members Status Act.

146.The Legislative Chamber consists of 150 deputies, elected in accordance with the law, and the Senate of 100 senators representing local constituencies.

147.Deputies from the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, the country’s provinces and Tashkent are elected by secret ballot to fill six Senate seats each at the respective joint sessions of the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston and the representative authorities of the provinces, districts and cities. Sixteen members of the Senate are appointed by the President from among the most highly regarded citizens having broad practical experience and special merit in the fields of science, the arts, literature, industry and other areas of the life of the State and society.

148.Any Uzbek citizen who has reached the age of 25 by the date of the elections and has permanently resided in Uzbekistan for at least five years may become a deputy to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis or a member of the Senate. The qualification requirements for parliamentary candidates are determined by the law. No person may simultaneously be a deputy to the Legislative Chamber and a member of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis.

149.Legislative Chamber meetings are held during sessions that, as a rule, last from the first working day of September up to the last working day of June of the following year. Senate meetings are held as necessary but at least three times a year. A meeting of either chamber must be attended by at least half of the total number of deputies or senators to have a quorum. The presence of at least two thirds of that number is required for the adoption of constitutional acts.

150.Joint sessions of the Legislative Chamber and Senate are held during inaugurations of the President of Uzbekistan, presidential addresses on fundamental social, economic and domestic- or foreign-policy issues and appearances of foreign Heads of State.

151.The President of Uzbekistan, the Prime Minister, the members of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Presidents of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Judicial Council, the Procurator General and the President of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank may participate in the meetings of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate and their respective bodies. The President of the Senate may participate in meetings of the Legislative Chamber and its bodies while the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber may participate in the meetings of the Senate and its bodies.

152.The President of Uzbekistan, the parliament of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, the deputies of the Legislative Chamber, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Procurator General have the right to initiate legislation by introducing bills to the Legislative Chamber.

153.Since the elections in 2014, the Legislative Chamber has been made up of the following Committees: Budget and Economic Reforms; Law and the Judiciary; Employment and Social Protection; Defence and Security; International Affairs and Interparliamentary Relations; Agriculture and Water Management; Industry, Construction and Trade; Science, Education, Culture and Sport; Democratic Institutions, Non-Governmental Organizations and Clubs and Associations; Information and Communication Technology; and Ecology and the Environment. Commissions consisting of members of the Legislative Chamber are set up to deal with specific matters.

154.Senate committees consisting of a chair, deputy chair and members are elected from among the senators once the Senate is formed to debate and prepare bills brought before the Senate and monitor the implementation of national legislation and Senate decisions. The Senate is composed of the following six Committees: Budget and Economic Reforms; Legislation and Justice; Defence and Security; Foreign Affairs; Science, Education, Culture and Sport; and Agriculture, Water Management and the Environment.

155.The Senate may establish commissions to carry out specific tasks. They currently include the Commission on Regulations and Ethics, the Commission on the Promotion of the Role of Local Representative Authorities and the Commission on the Supervision of the Work of Procuratorial and Internal Affairs Authorities.

Political parties

156.Four political parties and the Environmental Movement of Uzbekistan are currently represented in the Legislative Chamber.

157.The Adolat Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, established on 18 April 1995, has 157,222 members as at 1 January 2017. The Adolat Party draws its support from middle- and low-income groups and seeks to represent their political and social aspirations and promote their social protection on a platform of social justice.

158.The new Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party of Uzbekistan was established on 20 June 2008 with the completion of the merger with the Fidokorlar National Democratic Party pursuant to a joint party convention decision. As at 1 January 2017, the number of party members stood at 198,797 and grass-roots party organizations at 5,361; people under 30 years of age accounted for 106,404 members (53.5 per cent) and women 96,375 (48 per cent). The party’s basic aims are to promote national self-awareness, instil and foster a strong sense of national pride and allegiance and love of country, rally the country’s patriots and unlock their intellectual and creative potential in the service of Uzbekistan and for the enhancement of its international standing.

159.The Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businesspersons — Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan was established on 3 December 2003. As at 1 January 2017, it had 342,903 members. It is a nationwide political organization representing and defending the interests of property owners, small businesses, farms, including small family (dekhan) farms, skilled technicians, managers and businesspersons.

160.The People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, founded on 1 November 1991, represents the left wing of the country’s political forces. It reflects the political aspirations of various social strata and groups. As at 1 January 2017, it had 430,291 members. It is a multi-ethnic party, bringing together members from 53 different ethnic groups living in the country.

161.The activities of political parties in Uzbekistan are regulated by the Constitution, the Political Parties Act, the Political Parties Funding Act, and the Constitutional Act on Strengthening the Role of Political Parties in the Renewal and Further Democratization of State Governance and the Modernization of the Country.

162.The Environmental Movement of Uzbekistan deputy groups was founded on 2 August 2008 by environmental scientists and community leaders and is a standing parliamentary group in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis with 15 seats in total.

163.The President is the Head of State and ensures the smooth functioning and cooperation of the branches of government. Any citizen of Uzbekistan who has reached the age of 35, is fluent in the official language and has permanently resided in Uzbekistan for at least 10 years immediately prior to the elections may stand for election to the post of President. The same person may not be President of Uzbekistan more than two terms in a row.

164.The President is elected by the citizens of Uzbekistan for a term of five years on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. The procedure for presidential elections is specified in the law.

165.The President acts as the guarantor of citizens’ rights and freedoms, the Constitution and the laws of Uzbekistan. He or she takes the measures necessary for the protection of the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the country and for the implementation of decisions on national issues relating to the system of government and represents Uzbekistan at the national and international levels.

166.The President is vested with the power to address the Oliy Majlis on fundamental domestic and foreign policy issues, ensures cooperation between the branches of government, establishes and dissolves ministries, State committees and other government bodies on the recommendation of the Cabinet of Ministers by promulgating relevant decrees for subsequent approval by the chambers of the Oliy Majlis, puts forward candidates for Prime Minister to the chambers of the Oliy Majlis for consideration and approval and removes the Prime Minister from office in the event of a resignation, vote of no confidence by the chambers of the Oliy Majlis or other circumstances specified by the law, and confirms the members of the Cabinet of Ministers or removes them from office on the recommendation of the Cabinet of Ministers.

167.The President declares a state of war in the event of an attack upon Uzbekistan or in accordance with collective defence treaty obligations and must submit such a decision to the Oliy Majlis chambers for confirmation within 72 hours. In exceptional circumstances (a real external threat, mass riots, major or natural disasters or epidemics) and in the interests of public safety, the President may declare a state of emergency throughout the country or for a given area and must submit such a decision to the chambers of the Oliy Majlis for confirmation within 72 hours. As commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the President appoints and dismisses the high command of the armed forces and awards higher military ranks. The President deals with citizenship and political asylum issues.

168.The Legislative Chamber and the Senate may be dissolved by a decision of the President, subject to the approval of the Constitutional Court, in the event of insurmountable differences arising within the Legislative Chamber or the Senate and threatening their normal functioning, repeated adoption of decisions incompatible with the Constitution, and insurmountable differences arising between the chambers and threatening the normal functioning of the Oliy Majlis. New elections must be held within three months in the event of dissolution of the Legislative Chamber or the Senate. The chambers may not be dissolved during a state of emergency.

(b)Executive

169.Executive power is exercised by the Cabinet of Ministers. It consists of the Prime Minister and his or her deputies, ministers, chairs of State committees and the head of the Government of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston.

170.The Cabinet of Ministers takes measures to protect the citizens’ economic, social and other rights and legitimate interests, coordinates and directs the work of public authorities and authorities responsible for economic affairs, oversees their work in the manner prescribed by law, and ensures the implementation of the law, the decisions of the Oliy Majlis and presidential decrees, decisions and orders. In carrying out its activities, the Cabinet of Ministers is responsible to the Oliy Majlis and the President of Uzbekistan.

171.Candidates for the office of Prime Minister are proposed by the political party that has won the most seats in the elections to the Legislative Chamber or by several political parties that have won an equal number of seats. Within 10 days, the President put forward the candidate to the chambers of the Oliy Majlis for consideration and approval. The candidate for the office of Prime Minister presents the short- and long-term programme of action of the Cabinet of Ministers.

172.In the event of a deadlock between the Prime Minister and the Legislative Chamber, on an official application to the President by at least one third of the deputies, a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister may be brought before the Oliy Majlis for discussion at a joint session of the chambers. A new candidate for Prime Minister is proposed by the President following due consultations with all the political party factions represented in the Legislative Chamber. If two such proposals are turned down by the Oliy Majlis, the President appoints an acting Prime Minister and dissolves the Oliy Majlis.

173.The powers and procedures for the organization of the work of the Cabinet of Ministers are governed by the Constitution (chap. XX) and the Cabinet of Ministers Act.

174.Local authorities: Kengashes of People’s Deputies, headed by khokims (governors), are representative government bodies in the provinces, districts and cities and towns, except towns administered directly by the district authorities and city districts, dealing with matters that fall within their remit in the interests of the State and the people.

175.The functions of local authorities include: ensuring the rule of law, public order and public safety; dealing with issues related to the country’s economic, social and cultural development; drawing up and implementing the local budget, imposing local taxes and fees and securing extrabudgetary funds; ensuring the management of local public utilities; safeguarding the environment; and providing for civil registration.

176.The khokims of provinces, districts and cities serve as heads of the representative and executive authorities in the respective areas.

177.The powers of provincial, district and city khokims are based on the principle of individual responsibility, i.e. they are personally responsible for the decisions and acts of the agencies that they run. The khokims submit reports to the appropriate Kengash of Peoples’ Deputies on current issues of crucial importance for the social and economic development of a given province, districts or city, which are used by the councils to make their decisions.

178.The khokims of the province and Tashkent are appointed and removed from office by the President of Uzbekistan in accordance with the law.

179.The khokims of districts and cities are appointed and removed from office by the khokim of the relevant province, subject to the approval of the relevant Kengash of People’s Deputies.

180.The khokims of city districts are appointed and removed from office by the khokim of the relevant city, subject to the approval of the city Kengash of People’s Deputies.

181.The khokims of cities administered directly by the district authorities are appointed and removed from office by the khokim of the relevant district, subject to the approval of the district Kengash of People’s Deputies.

182.The khokims of provinces, districts and cities present an annual report to meetings of the relevant Kengash of People’s Deputies on issues of crucial importance for the social and economic development of the provinces, districts and cities, with members of clubs and associations, non-governmental organizations, political parties and the news media in attendance.

(c)Judiciary

183.Courts in Uzbekistan are responsible for protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens enshrined in the Constitution and other national laws and international human rights instruments and the rights and interests of businesses, institutions and organizations protected under the law. The work of the courts is designed to ensure the rule of law, social justice, and civil peace and harmony.

184.Uzbek and foreign nationals and stateless persons are entitled to judicial protection against any unlawful acts or decisions of State or other agencies and officials and any offences against the person, honour and dignity, personal freedom, property and other rights and freedoms. Enterprises, institutions and organizations are also entitled to judicial protection.

185.Suspected persons, accused persons and persons standing trial have the right of defence. The right to professional legal assistance is guaranteed at every stage of legal proceedings. An accused person is considered innocent until proved guilty in the manner prescribed by law and in accordance with an enforceable sentence handed down by the court. No one may be remanded in custody except on such grounds as are given in a court decision. No one may be subjected to torture, violence or other cruel, humiliating or degrading treatment.

186.All courts hold trials in open court. Hearings in camera are permitted only under the circumstances provided for by law. Legal proceedings in Uzbekistan are conducted in Uzbek, Karakalpak or the language of the majority population in the area concerned. Parties to the proceedings who are not proficient in the language in which the proceedings are being conducted have the right to be fully apprised of the case, to participate in the proceedings through an interpreter and to address the court in their native language.

187.The judiciary in Uzbekistan operates independently of the legislative and executive branches, political parties and voluntary associations.

188.Judges are independent and subject only to the law. Any interference in the work of judges in administering the law is inadmissible and punishable by law. Judges may not be senators or members of any representative authorities. They may not belong to any political party, participate in political movements, or engage in any type of paid activity other than academic and educational work. Judges may be removed from their post prior to the end of their term of office only on the grounds specified by law.

189.Decisions of the judiciary are binding on all State authorities, voluntary associations, enterprises, institutions, organizations, officials and citizens.

190.Judges are appointed or elected under the established procedure for an initial term of five years, a subsequent 10-year term and a further indefinite term of office.

191.Judges may:

Require officials and citizens to carry out their orders relating to the administration of justice;

Receive from officials and other persons such information as is necessary for the administration of justice;

Form associations.

192.The exertion of influence over judges in any form for the purpose of preventing a comprehensive, full and objective examination of a specific case from being conducted or obtaining an illegal court ruling is subject to criminal prosecution under the law. It is prohibited to request a judge to provide any explanations on the merits of a case that he or she has tried or is in the process of trying or to make them available to anyone except in the cases and the manner prescribed by law. The media may not prejudge the outcome of court proceedings in a given case in their press coverage or otherwise influence the court.

193.Judges must strictly observe the rules of ethical behaviour for judges and uphold the honour of the bench and refrain from any actions that might diminish the authority of the judiciary or the dignity of a judge or raise doubts about a judge’s impartiality. They may not breach the confidentiality of judicial deliberations or disclose information revealed during closed court hearings.

194.The age limit for serving as judge of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan is 70 years and for other courts 65 years. The limit for serving as Supreme Court judge may be extended with his or her consent for up to five years by the President of Uzbekistan and, for other courts, by the Supreme Judicial Council of Uzbekistan.

195.Judges retain the right to retire on reaching retirement age or other grounds for retirement established by law.

196.Judges enjoy personal immunity. Such immunity extends to their homes, offices, means of transport and communication used by them, correspondence and personal belongings and documents.

197.A criminal case against a judge may be brought only by the Procurator General of Uzbekistan. Judges may not face criminal prosecution or be remanded in custody without obtaining an opinion from the Supreme Judicial Council or the consent of the plenum of the Supreme Court. A criminal case against a judge of an interdistrict, district or city court or regional military court is under the jurisdiction of a higher court and, in criminal cases against judges of other courts, under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

198.Administrative proceedings may not be brought against judges without obtaining an opinion from the Supreme Judicial Council.

199.The violation of a judge’s home, office or means of transport, the conduct of an inspection, search or seizure, the tapping of his or her telephone conversations, the personal inspection or personal search of a judge and the inspection, confiscation or seizure of his or her correspondence, personal belongings or documents may take place only with the authorization of the Procurator of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, a procurator of a province or Tashkent or the Military Procurator of Uzbekistan, or by a court decision.

200.All the guarantees of immunity of judges apply to lay judges during the performance of their judicial duties.

201.Judges’ powers are suspended in the event criminal proceedings are brought against them on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council under a decision of the relevant qualification board of judges if a judge:

Engages in an activity incompatible with his or her office;

Has been subject to coercive measures for medical reasons;

Has been declared missing in a court decision.

202.A judge may appeal against the decision of the qualification board of judges according to the procedure established by law.

203.The suspension of a judge’s powers, with the exception of cases in which he or she has been taken into custody as a preventive measure, does not entail a suspension of or cut in pay, decrease in the level of social security or the lifting of guarantees of immunity.

204.Judges are dismissed in the event that they: break the oath of office; submit a relevant application in writing; persist in activities incompatible with their office after the corresponding qualification board of judges has issued a warning or suspended their powers; are found to have no legal capacity or limited legal capacity under established procedures; lose Uzbek nationality; have been charged in a final bill of indictment by the court; die or are declared dead in absentia; are unable to perform their duties over a lengthy period as a result of their state of health or other valid reasons; or complete their term of office without giving their consent to taking up another judicial post.

205.If there are such grounds, judges are removed from office as follows:

Judges of the Supreme Court by the Senate on the recommendation of the President of Uzbekistan;

The President and Deputy President of the provincial courts and Tashkent City Court and the President of the Military Court of Uzbekistan by the President of Uzbekistan on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council;

Judges of military courts, provincial courts and the Tashkent City Court and Presidents and judges of the interdistrict, provincial and city courts by the Supreme Judicial Council subject to the agreement of the President;

The President of the courts of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston by the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston on the recommendation of the President of the Jokargy Kenes on the basis of the opinion of the Supreme Judicial Council.

206.A judge may appeal against the decision of the qualification board of judges according to the procedure established by law.

207.Disciplinary proceedings against judges may be initiated only by a decision of the qualification board of judges for: violations of the law in the administration of justice; omissions in the organization of judicial work as a result of neglect or lack of discipline and acts affronting honour and dignity of a judge and adversely affecting the authority of a court; and violations of the rules of ethical conduct of judges.

208.Judges are not held liable for the reversal or alteration of court decisions in which they have been involved per se provided that there has been no deliberate breach of the law or negligence causing significant harm.

209.A judge’s remuneration consists of a salary and a qualification level and length of service supplement in the amounts specified by law. Judges are exempt from tax on personal income received in connection with the performance of their duties. They are granted 36 days of annual leave. The life and health of judges are under the special protection of the State and are covered by publicly funded compulsory national insurance.

210.In the event of a judge’s death during the tenure or following the expiry of the term of office, survivors benefits are payable by the State insurance bodies if the death resulted from personal injury or other impairment to health related to the performance of his or her duties; in the event of injury or other impairment to health of a judge related to the performance of his or her duties preventing him or her from continuing to work as a judge and other cases provided for by law, benefits are payable in the amount of 25 times the average monthly salary of judges.

211.The average monthly salary continues to be paid to judges whose term of office has expired during the period in which their applications for re-election or reappointment for another term are under review or until they find new employment but for no more than three months.

212.After the terms of office of judges expire, they are offered the work or post that they had previously taken up until they are elected or appointed as judges or other work or post of equal value if there is no such work or post.

(d)Electoral system

213.The principles underlying and framework for the electoral system are embodied in the Constitution, chapter XXIII of which is entirely devoted to the system, and in the Referendums Act, the Presidential Elections Act, the Oliy Majlis Elections Act, the Act on Elections to the Provincial, District and City Kengashes of People’s Deputies, the Citizens’ Voting Rights Guarantees Act and the Central Electoral Commission Act.

214.Citizens have the right to elect representatives or to be elected to government bodies. Each voter has one vote. The law guarantees the right to vote, equality and the freedom to express one’s will. The right to vote is granted only to citizens. Foreign nationals and stateless persons do not have this right.

215.All citizens, regardless of their social background, race, ethnic origin, gender, language, education, personal status, social position or financial situation, have the same voting rights. Under Uzbekistan law, at least 30 per cent of the candidates put forward for deputy must be women. A citizen may not be a deputy in more than two representative government bodies at the same time.

216.Under the law amending various articles of the Constitution (arts. 32, 78, 93, 98, 103 and 117) adopted in 2014, the Central Electoral Commission was established for the organization and holding of presidential and parliamentary elections and also a referendum on the Oliy Majlis. The law also introduced amendments aimed at increasing the Commission’s powers to allocate funds for the participation of political parties in elections and enlist international cooperation. The Administrative Liability Code was amended to include the following articles: Unlawful interference in the work of the Central Electoral Commission, its subordinate electoral commissions and referendum commissions; Failure to implement the decisions of the Central Electoral Commission, its subordinate electoral commissions and referendum commissions; Violation of the rights of a candidate, a candidate’s authorized representative, an observer or an authorized representative of a political party; Violation of the conditions and procedures for campaigning in elections and campaigning on matters subject to a referendum; Spreading of false information about candidates or political parties; Deliberate destruction of or damage to information and campaign materials during the lead up to and holding of elections or referendums; Violation of the procedures for funding elections or referendums; and Violation of the procedures for the publication of the results of public opinion polls or of election or referendum forecasts.

217.Under the Presidential Election Act, as amended in December 2015, the number of signatures required for the nomination of presidential candidates has been reduced from 5 per cent to 1 per cent of all voters, the notion of election campaigning has been formalized, election silence has been instituted whereby campaigning is not allowed on the day of the election and for a day prior to the start of voting and rules have been introduced to prohibit on election day the publication of results of opinion polls, election forecasts and other research related to the elections and to allow for the establishment of polling stations at remand centres.

218.Work is under way to prepare and discuss a draft electoral code for which there are plans to harmonize election standards and procedures contained in current elections laws.

219.Presidential elections and elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston and the representative government bodies of the provinces, districts and cities are held on the first Sunday in the third 10-day period of December in the year in which their respective mandates expire. Elections are held on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. The minimum voting age is 18.

220.Citizens found by a court to lack dispositive capacity or held in places of deprivation of liberty pursuant to a court sentence may not be elected or participate in elections. In all other cases, there may be no direct or indirect restriction of citizens’ electoral rights.

221.In December 2014, 150 representatives were elected to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, of whom 52 were from the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, 36 from the Milli Tiklanish Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, 27 from the National Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, 20 from the Adolat Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and 15 from the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan.

222.More than 18.4 million voters (88.94 per cent of all eligible voters) took part in the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the provincial, district and city Kengashes of People’s Deputies.

223.There were 20,461,805 voters registered for the presidential elections of 4 December 2016, including 10,825,641 women, who made up approximately 50 per cent of the total number of voters. Of those registered to vote, 17,951,667 (87.73 per cent of the voters) took part in the election.

224.Approximately 600 observers from 46 States of the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, and 5 international organizations — the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Association of World Election Bodies and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation — and more than 37,000 observers representing political parties working in Uzbekistan monitored the presidential election.

225.The presidential elections were covered by 615 national and 272 foreign media outlets, including 315 online publications. The media published more than 22,700 articles, news stories and television and radio shows. The national and regional press centres for the presidential elections hosted 180 press conferences, briefings and online briefings that were attended by over 1,400 national and foreign journalists.

II.General framework for the protection and promotion of human rights

C.Acceptance of international human rights standards

(a)Ratification of core international human rights instruments

226.In the years since independence, Uzbekistan has acceded without reservation to the following core instruments of international law in the field of human rights:

Treaty	Notification of accession	Reservations and declarations	Derogations, restrictions, or limitations
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966	31 August 1995	-	-
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966	31 August 1995	-	-
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 1965	31 August 1995	-	-
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979	6 May 1995	-	-
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984	31 August 1995	-	-
Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989	9 December 1992	-	-
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, 2000	12 December 2008	-	-
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, 2000	11 December 2008	-	-
First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966	31 August 1995	-	-
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, 1989	10 December 2008	-	-

(b)Ratification of other United Nations human rights treaties and related instruments

227.In addition to these 10 core international instruments, Uzbekistan has acceded to other United Nations human rights instruments:

Treaty	Accession	Reservations and declarations	Derogations, restrictions and limitations
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948	30 September 1991
World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children, 1990	19 December 1994
Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace, 1984	30 August 1997
Declaration on the Right to Development, 1986	30 August 1997
Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, 1981	30 August 1997
Declaration of the Principles of International Cultural Cooperation, 1966	30 August 1997
Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, 1979	30 August 1997
Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, 1985	30 August 1997
Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, 1980	1 May 1998
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 1948	20 August 1999
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 1948	20 August 1999	-	-
Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others, 1949	12 December 2003	-	-
United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2000)	Signed 13 December 2000 Ratified 30 August 2003	-	-
United Nations Convention against Corruption	Accession under Act No. 158 of 7 July 2008
Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime	Signed 28 June 2001	-	-
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime	Signed 28 June 2001 Ratified 8 July 2008	-	-
World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control	24 April 2012

(c)Ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions

228.Uzbekistan has acceded to the following 14 ILO conventions:

Convention	Accession	Reservations and declarations	Derogations, restrictions and limitations
Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)	30 August 1997		-
Forty-Hour Week Convention, 1935 (No. 47)	6 May 1995
Holidays with Pay Convention, 1936 (No. 52)	6 May 1995
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)	25 October 2016
Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)	30 August 1997
Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)	30 August 1997
Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102)	6 May 1995	-	-
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)	30 August 1997
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)	30 August 1997
Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122)	6 May 1995
Workers’ Representatives Convention, 1971 (No. 135)	30 August 1997
Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)	4 April 2008	-	-
Collective Bargaining Convention, 1981 (No. 154)	30 August 1997
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)	8 April 2008	-	-

(d)Ratification of the Geneva Conventions and other treaties on international humanitarian law

229.Uzbekistan has acceded to the Geneva Conventions and other international humanitarian law treaties:

Convention	Notification of accession	Reservations and declarations	Derogations, restrictions, or limitations
Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field, 1949	3 September 1993	-	-
Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea, 1949	3 September 1993	-	-
Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, 1949	3 September 1993	-	-
Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, 1949	3 September 1993	-	-
Protocol additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts (Protocol I), 1977	3 September 1993	-	-
Protocol additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the protection of victims of non-international armed conflicts, (Protocol II), 1977	3 September 1993	-	-

(e)Ratification of regional human rights instruments

230.Uzbekistan is a signatory to regional human rights instruments, particularly within the framework of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

No.	Title of instrument	Date and place of adoption
1.	Agreement on Cooperation in the Establishment of State Information Systems for New-Generation Passports and Visas and Their Further Development and Use in States Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States	Chisinau, 14 November 2008
2.	Agreement on Priority Measures for the Protection of Victims of Armed Conflicts	Moscow, 24 September 1993; entered into force for Uzbekistan on 1 December 1994; ratified by decision of the Supreme Soviet, No. 1013-XII of 29 December 1993
3.	Agreement on Assistance to Refugees and Persons Subjected to Forced Resettlement	Moscow, 24 September 1993; entered into force for Uzbekistan on 21 November 1994; ratified by decision of the Supreme Soviet, No. 1014-XII of 29 December 1993
4.	Agreement on Joint Activities relating to International Humanitarian Assistance	Minsk, 22 January 1993; entered into force for Uzbekistan on 19 December 1993
5.	Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Visas of the States Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States	Moscow, 13 November 1992; Uzbekistan announced its withdrawal from the agreement on 24 December 1999
6.	Agreement between the States Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States on Social and Legal Guarantees for Military Personnel, Persons Discharged from Military Service and Members of Their Families	Minsk, 14 February 1992; entered into force on the date of signature
	Protocol to the Agreement	Moscow, 19 January 1992; entered into force on the date of signature
7.	Agreement on Guarantees of the Rights of Citizens of States Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States in the Field of Pension Provision	Moscow, 13 March 1992; entered into force on the date of signature
8.	Convention on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Matters	Minsk, 22 January 1993; entered into force for the Republic of Uzbekistan on 19 May 1994
9.	Agreement On Guarantees Of Citizens’ Rights to Social Benefits, Allowances for Families With Children and Maintenance	Moscow, 9 September 1994; entered into force for Uzbekistan on 12 April 1995
10.	Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Rights to Compensation for Harm Caused to Employees by Occupational Injuries and Diseases or Other Work-Related Damage to Health	Moscow, 9 September 1994; entered into force for Uzbekistan on 12 October 1995
11.	Agreement on Cooperation in the Areas of Labour Migration and Social Protection for Migrant Workers	Moscow, 15 April 1994; entered into force for Uzbekistan on 18 September 1995
	Protocol amending the Agreement	Moscow; entered into force for Uzbekistan on 25 November 2005

D.General legal framework for the protection of human rights at the national level

(a)Legislative framework for the protection of human rights

231.As at 1 August 2017, 732 laws, 704 decisions of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis, 2,219 presidential decrees, 1,998 presidential decisions, 134 presidential orders, 8,968 decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers and 3,543 ministerial and departmental decisions and directives are in force in Uzbekistan.

232.Human rights are also codified by constitutional laws, legal codes and an entire body of directly applicable laws governing fundamental human rights and freedoms. The country’s sector-specific legislation includes general guidance on safeguarding and protecting civil rights and freedoms. The most important principles for safeguarding human rights and freedoms are embodied in the Family Code, the Labour Code, the Housing Code, the Criminal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Administrative Liability Code and other laws.

233.In recent years, important laws have been adopted to create organizational and legal mechanisms for the realization of citizens’ civil and political rights. These include the Act on Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Act on Transparency in the Work of State and Government Bodies, the Social Partnership Act, the Environmental Oversight Act, the Parliamentary Oversight Act and the Natural and Legal Persons’ Communications Act.

234.Considerable attention is devoted to providing for more effective protection of civil rights and improving the work of the courts and law enforcement agencies within the framework of the Laws and Regulations Act, the Police Work Act, the Pretrial Detention during Criminal Proceedings Act, the Procurator’s Office Act (new version), the Internal Affairs Agencies Act, the Courts Act, the Anti-Corruption Act, the Act on the Procedure for the Serving of Sentences of Administrative Detention, the Supreme Judicial Council Act and acts issued by the President aimed at strengthening the legal and social guarantees for court proceedings and the social status of judges.

235.In 2017, in order to lay out the mechanisms for the realization of citizens’ rights and freedoms in greater detail, amendments were introduced to the Citizenship Act, and presidential decrees were issued on amendments to the regulations on the procedure for examining matters relating to citizenship of Uzbekistan, on basic measures to enhance the border exit procedure for citizens of Uzbekistan, on the approval of the procedure for granting political asylum in Uzbekistan and on the further strengthening of inter-ethnic relations and friendly ties with foreign countries.

236.Evidence of the continuing importance attached by the legislative authorities to the realization of citizens’ economic, social and cultural rights can be found in the adoption of the Act on Private Property and Guarantees for the Rights of Property Owners, the Family Business Act, the Competition Act, the Act on Private Banking and Financial Institutions and Guarantees for their Activities, the Act on Procedures Permitted in Business Activities, the Free Enterprise Act (new version), the Act on Joint-Stock Companies and Protection of Shareholders’ Rights, the Trade Secrets Act, the Occupational Safety Act, the Employment Act, the Act on Social Services for Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Other Vulnerable Groups and the State Youth Policy Act, among other laws.

(b)System of State authorities that take decisions on human rights matters

237.The bodies competent to deal with human rights matters in Uzbekistan include: the Legislative Chamber and Senate of the Oliy Majlis and representative government bodies at the local level; the President; the Cabinet of Ministers and the ministries, and departments and agencies of the executive branch; the local authorities; judicial bodies; the Procurator General; the Ministry of Justice; and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

238.The Oliy Majlis, the highest legislative body of Uzbekistan, provides a legal framework for the realization and protection of human rights. Under the Parliamentary Oversight Act, committees of both chambers of the Oliy Majlis conduct parliamentary procedural checks of compliance with international human rights treaties and existing legislation on human rights.

239.The President of Uzbekistan is the Head of State and ensures the smooth functioning and coordination of State authorities. Among other responsibilities, the President: acts as guarantor of the observance of citizens’ rights and freedoms, the Constitution and the law; conducts negotiations and signs treaties and agreements on behalf of Uzbekistan; ensures compliance with the treaties and agreements concluded by Uzbekistan and the fulfilment of the obligations assumed by it; and suspends or revokes any laws and regulations issued by government bodies and the khokims that are at variance with the provisions of the law. Through public reception desks and the Internet, the President monitors the protection of citizens’ rights, freedoms and interests on an ongoing basis.

240.Executive power is exercised by the Cabinet of Ministers, which is responsible for: pursuing effective economic, social, financial and monetary policy; implementing measures to protect citizens’ economic, social and other rights and legitimate interests; ensuring the implementation of laws, decisions of the Oliy Majlis and presidential decrees, decisions and orders; and maintaining a connection with the population through the Prime Minister’s virtual reception desk.

241.Kengashes of People’s Deputies, headed by khokims, are representative government bodies in the provinces, districts and cities, with the exception of cities administered directly by district authorities and districts that are a part of cities; acting in the interests of the State and citizens, they deal with matters that fall within the scope of their authority involving the rule of law, law and order and public safety and the economic, social and cultural development of the areas under their jurisdiction. They also consider reports from the executive authorities and law enforcement agencies on their work to ensure the rule of law and effective protection of the rights and legitimate interests of citizens.

242.The khokim of a province, district or city serves as the head of the representative and executive authorities in the respective administrative area. Khokims exercise their powers in accordance with the principle of individual responsibility, i.e. they bear personal responsibility for the decisions and actions of authorities under their direction. Khokims present reports to the appropriate Kengash of People’s Deputies on current issues of crucial importance for the socioeconomic development of their respective provinces, districts or cities, which are used by the kengashes to make their decisions. The decisions that the khokims take, within the limits of the powers conferred upon them, are binding on all enterprises, institutions, organizations, associations, officials and citizens in the territory concerned.

243.The judiciary consists of the following courts empowered to administer justice: the Constitutional Court; the Supreme Court; military courts; the civil and criminal courts of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston; the civil and criminal courts of the provinces and Tashkent; the economic and administrative courts of the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, the provinces and Tashkent; interdistrict, district and city civil courts; district and city criminal courts; interdistrict, district and city economic courts; and district and city administrative courts.

244.The Office of the Procurator General: the main responsibilities of the procuratorial authorities are to uphold the rule of law, reinforce law and order, safeguard citizens’ rights and freedoms, the legally protected interests of society and the State and the constitutional order and prevent violations of the law.

245.The Department for Monitoring the Enforcement of Social Legislation was established pursuant to the presidential decree of 18 April 2017 on the strengthening of the role of the procuratorial bodies in the socioeconomic reform and modernization of the country and on effective protection for human rights and freedoms. It has a division for human rights and freedoms.

246.The responsibilities of the procuratorial bodies include conducting checks to ensure full compliance with legislative acts aimed at realizing democratic socioeconomic reforms, ensuring the effective protection of human rights and freedoms, promoting the population’s legal literacy, considering communications from natural and legal persons in a timely manner and adopting appropriate measures to restore their violated rights.

247.The Ministry of Justice has significant powers to realize and protect human rights and freedoms. A Department for the Protection of Human Rights was established under the Ministry pursuant to a Cabinet of Ministers decision of 27 August 2003. It conducts an ongoing analysis of human rights legislation, makes proposals for its improvement and oversees the compliance by the State and local authorities and law enforcement agencies with the human rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution, national law and the international agreements to which Uzbekistan is a party.

248.The Ministry makes proposals for the incorporation of international legal standards into legislation, draws up measures to promote citizens’ legal literacy, cultivates a respectful attitude towards human rights and freedoms, ensures that communications from citizens regarding violations of their constitutional rights and freedoms are objectively and comprehensively investigated and takes measures to restore such rights and freedoms in accordance with the law.

249.In accordance with the Internal Affairs Agencies Act of 16 September 2016, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is the government body responsible for protecting public order and security and citizens’ rights, freedoms and legitimate interests. It ensures that citizens face no obstacles in submitting communications, complaints and applications claims to the internal affairs agencies by publicizing the internal affairs helplines and the Natural and Legal Persons’ Communications Act.

250.The principal responsibilities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are to eliminate threats to citizens’ security, provide them with any necessary assistance, ensure strict observance of the rights and respect for the honour and dignity of inmates and persons held on remand, improve supervision of employees’ performance of official duties and prevent corruption and abuse of authority.

(c)Legal remedies against human rights violations

251.The judicial and non-judicial legal remedies against violations of protected rights are clearly defined in the law. They are set out in such legislative acts as the Civil Code, the Code of Civil Procedure, the Courts Act, the Procurator’s Office Act, the Internal Affairs Agencies Act, the Natural and Legal Persons’ Communications Act, the Act on Appeals to the Courts against the Actions or Decisions in Violation of the Human Rights and Freedoms of Citizens, the Act on the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Oliy Majlis, the Commissioner for Employers’ Rights and Legitimate Interests Act, the Bar Act and the Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations Act.

252.Pursuant to the presidential decree of 28 December 2016 on measures to radically overhaul the system for processing communications from natural and legal persons, the President’s network of reception desks for the people was added to the existing system of measures for the legal protection of citizens. They became operational in the Republic of Qoraqalpog’iston, the provinces, Tashkent and every district and city.

253.The Natural and Legal Persons’ Communications Act of 3 December 2014 regulates in detail the non-judicial procedure for making complaints regarding human rights violations. Communications to State authorities may be submitted as applications, proposals and complaints in the State language and other languages. Under the Act, there may be no discrimination in the enjoyment of the right to submit such communications, and all natural and legal persons are entitled to appeal to a higher authority or directly to the court against an unlawful refusal to accept or consider a communication. Communications may not be transferred without good reason to other State authorities for consideration or referred to the bodies or officials whose decisions and actions or omissions are being challenged.

254.In 2016, 194,817 communications from natural and legal persons were handled directly by the procuratorial bodies (143,338 in the first six months of 2017), of which 15,283 (11,120) were resolved in the applicant’s favour. The rights of 12,507 persons in 2016 and 19,080 in the first half of 2017 were restored. The procurators received 121,567 citizens in 2016 and 173,080 in the first half of 2017. Following consideration of these communications, during these respective periods: 817 (1,634) protests were lodged, and 443 (780) orders to desist from unlawful activity were issued; the courts received 2,954 (4,207) claims for damages amounting to 21.3 billion sum (26.8 billion sum); disciplinary and administrative penalties were imposed on 1,638 (3,795) persons; and criminal proceedings were instituted in 489 (1,390) cases involving major violations of the law.

255.The procuratorial authorities received 43,121 communications through the President’s virtual reception desk and reception desks for the people. Of these, 39,137 were dealt with directly by the prosecutorial bodies, including 4,694 that were resolved in the applicant’s favour and 31,766 in which a statement of reasons was given. Following consideration of these communications, 174 protests were lodged, and 74 orders to desist from unlawful activity were issued; the courts received 654 claims for damages amounting to 8.4 billion sum; disciplinary and administrative penalties were imposed on 430 persons; and criminal proceedings were instituted in 95 cases involving major violations of the law.

256.In 2016, the Department for the Protection of Human Rights attached to the Ministry of Justice and its local offices received 9,793 communications from natural and legal persons (5,383 in the first six months of 2017) and considered 4,193 (2,253), including 1,832 (720) received via the integrated State services portal and virtual reception desks. The consideration of these communications and the checks conducted uncovered violations of the rights of 1,485 (609) natural persons, which represents 35.4 per cent (27 per cent) of the total number of communications considered. Some 703 (260) recommendations and 331 (218) warnings were issued with a view to addressing violations of the law. They include 126 (60) issued to educational institutions, 61 (19) to khokimiyats (local authorities), 99 (46) to health-care facilities, 39 (15) to labour and social security bodies, 17 (2) to tax authorities, 22 (17) to banks, 14 (9) to the Uztransgaz Corporation, 6 (2) to the Uzbekenergo Corporation, 4 (7) to the internal affairs agencies and 315 (83) to other organizations and institutions.

257.Some 90 (19) laws and regulations at variance with the law were revoked; disciplinary penalties were imposed on 902 (432) guilty parties, 31 (79) of whom were dismissed; 765 (250) claims amounting to more than 2.517 billion sum (521 million sum) were lodged on behalf of citizens, of which 847 (136) claims for damages amounting to more than 2.849 billion sum (369.166 million sum) were successful; and, in 138 (5) of the claims, a total of more than 164 million sum (26 million sum) was recovered from officials on behalf of citizens.

258.In 2015, the Ombudsman received 147 communications from inmates. In 2016, 211 communications were received from persons held on remand. Requests were made for a more lenient sentence or pardon in 143 of these communications and for medical testing or treatment in 18; 31 concerned challenges to court verdicts. In 2015 and 2016, the Ombudsman visited 25 correctional facilities. In 2015, the Ombudsman and his regional representatives visited 19 correctional facilities and met and spoke with 331 inmates. In 2016, the Ombudsman visited six facilities.

259.In 2016, the National Centre for Human Rights of Uzbekistan received 2,574 communications, including 639 (24.8 per cent) submitted in person and 1,759 (68.3 per cent) remotely (mainly by post). More than 4,600 citizens received legal advice over the telephone. Women submitted 1,258 (52.4 per cent) of the communications received, men 878 (36.6 per cent) and groups 262 (10.9 per cent). Some 519 communications were resolved in the applicant’s favour, the violated rights of citizens were restored in 231 communications, and assistance was provided to realize rights and legitimate interests in 288 communications.

260.In 2016 and 2017, the President and the Prime Minister opened virtual reception desks, which provide citizens and legal persons from the most remote regions with a means of direct communication. As a result, applications, complaints and proposals may now be submitted directly via a website or a toll-free short-code telephone number accessible throughout the country. In the first three months alone, more than 218,000 communications were received from citizens, and the number of citizens who have submitted a communication to date exceeds 1 million.

261.NGOs also protect human rights and can appear in court as legal representatives and accept and consider communications from citizens.

262.In 2016, 49,607 women facing various problems, including 4,116 women from disadvantaged families, approached the women’s advice centres established by the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan. Some 35,340 women were given practical assistance of various kinds, including 5,017 who received legal aid, 5,014 psychological counselling, 5,817 medical care, 1,527 help in finding work and 1,323 support for training and acquiring professional skills.

263.The spiritual and educational advisers of the citizens’ self-governing bodies worked with 6,961,507 families seeking help in 2015, 7,615,285 in 2016 and 4,157,107 in the first quarter of 2017. Work was found for over 216,000 unemployed citizens in 2015, over 218,000 in 2016 and 13,000 in the first quarter of 2017. Financial assistance was provided to over 135,000 persons in 2015, over 197,000 in 2016 and 140,000 in the first quarter of 2017. Counselling was offered to over 217,000 people in 2015, over 218,000 in 2016 and 281,000 in the first quarter of 2017. Medical assistance was provided for 165,000 persons in 2015, over 216,000 in 2016 and 114,000 in the first quarter of 2017.

264.Political parties are also involved in the consideration of communications. In the period 2014–2016 and the first six months of 2017, the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan received 559 communications from citizens, including requests for assistance in dealing with problems faced by women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities and other groups.

(d)Status of international human rights treaties in national law

265.To date, Uzbekistan has concluded over 3,000 bilateral and multilateral international agreements in the fields of politics, economics and trade, finance, investment, science and technology, cultural and humanitarian work, law enforcement, defence, education, health and tourism. More than 70 of these international agreements are directly concerned with human rights and freedoms.

266.By concluding international treaties recognizing or granting particular human rights, as well as treaties on the mechanisms for providing legal aid for all, Uzbekistan has undertaken to accord specific rights and guarantees for their legal protection to all persons in its territory. However, the rights provided for by international treaties may be directly granted to everyone, and the international obligations of Uzbekistan met, solely through the application of the rules of national law.

267.Effect is given to international human rights law not only through legislation, but also through the targeted socioeconomic policy pursued by the Government. The people’s high level of economic development and political awareness makes it possible to realize many of the inalienable civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights provided for by international agreements.

268.Pursuant to the International Treaties Act of 25 December 1995, Uzbekistan must ensure strict compliance with the international treaties to which it is a party in accordance with the rules of international law.

(e)Invocation of international human rights treaties by judicial bodies

269.The national legal system recognizes the supremacy of the Constitution and the precedence of international law over national legislation. An international treaty must be incorporated into national legislation before it can be applied. Following incorporation, the rules of international law become part of national legislation and are binding. However, it has not become standard practice for judicial bodies to make direct reference to specific international treaties; such practice is in fact extremely rare.

(f)Recognition of the jurisdiction of regional human rights courts

270.Uzbekistan is not a party to any regional human rights agreements and consequently does not recognize the jurisdiction of regional human rights courts.

(g)Legal status and regulation of NGO activities

271.As at 1 January 2017, 8,700 NGOs were registered with the judicial bodies, including 437 NGOs operating nationally, 28 offices and branches of international and foreign NGOs, and 8,235 NGOs operating at the local level. Of these, 489 are voluntary foundations (of which 43 operate nationally, including 363 separate divisions, and 83 operate regionally), 317 are institutions (of which 28 operate nationally, including 229 separate divisions, and 60 operate regionally) and 6,328 are voluntary associations (of which 357 operate nationally, with 5,279 separate divisions, and 692 operate regionally).

272.In Uzbekistan, four political parties with 833 separate subdivisions are registered with local judicial bodies, as are two grass-roots movements, Khalk Birligi and the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan, the first of which has 5 separate subdivisions registered with local judicial bodies and the second 14.

273.There are around 10,000 citizens’ assemblies and self-governing bodies (mahallas).

274.The legislative framework in place to strengthen and safeguard NGO activities includes the Constitution (chapter XIII), the Civil Code, the Voluntary Associations Act, the Non-Profit Non-Governmental Organizations Act, the Voluntary Foundations Act, the Private Property Owners’ Associations Act, the Citizens’ Self-Governing Bodies Act, the Act on the Election of the Chairs (aqsaqals) of Self-Governing Bodies, the Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations Safeguards Act, the Charity Act and the Social Partnership Act.

275.Article 57 of the Constitution prohibits the creation and operation of voluntary associations aimed at overturning the constitutional order by force, impairing the sovereignty, integrity and security of the Republic and the constitutional rights and freedoms of its citizens, fomenting war or social, religious, ethnic or racial enmity, or undermining the people’s health and morality. It also prohibits the creation and operation of paramilitary groups on ethnic or religious lines and the formation of secret societies or associations.

276.A court decision is required to disband, prohibit or restrict the activities of a voluntary association. An NGO may be closed down in accordance with a decision of its governing body or on the basis of a court decision on the grounds set out in legislation. Such matters are dealt with in the regulations on the procedure for closing down non-governmental non-profit organizations, approved by decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on 15 January 2015.

277.The Ministry of Justice is the main authority for the registration of NGOs. Under the Non-Profit Non-Governmental Organizations Act, the judicial body that receives an application for the official registration of an NGO must consider it and come to a decision within one month; within three days of that decision, it must issue to the founders a certificate of official registration or a document indicating the specific legislative provisions on which its rejection is based. NGOs whose applications for official registration have been rejected may reapply. The decision of the registering authority to reject an application for official registration may be appealed against in a court of law. The rules governing the registration of NGOs are set out in the regulations on the procedure for the registration of non-profit non-governmental organizations, approved by decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on 10 March 2014.

278.The State pursues a policy of social partnership with civil society organizations. The Public Support Fund for Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations, which was established under the Oliy Majlis in 2008, and the Parliamentary Commission, whose members are drawn from the Senate and Legislative Chamber, allocate funds from the State budget in a transparent, open, targeted and democratic manner to support NGO activities. In the last nine years alone, the Public Support Fund has awarded over 60 billion sum in subsidies, grants and social service contracts to support NGOs and other civil society organizations and their implementation of various social projects. The funds awarded have tripled in the last four years.

279.The main ways in which the State supports the participation of civil society organizations in the administration of matters of State and society are set out in the Strategy of Action for Development for 2017–2021, approved by presidential decree on 7 February 2017, and the 2017 State programme for the Year of Dialogue with the People and Human Interests.

280.With a view to promoting the development of the State and society, the Strategy provides for the creation of a comprehensive and efficient public administration system anchored in effective mechanisms for dialogue with the people, public oversight and social partnership between State authorities and community organizations. The purpose of its creation is to strengthen the political engagement of NGOs and other civil society organizations. There are also plans to strengthen the legal safeguards for public administration through the introduction of the Public Oversight Act, the Public-Private Cooperation Act, the State Administration Framework Act, the Civil Service Act, an amended version of the Local Authorities Act and other laws.

281.The presidential decree of 28 December 2016 on measures to further enhance the work of the Nuronni Foundation for the social support of the veterans of Uzbekistan and the presidential decree of 3 February 2017 on measures to further enhance mahallas were adopted to strengthen the interaction between State authorities and civil society organizations and enhance the activities of NGOs, citizens’ self-governing bodies and the media. The latter decree is aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of citizens’ self-governing bodies, transforming mahallas, which interact with State authorities, into the population’s most immediate point of access to real relief and assistance, and enhancing the effectiveness of mechanisms for the protection of citizens’ rights and legitimate interests. The National Council for Coordinating the Activities of Citizens’ Self-Governing Bodies was established in accordance with the decree. It was granted legal entity status, local branches were formed, and a programme of comprehensive measures to further enhance the activities of citizens’ self-governing bodies was approved.

282.With a view to supporting media activities, more than 10 laws were adopted for the express purpose of further democratizing and liberalizing the media, strengthening the role of the media in ensuring the openness and transparency of sociopolitical and socioeconomic reforms, and introducing advanced information and communications technologies to the media landscape. The amended Media Act, the Guarantees and Freedom of Access to Information Act, the Information Technologies Act, the Freedom of Information Principles and Safeguards Act, the Protection of the Professional Activities of Journalists Act and the Act on Transparency in the Work of State and Government Bodies have provided guarantees for freedom of access to information and have laid the foundations for an integrated system for the protection of the professional activities of journalists.

283.This legislative framework ensures effective guarantees for the free and independent development of the media. There were 499 digital media outlets in Uzbekistan in 2017, including 395 websites, 100 television and radio stations and 4 news agencies. Some 14.7 million citizens are Internet users, and half of them access the Internet via mobile web services. Media outlets broadcast in more than 15 of the languages of the peoples and ethnic groups living in Uzbekistan. There are print media publications in, among other languages, Uzbek, Russian, English, Kazakh, Tajik, Karakalpak and Korean.

E.General framework for the promotion of human rights at the national level

(a)Role of the national parliament in promoting and protecting human rights and implementing human rights treaties

284.There has recently been greater parliamentary oversight of compliance with international treaties on human rights and freedoms by way of monitoring of the status of implementation of international conventions ratified by the parliament and holding parliamentary hearings, seminars and conferences devoted to this issue.

285.In the last three years, the parliament has considered issues connected with the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the launch of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Uzbek, the efforts being made to fight HIV in the context of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and the outcome of the consideration of the combined third and fourth periodic reports of Uzbekistan under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols along with the Guarantees of Children’s Rights Act. It has also held seminars on the enhancement of parliamentary oversight of the enforcement of the law and the monitoring of the adoption of regulations.

286.In 2017, the Legislative Chamber and the Senate held events on the legal framework governing the activities of the Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights and Legitimate Interests of Business Entities (Business Ombudsman) of the Oliy Majlis. In addition, they held a round table on interparliamentary cooperation between Uzbekistan and the European Union and a meeting to discuss amendments to the Act on Communications from Natural and Legal Persons, the Act on the Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights and Legitimate Interests of Business Entities, the Act on the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Oliy Majlis and the Parliamentary Oversight Act, among other laws.

(b)National human rights institutions

287.In accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, Uzbekistan has established several national human rights institutions: the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Oliy Majlis, the National Centre for Human Rights and the Institute for Monitoring Current Legislation attached to the Office of the President.

288.The Ombudsman has an important oversight role in ensuring compliance with human rights legislation. The Ombudsman facilitates the restoration of rights when they have been violated and the enhancement of national legislation. The Ombudsman’s main tasks include considering communications from citizens and helping them to restore their rights and freedoms when they have been violated.

289.In 2017, various amendments were introduced to the Act on the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Oliy Majlis with a view to strengthening the legal status of the Ombudsman and bringing the institution into line with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles). The Office of the Ombudsman was given the right to submit to the parliament special reports, in addition to its annual reports, on the observance of the human rights of specific categories of citizens and to submit communications to the Constitutional Court regarding existing laws and regulations that are not in line with the Constitution.

290.The National Centre for Human Rights is a State-run, analytical, consultative and interdepartmental coordinating body for the implementation of State policy on human rights and freedoms. The Centre’s main duties and functions include drawing up national plans of action on citizens’ human rights and freedoms, developing cooperation between Uzbekistan and international and national human rights organizations, preparing national reports on the observance and protection of human rights in Uzbekistan and presenting them at international organizations, and drawing up recommendations for State authorities regarding the improvement of their efforts to observe and protect human rights. The National Human Rights Centre publishes a periodical entitled Democratization and Human Rights.

291.The Institute for Monitoring Current Legislation is a research arm of the Office of the President that monitors legislation. It carries out technical reviews of the laws enacted in order to further the Head of State’s legislative initiatives. The Institute reviews the consistency of legislation with international rules and standards and sees to it that bills give primacy to the universal principles and rules of international law and human rights and freedoms.

292.The Research Centre for the Study of Justice attached to the Supreme Judicial Council is an independent information analysis institution. It is responsible for analysing legislation relating to justice and developing proposals for the improvement of judicial practice and court proceedings. It also studies universal principles and standards of international law relating to justice and facilitates their incorporation into national legislation.

293.The Office of the Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights and Legitimate Interests of Business Entities was established under the Office of the President by presidential decree on 5 May 2017. It is responsible for preventing the unreasonable interference of State authorities in the activities of businesspeople, strengthening the legal mechanisms for the inviolability of private property and overseeing the observance of the rights and legitimate interests of businesspeople by considering communications from them, conducting ongoing monitoring of compliance with legislation regulating business activities and drawing up proposals for the improvement of such legislation. Its legal status and activities are regulated by the Act of 5 May 2017 on the Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights and Legitimate Interests of Business Entities under the Office of the President.

(с)Dissemination and publication of human rights instruments

294.The dissemination of international human rights instruments takes the form of the preparation and publication of compendiums of international human rights treaties and books on the incorporation of international treaties into national legislation and the publication of explanatory material on the essence and meaning of international human rights standards.

295.In Uzbekistan, more than 100 core international human rights instruments have been translated into Uzbek and published in large runs in close cooperation with such international partners as the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, OSCE and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The following are some of the books and compilations on human rights published in Uzbek or Russian in recent years:

Compendium of Texts of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child;

International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law: A Study Guide;

Monitoring the Rights of the Child (a study guide in Uzbek and Russian);

International Treaties on Human Trafficking and Uzbek Law;

Human Rights Education: National and International Standards (in Russian);

Prisoners ’ Rights: International and National Standards (in Uzbek and Russian);

The Observance of Human Rights in Uzbekistan as a Basis for Stability, Sustainable Development and Prosperity;

International Standards and the Enhancement of National Legislation on Political Parties and Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations (a collection of international round-table papers);

Research on Human Rights and Freedoms: Situation and Outlook (a collection of international conference papers);

OSCE Human Dimension Commitments (in Uzbek);

Odam savdosiga qarshi kurashish bo ’ yicha xalqaro shartnomalar va O ’ zbekiston milliy qonunchiligi;

National Human Rights Protection System: International Practice and the Uzbek Experience;

National Framework for Monitoring Women ’ s Rights in Uzbekistan (in Uzbek and Russian);

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the General Comments of the United Nations Committee against Torture: A Compendium;

Further Reform of the Judicial System: A Priority for the Development and Democratization of Society (international conference papers);

Human Rights and Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations;

Qiynoqlarga hamda muomala va jazolashning boshqa shafqatsiz , g ’ ayriinsoniy yoki qadr — qimmatni kamsitadigan turlariga qarshi konvensiya Qiynoqlarga qarshi BMT qo ’ mitasining umumiy tartibdagi mulohazalari;

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: Its Implementation in Uzbekistan;

International Legal Framework for the Activities of National Human Rights Institutions;

Hammagapimkoniyatda;

O ’ zbekiston Respublikasida Xotin — qizlar huquqlarini monitoring qilish bo ’ yicha milliy kontseptsiya (in Uzbek and Russian);

Framework for Monitoring Human Rights in the Context of HIV Infection in Uzbekistan;

Fuqarolarning siyosiy huquqlari to ’ g ’ risidagi Xalqaro pakt;

Inson huquqlari nuqtai nazaridan tadbirkorlik faoliyatining dasturamal tamoyillari (BMT doirasida Huquq himoyani muxofaza qilish , unga rioya etish va uning vositalariga nisbatan amalga oshirish );

Commentary to the Act on Transparency in the Work of State and Government Bodies;

Commentary to the Act on Communications from Natural and Legal Persons;

The Organization of Public Oversight of the Enforcement of the Law in the Republic of Uzbekistan;

Inson huquqlari bo ’ yicha O ’ zbekiston Respublikasi milliy institutlari;

Bola huquqlari kafolatlari to ’ g ’ risida»gi O ’ zbekiston Respublikasi qonuniga sharh;

Implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict;

The National Centre for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2016;

The National System for the Effective Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms in Uzbekistan: Achievements since Independence.

(d)Raising awareness among civil servants and law enforcement officials

296.Uzbekistan has a network of educational institutions that conduct basic training and refresher courses for legal specialists and law enforcement officials. It includes Tashkent State Law University, the Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy, the Institute of the National Security Service, the Centre for the Further Training of Legal Specialists, the advanced training courses offered by the Office of the Procurator General, the Academy of Public Administration attached to the Office of the President and the University of World Economics and Diplomacy attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

297.The Academy of Public Administration attached to the Office of the President offers a course on human rights. This course includes practical work experience at the National Centre for Human Rights and the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner.

298.The Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy opened a faculty of human rights theory and practice. The curriculum in this area is structured as follows:

In their second year, full-time students take a 40-hour course on general human rights theory, which consists of 20 hours of lectures, 8 hours of workshops and 12 hours of self-study;

Students on higher academic courses take a 40-hour course on human rights and the work of the internal affairs agencies, which consists of 12 hours of lectures, 18 hours of workshops and 10 hours of self-study;

Students on higher training courses for non-commissioned officers take a legal training course, including a module on human rights and the work of the internal affairs agencies, which consists of 16 hours of teaching;

The curricula offered at the faculty for the further training of internal affairs officers include classes on international standards for the observance of human rights in law enforcement work and on the observance of human rights in law enforcement work, as part of which conventions and covenants are studied.

299.The Ministry of Internal Affairs has four centres to provide training and refresher courses for non-commissioned officers, and the curriculum includes classes on international standards and national legislation in the field of human rights protection.

300.The Centre for the Further Training of Legal Specialists attached to the Ministry of Justice is a State educational institution that provides advanced training and refresher courses for judicial staff, court officers, members of the Bar, law professors and legal services staff. The curriculum includes courses on national legislation and international standards in the sphere of justice, the international humanitarian law framework, the place and function of international human rights standards in the work of the law enforcement agencies, national legislation and international human rights law, and international and national human rights protection mechanisms. In the period 2014–2016 and the first quarter of 2017, the Centre trained 7,709 people. This figure included 1,067 judges (versus 348 in 2014, 457 in 2015, 233 in 2016 and 29 in the first quarter of 2017), 878 candidates for judgeships (versus 222 in 2014, 421 in 2015, 177 in 2016 and 58 in the first quarter of 2017), 1,662 lawyers (versus 491 in 2014, 504 in 2015, 514 in 2016 and 153 in the first quarter of 2017) and 380 employees of judicial bodies (versus 52 in 2014, 212 in 2015, 101 in 2016 and 15 in the first quarter of 2017).

301.The advanced training courses offered by the Office of the Procurator General involve systematic activities to raise awareness of human rights, promote legal literacy and enhance the professional skills of the staff of the procuratorial bodies and officials of the department attached to the Office of the Procurator General. In the period 2014–2016 and the first quarter of 2017, 1,075 people took the advanced training courses. These courses involve classes on issues relating to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and other aspects of human rights and freedoms.

302.The curriculum of the Institute of the National Security Service includes a separate, 24-hour training course on human rights. The Institute has a centre for the law of armed conflicts, which also holds classes on human rights. The teaching is interdisciplinary and covers both general aspects of human rights and the specific, practical requirements of their observance that members of the National Security Service must respect in their law enforcement work.

303.Tashkent State Law University has introduced a 142-hour module on international human rights law for third-year students specializing in international law. It consists of 30 hours of lectures, 46 hours of practical exercises and 66 hours of independent work. In addition to this separate course, specific aspects of human rights, including the theory of the State and law, criminal law, administrative law, civil law and civil procedure, are included in other legal courses.

304.At the University of World Economics and Diplomacy attached to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, international human rights law and national human rights institutions are included in the bachelor’s curricula for the human rights and international humanitarian law courses at the faculties of international law and international relations and also at the master’s level.

305.There is a course on human rights for fourth-year students at the faculty of international law and for fifth-year students at the faculty of international relations, that covers the core human rights instruments. The course includes lectures on the core human rights instruments, international human rights protection mechanisms, and civil and political rights. Master’s students learn about international human rights instruments as part of a course on international human rights law. The curricula are regularly updated to reflect amendments introduced to the law.

306.Human rights are also included in complementary courses on, inter alia, criminal law, criminal procedure law and constitutional law. As part of a fifth-year specialized course on public international law, 10 hours are devoted to a detailed study of children’s rights in international law.

307.Like investigators and judges, students at the military education institutions of the Ministry of Defence study international human rights standards as part of the curriculum. Humanitarian law and the law of armed conflicts, which include the study of human rights, have been taught as elective classes since the start of the academic year in 2005 and were incorporated into the core curriculum for a module on the principles of military law since the start of the academic year in 2006.

308.The Ministry of Health devotes special attention to the study of human rights as part of the training and refresher training provided for doctors. The rights of specialists, medical examiners and persons undergoing examinations are set out in a course on forensic medicine taught on all medical school bachelor’s programmes. There is also a course on the legal foundations of medicine. Attention is devoted to the rights and freedoms of individuals, including the rights to life, liberty and security of person, the right to protection from assault and the right not to be tortured or subjected to violence. Students are taught that medical or scientific experiments may not be carried out on a person without his or her consent. These issues are considered from both the perspective of patients and that of medical personnel.

(e)Study of human rights in educational institutions (schools, lycées, colleges, universities)

309.In line with the national programme to promote the legal literacy of society, a system of continuing legal education and training, which consists of several stages, was set up under the national personnel training programme and the Education Act.

310.Legal education and training begins in the family, which is the foundation for the development of a child’s personality. The family occupies a special place in the design and development of legal education and training.

311.In preschool education institutions, elementary legal instruction and training have been incorporated into daily games and exercises. These exercises are organized for children in preschools, kindergartens and the first years of primary education. Each year, those children have 16 hours of instruction on the Constitution in the form of games and 9 hours in the form of celebrations.

312.In the first four years of primary school, pupils are introduced, depending on their age, to such concepts as the law, duty and obligation. Each year, 40 hours are devoted to a course on the ABC of the Constitution.

313.In the fifth to seventh years, the subject matter grows more complex with the introduction of real-life examples of relations between the State and the individual, and an overview is given of the topics of personal autonomy, equality of rights, freedom of speech, freedom of information and the criminal responsibility of young persons. Each year, 51 hours are devoted to a course entitled “A voyage into the world of the Constitution”.

314.In the eighth and ninth years, the main objective of legal education and training is to impart knowledge of the socioeconomic, political, legal, scientific and cultural development of the State and form individuals who think creatively and can voice their own opinions on real-life problems. Each year, 34 hours are devoted to classes on the principles of constitutional law. In schools (first to ninth grades), human rights are taught as part of the courses on the foundations of the State and law, jurisprudence and the ABC of the Constitution (50 hours).

315.Colleges and lycées teach various areas of law in 68 hours of law courses spread over two years.

316.All students at higher education institutions take courses that give them a basic grounding in the law and a knowledge of the Constitution. The courses include information on human rights and how they can be protected.

Promotion of human rights awareness through the media

317.The country currently has 693 newspapers (326 State and 367 independent), 330 magazines (142 State and 188 independent), 131 publishing houses, 4 news agencies, 68 television stations (34 State and 34 independent) and 37 radio stations (5 State and 32 independent).

318.Independent television and radio stations and regional television and radio companies that belong to the National Television and Radio Company regularly give extensive coverage to human rights protection issues, the legal and institutional mechanisms for safeguarding human rights and various facets of the role played by civil society organizations in the protection of human rights.

319.In the period 2014–2016 and the first half of 2017, the television and radio stations belonging to the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan regularly reported on legal topics and human rights protection in the daily and weekly television and radio news programmes Axborot, Axborot 24, News 24, Davr, Poytaxt, Tahlilnoma, Davr hafta ichida , Davr yangiliklari, Mash ’ al xabarlari, Oqshom to ’ lqinlarida and Diyor yangiliklari, as well as in the thematic television and radio programmes that were produced and broadcast, including Yuridik klinika, Inson va qonun, Qonun himoyasida, Hayot va qonun, Ayol qalbi, Parlament vaqti, Taraqqiyot dasturi, Sizning advokatingiz, Parlament faoliyati, Davr mavzusi, Huquqshunos javob beradi, Mavzuga nigoh, El tinchligi yo ’ lida, Bir jinoyat izidan, Mavzuga nigoh, Ogoh bo ’ ling !, Inson huquqlari oliy qadriyat, Erkin va obod Vatan, Xayotimiz qomusi, Odil sud, Hidoyat sari, E ’ tiqod mustahkamligi yo ’ lida (a Ziyo studios production), Kun qiyofasi, Azizim, Mening oilam, Hamroh, Mustahkam, sog ’ lom oila, Barkamollik yo ’ lidan, Kelajak payvandi, Vatanparvar, Saylo v — demokratiya ko ’ zgusi, Adolat — qonun ustuvorligida , Munosabat, Muvozanat, Mahallada nima gap?, To ’ rtinchi tamoyil, Ta ’ lim va taraqqiyot, Adashganlar qismati, Mushohada maydoni, Umr qadri, Xalq manfaati yo ’ lida, Nuqtai-nazar, O ’ zingni o ’ zing asra, Mehr, Jinoyat va jazo, Mening hududim, Murojaatlar va qonun, Jinoyatchilikka qarshi murosasizlik — jamiyat bardarorligi garovi , Ko ’ zgudagi biz, Xatarli harmoh, Hududingiz-amalda, Ogoh bo ’ ling, odamlar, Inson va hayot, Microphone of the Times, Events, Facts, Comment, Parliamentary Herald, Caring for People and Radio Lawyer. Public service announcements of 1.5 to 2 minutes in duration are broadcast two or three times a day. The number of such announcements broadcast on television was 362 in 2014, 263 in 2015, 312 in 2016, and 61 in the first six months of 2017.

320.Currently, television and radio programmes are broadcast in more than 15 languages, including Uzbek, Karakalpak, Russian, Kazakh, Tajik, Kyrgyz, Crimean Tartar, Uighur, Azerbaijani, English, Korean, Turkmen, Tartar, Hindi and German, which makes it possible to raise awareness of the lives and activities of members of the various ethnic groups in the country.

321.More than 30 legal journals and reviews with a focus on human rights are published in Uzbekistan, and a database of legislation currently in force has been created and uploaded to the Internet (www.lex.uz).

(g)The role of civil society in the promotion and protection of human rights

322.The active participation of NGOs and other civil society organizations in the administration of matters of State and society is associated with the adoption of a number of laws to promote the development and strengthening of the social partnership between the State and NGOs.

323.The Environmental Oversight Act of 27 December 2013 is highly significant in this regard. The Act defines the legal mechanisms for public participation in the oversight and monitoring of efforts to ensure citizens’ environmental security. The right to conduct public environmental oversight is enjoyed not only by NGOs and citizens’ self-governing bodies, but also directly by citizens, who are entitled to obtain information on the current state of environmental protection.

324.The Act on Transparency in the Work of State and Government Bodies, adopted in 2014, was well received in society. The Act aims to ensure openness and transparency in the work of State authorities, which constitutes an important guarantee for the development of public oversight of their operations. The Act defines the specific rights of citizens, NGOs and the media in terms of access to relevant information, subject to the restrictions set out in legislation.

325.The adoption of the Social Partnership Act of 25 September 2014, a framework law that has no precedent anywhere in the world, is evidence of the creation of a legal framework and principles for interaction and cooperation between State authorities and civil society organizations in the socioeconomic, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres. The Act provides for the establishment of special bodies (commissions or councils) to coordinate social partnership initiatives.

326.In Uzbekistan, human rights activities are carried out primarily by active members of various NGOs. These NGOs not only protect the rights of their members, but have also come to understand the importance of setting up a system for the public monitoring and oversight of the work of State authorities. They consist mainly of children’s, women’s and environmental NGOs, organizations of persons with disabilities and older persons and professional associations, foundations, associations, unions and committees that bring citizens together on the basis of their interests.

327.The Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan, founded in 1991, is the oldest NGO providing coordination and advisory services on matters of policy relating to women. A unique feature of this national mechanism is that its chair also holds the post of Deputy Prime Minister, which enables the Committee to work to protect women’s rights and interests, bolster their sociolegal and sociopolitical engagement, promote maternal and child welfare, fostering a healthy family environment, help women to find work and safeguard social and labour rights. The Committee, which has regional offices, initiates, coordinates and implements government policies, programmes and projects aimed at improving the situation of women, advises the Government on matters concerning women and makes relevant information available to women.

328.The international non-governmental charitable foundation Soglom Avlod Uchun (“For a Healthy Generation”) works to create the conditions in which a well-developed personality can come into being and be nurtured. To that end, it formulates and implements humanitarian, medical and educational programmes and projects to support gifted children and promote a healthy lifestyle and programmes targeting vulnerable groups, children and young people. The foundation operates in 14 regions. Across the country, it has over 180 local offices and more than 250 people (physicians, teachers and economists) working actively to implement its existing programmes and formulate new ones.

329.The Nuronni Foundation provides social support for the veterans of Uzbekistan. Its main function is to play an active role in the development of robust social policy, particularly in terms of respect for veterans, persons with disabilities and older persons, in the creation of a favourable social environment for them and in their provision with financial, medical and moral support. Additional measures to support this NGO were adopted in 2017 pursuant to the presidential decree on measures to improve the work of Nuronni for the social support of the veterans of Uzbekistan.

330.The National Association of Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations of Uzbekistan encompasses all spheres of the life of society and operates in various areas, including social support, law, policy for women, youth affairs, and the environment. It regularly holds public hearings with representatives of the health-care, education, environmental protection, labour protection and social protection sectors and conducts public oversight and monitoring of the accessibility of transport for persons with disabilities.

331.The Independent Institute for Monitoring the Development of Civil Society is taking various measures to meet the objectives set out in the national development strategy and, in its regional offices, is implementing a methodology for monitoring the media democratization and liberalization process. The Institute participated in the preparation of the Public Oversight Act, the Social Partnership Act, the Environmental Oversight Act, the Television and Radio Broadcasting Act, the Act on Transparency in the Work of State and Government Bodies, the Parliamentary Oversight Act, the Act on the Economic Activities of the Media, the Guaranteed State Support for the Media Act, the Citizens’ Self-Governing Bodies Act, the Act on the Election of Chairs of Citizens’ Assemblies and Their Advisers, the Act amending the Administrative Liability Code, the national plan of action on human rights and the national programme to promote the legal literacy of society. In accordance with the presidential decision of 27 March 2017 on additional measures to enhance the work of the Independent Institute for Monitoring the Development of Civil Society, the Institute acquired the right to monitor the activities of State authorities systematically, consider communications from natural and legal persons and formulate proposals to improve the effectiveness of the work of NGOs in this area.

332.In 2017, the Youth Union of Uzbekistan was set up to facilitate cooperation between youth organizations and State authorities in the implementation of the National Youth Policy Act, protect the rights, freedoms and interests of young people aged between 14 and 30 years and conduct public monitoring of the work of State authorities responsible for implementing State youth policy in the country. The presidential decree of 5 July 2017 on measures to enhance the effectiveness of State youth policy and support the work of the Youth Union of Uzbekistan was adopted to support the organization. The decree provides for the establishment of a system to provide full support for all young people, realize their rights to education and work and meet their cultural needs. The Institute for the Study of Youth Problems and the Training of High-Potential Staff was established under the Academy of Public Administration attached to the Office of the President by presidential decree on 14 August 2017. It undertakes research on improving State youth policy and provides training to young professionals.

333.The role of trade unions in public oversight is being enhanced. The various forms, spheres and methods of its role in that regard have been enshrined in the Constitution, the Labour Code and the Act on Trade Unions, Their Rights and Guarantees of Their Activity, as amended, adopted on 28 November 2016. Monitoring by the unions extends to such areas as working conditions and pay, labour safety and protection in the workplace, social protection, living conditions, social insurance, protection of the health and cultural interests of workers and employment. Trade unions have been directly involved in the development of more than 150 laws and regulations on social and labour matters, including the Social Partnership Act, the Act on Transparency in the Work of State and Government Bodies, the Act on Communications from Natural and Legal Persons and the Family Business Act.

334.Trade unions conduct public monitoring of the implementation of the ILO conventions ratified by Uzbekistan. The Coordinating Council on Child Labour has been operating successfully since 2013. Its members are representatives of the Trade Union Federation Council, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, civil society institutions and international organizations.

335.In Uzbekistan, citizens’ self-governing bodies play a key role in deepening democratic reforms and reinvigorating society.

336.Based on the Constitution, the Citizens’ Self-Governing Bodies Act and the Election of Chairs (aqsaqals) to Citizens’ Self-Governing Bodies Act were adopted, as were more than 50 legislative provisions aimed at enhancing and increasing the effectiveness of the work of citizens’ self-governing bodies.

337.The citizens’ assembly: submits to the relevant area electoral commissions the candidacies of members of precinct electoral commissions for the presidential elections, elections to the Legislative Chamber and elections to provincial, district and city kengashes and submits to the relevant area referendum commissions the candidacies of members of the precinct referendum commissions; takes decisions regarding the nomination of candidates to serve as deputies in the district or city Kengash of People’s Deputies; presents to the relevant State district or city bodies petitions regarding changes to the borders of administrative or territorial units and mahallas and regarding the naming or renaming of mahallas, streets, squares and facilities, as well as playing an important role in educating and finding employment for young people. The system includes “parents’ universities”, whereby parents and health-care providers and teachers conduct regular and ongoing discussion of the problems faced by young people and issues of concern to young men, women and families.

F.Reporting process at the national level

338.As a State party to international human rights treaties, Uzbekistan has presented 35 national reports to the United Nations bodies established to monitor the implementation of the following treaties:

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Human Rights Committee);

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights);

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women);

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Committee against Torture);

Convention on the Rights of the Child (Committee on the Rights of the Child), the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.

339.Since 2008, Uzbekistan has presented two national reports to the Human Rights Council as part of the universal periodic review process and has adopted and implemented national action plans to implement the Council’s recommendations.

340.The National Centre for Human Rights is the agency responsible for collecting information and preparing periodic reports on compliance with international human rights treaties. More than 40 State authorities responsible for compliance with international obligations in the field of human rights and freedoms participate in the preparation of reports, as do more than 30 NGOs and citizens’ self-governing bodies.

341.National reports are prepared in accordance with the following:

Compilation of guidelines on the form and content of reports to be submitted by States parties to the international human rights treaties;

General comments and recommendations of treaty bodies;

Concluding observations and recommendations of the United Nations treaty bodies on the periodic reports of Uzbekistan;

International human rights treaties;

New legislative acts of Uzbekistan that concern human rights;

The latest practice in law enforcement and human rights protection;

Information and material submitted by NGOs and educational and scientific institutions.

342.National reports on the country’s compliance with its international human rights obligations are discussed at meetings of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and the interdepartmental working group under the Ministry of Justice. The interdepartmental working group to monitor the observance of human rights by law enforcement agencies and other public bodies met on three occasions in 2016 and the first half of 2017: to consider information prepared by the National Centre for Human Rights on the organization and results of the visit to Uzbekistan of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein; to review the results of the monitoring of the implementation of the national plan of action to carry out the recommendations of the Human Rights Council and the United Nations human rights treaty bodies following their consideration of the national reports on human rights and freedoms submitted by Uzbekistan in the period 2014–2016; and to approve a national plan of action to carry out the recommendations of the Human Rights Committee following its consideration of the fourth periodic report of Uzbekistan under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (8 July 2015, Geneva).

III.Implementation of substantive human rights provisions common to all or several treaties

G.Non-discrimination and equality

343.The Constitution is the primary legislative act ensuring that fundamental human rights and freedoms are upheld even-handedly in the political, economic, social, cultural and other spheres of public life. The Constitution states that the nation of Uzbekistan is made up of the citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan regardless of their ethnic background.

344.The Constitution and all laws of Uzbekistan accord citizens equal liberties and rights to equality before the law, irrespective of their race, sex, ethnicity, language, religion, social origin, beliefs, and personal or social status (Constitution, art. 18).

345.Article 6 of the amended Referendum Act of 30 August 2001 prohibits “any direct or indirect restriction of the rights of citizens to participate in a referendum on the grounds of origin, social group, sex, education or language”.

346.Article 4 of the Education Act of 29 August 1997 stipulates that “everyone is guaranteed equal rights to an education, irrespective of sex, language, age, racial or ethnic origin, beliefs, views on religion, social origin, occupation, social status, place of residence, or length of residence in the territory of Uzbekistan”.

347.Article 6 of the Labour Code of 21 December 1995 stipulates that “all citizens have equal opportunities with regard to the possession and exercise of labour rights. The imposition of any restrictions or the granting of privileges in the sphere of labour relations on the basis of sex, age, race, ethnic background, language, social origin, property or employment status, attitude towards religion, beliefs, membership of voluntary associations or other considerations unrelated to employees’ skills or the results of their work is unacceptable and constitutes discrimination.”

348.Article 10 of the Natural and Legal Persons Communications Act of 3 December 2014 stipulates that, “in exercise of the right to submit communications, any discrimination on grounds of the sex, race, ethnicity, language, religion, social origin, beliefs, or personal or social status of a natural person, or on the grounds of the type of ownership, location, form of legal incorporation and other circumstances of a legal person, is prohibited”.

349.Provisions relating to the equality of citizens’ rights and the inadmissibility of discrimination in their enjoyment are also set out in various laws, including article 7 of the Pretrial Detention during Criminal Proceedings Act of 29 September 2011, article 5 of the Criminal Code, article 16 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Legal Profession and Social Protection of Lawyers Safeguards Act of 25 December 1998.

350.Under the legal system of Uzbekistan, there are penalties for offences against equality of rights. The Administrative Liability Code establishes fines for the violation of citizens’ right to a free choice of language of upbringing or instruction, for the obstruction or restriction of the use of a language and for disregard for the State language or the languages of the various ethnic groups and peoples living in Uzbekistan.

351.Article 141 of the Criminal Code establishes criminal liability for violations of equality of rights. Such offences are addressed in chapter VII of the Code, which lists offences against citizens’ constitutional rights and freedoms.

352.Article 156 of the Criminal Code establishes criminal liability for incitement to ethnic, racial or religious hatred, or deliberate acts that offend national honour or dignity and are committed for the purpose of inciting hatred, intolerance or discord with respect to any group on ethnic or racial grounds, and for the direct or indirect restriction of privileges, or the granting of direct or indirect privileges, on national, ethnic or racial grounds.

353.Article 153 of the Criminal Code establishes penalties for genocide, or the deliberate creation of conditions of life designed to bring about total or partial physical extermination, enforced birth control or the transfer of children from one group of people to another or the issuance of instructions to carry out such acts.

354.The Committee for Inter-Ethnic Relations and Friendly Ties with Foreign Countries was established under the Cabinet of Ministers pursuant to the presidential decree of 19 May 2017 on measures to further enhance inter-ethnic relations and friendly ties with foreign countries.

355.As the government body responsible for inter-ethnic relations, the Committee is actively involved in working to ensure the continued implementation of State policy on inter-ethnic harmony and tolerance in society.

356.The 138 ethnic cultural centres and 34 societies for friendship with foreign countries play a leading role in preserving and comprehensively developing the history, culture, spiritual values, traditions and customs of all the ethnic groups, peoples and diasporas of Uzbekistan, harmonizing inter-ethnic relations and ensuring the sustainable development of society and the State. Through the active use of the mechanisms of “people’s diplomacy”, they make an important contribution to the mutual enrichment of cultures, the preservation of a peaceful and prosperous life, the development of friendly relations and cultural and spiritual ties with foreign countries, and the establishment of close and mutually beneficial relations with Uzbeks abroad.

Annexes

Annex 1

National reports submitted by Uzbekistan to United Nations treaty bodies, 2011–2014

	Reports	Treaty bodies	Date of submission
1.	Fifth periodic report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women	Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women	2014
2.	Common core document	General Assembly	2015
3.	Common core document	General Assembly	2017
4.	Fifth periodic report on the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment	Committee against Torture	2017

Annex 2

Breakdown of the total population of Uzbekistan by ethnic group (at beginning of year)

	Thousand persons
2014	2015	2016	2017
Total	30 492 812	31 022 525	31 575 332	32 120 463
Including:
Uzbeks	25 342 568	25 862 363	26 394 054	26 917 728
Karakalpaks	673 093	685 302	697 574	708 823
Russians	795 010	776 923	763 102	749 988
Ukrainians	74 151	72 799	71 707	70 738
Belarusians	19 222	19 066	18 946	18 812
Kazakhs	800 095	799 078	800 452	803 350
Azerbaijanis	40 985	40 859	40 847	40 842
Kyrgyz	264 115	267 448	271 209	274 404
Tajiks	1 473 259	1 496 356	1 520 580	1 544 739
Turkmen	182 581	185 627	188 933	192 037
Tatars	207 450	202 426	198 703	194 963
Koreans	182 957	180 594	178 607	176 855
Other	437 326	433 684	430 618	427 184

Annex 3

Main indicators — Social and economic development in Uzbekistan 2014−2016

Indicator	Unit	2014	Annual percentage change	2015	Annual percentage change	2016	Annual percentage change
1. Total GDP	Billion sum	145 846.4	108.0	171 808.3	107.9	199 325.11	107.8
Including:
Gross value added	Billion sum	133 366.2	108.0	156 731.0	108.0	182 071.9	107.9
Net taxes on products	Billion sum	12 480.2	107.7	15 077.3	106.3	17 253.2	105.7
2. Gross value added	Billion sum	133 366.2	108.0	156 731.0	108.0	182 071.9	107.9
Agriculture, forestry and fishery	Billion sum	25 193.8	106.9	28 672.2	106.8	32 048.1	106.6
Manufacturing and construction	Billion sum	43 498.9	107.9	51 646.7	108.2	59 820.9	106.6
Industry	Billion sum	34 400.6	105.5	40 264.1	105.4	46 708.7	105.0
Construction	Billion sum	9 098.3	117.6	11 382.6	118.8	13 112.2	112.5
Services	Billion sum	64 673.5	108.5	76 412.1	108.4	90 202.9	109.3
3. Rate of inflation
Monthly average	%	0.5	х	0.5	х	0.5	Х
Up to December of the previous year	%	6.1	х	5.6	х	5.7	Х
4. Industry, total	Billion sum	84 011.6	108.3	97 598.2	107.9	111 869.4	106.2
Mining and quarrying	Billion sum	9 257.6	101.2	10 870.8	107.1	10 721.2	101.0
Including:
Mining of coal and lignite and extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas	Billion sum	5 927.4	96.9	7 037.7	108.4	6 196.8	102.2
Mining of metal ores	Billion sum	2 724.7	107.1	3 103.6	102.4	3 556.2	101.5
Other mining and quarrying	Billion sum	341.1	111.9	421.2	115.9	492.8	107.9
Manufacturing	Billion sum	67 097.5	109.4	77 088.2	108.1	89 793.3	106.4
Including:
Food processing beverages and tobacco	Billion sum	17 177.3	111.1	21 889.8	117.4	26 782.3	110.8
Manufacture of textiles, wearing apparel and leather products	Billion sum	12 675.3	106.6	15 584.9	116.2	18 635.2	109.6
Manufacture of wood and cork products, articles of straw and plaiting materials, paper and paper products and furniture	Billion sum	1 559.7	122.2	1 974.7	120.2	2 900.6	131.6
Printing and reproduction of recorded media	Billion sum	473.3	109.9	573.2	117.2	939.9	119.8
Manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products	Billion sum	3 062.7	99.9	3 102.6	93.2	2 886.7	97.1
Manufacture of chemical products and rubber and plastic products	Billion sum	5 776.2	105.8	6 885.5	107.3	9 973.5	134.4
Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations	Billion sum	516.6	118.2	750.6	130.7	1 220.9	140.3
Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products	Billion sum	4 771.4	107.5	4 889.5	106.0	6 338.3	120.9
Manufacture of basic metals	Billion sum	6 397.4	108.6	7 088.8	102.8	8 040.1	101.6
Manufacture, repair and installation of machinery and equipment, manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers and other fabricated metal products	Billion sum	14 333.7	112.9	13 898.0	94.4	10 998.5	76.3
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply	Billion sum	7 117.7	106.1	8 993.3	107.3	10 522.6	109.8
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities	Billion sum	538.6	135.0	645.8	107.8	832.3	112.3
5. Consumer goods	Billion sum	33 868.5	109.4	42 085.5	109.7	48 253.8	106.0
Food	Billion sum	14 820.1	108.7	19 361.9	117.4	23 404.2	111.7
Non-food items	Billion sum	19 048.4	110.0	22 723.6	103.9	24 849.6	101.1
6. Agricultural products	Billion sum	39 737.3	107.0	42 280.4	106.8	48 431.11	106.6
Crop production	Billion sum	25 156.2	107.1	25 084.8	106.7	29 042.4	106.2
Animal production	Billion sum	14 581.1	106.9	17 195.6	106.8	18 443.7	107.1
7. Investment in fixed capital	Billion sum	35 233.3	109.9	41 670.5	109.6	49 770.6	107.7
Investment at the national level	Billion sum	6 524.2	104.8	8 595.2	119.4	10 489.0	108.0
Budget	Billion sum	1 582.5	92.6	1 885.4	110.1	2 221.2	105.7
Reclamation of irrigated land fund	Billion sum	120.8	99.0	-	-	-	-
Fund for the development of children ’ s sport	Billion sum	-	-	271.1	97.8	309.2	102.3
Extrabudgetary funds	Billion sum	2206.3	104.8	-	-	-	-
Public trust funds	Billion sum	-	-	2 415.5	107.8	2 362.6	87.7
Funds for reconstruction and development	Billion sum	1 123.9	120.8	1 846.9	151.9	2 338.3	113.6
Foreign investments and loans guaranteed by the Government	Billion sum	1 490.7	109.7	2 176.4	132.4	3 257.7	134.2
Investment at the local level	Billion sum	28 709.1	111.1	3 3075.2	106.5	39 281.6	107.3
Corporate funds	Billion sum	11 991.2	107.6	13 329.1	102.7	15 092.9	101.6
Personal funds	Billion sum	7 298.6	110.8	8 697.3	111.8	11 311.1	119.8
Foreign direct investment and loans	Billion sum	5 489.4	114.0	6 133.1	101.3	7 353.7	107.5
Commercial bank and other loans	Billion sum	3 929.9	119.5	4 915.7	115.6	5 523.9	100.8
Construction	Billion sum	20 060.4	117.6	25 423.1	118.8	30 231.4	110.2
Housing starts	Thousand m 2 m	11 419.7	106.3	12 052.7	105.5	12 726.9	105.6
8. Transport
Freight transport	Millions t	1 458.9	105.2	1 527.0	104.7	1 603.5	105.0
Passenger transport	Millions of persons	7 335.3	105.0	7 598.2	103.7	7 910.9	104.1
9. Social
Number of persons employed (yearly average)	Thousand persons	12 818.4	102.4	13 058.3	101.9	13 298.4	101.8
Average nominal wage for the last month of the year2	Thousand sum	1 3 66.9	113.6	1 549.6	113.4	1 752.2	113.1
Average pension for the last month of the year	Thousand sum	404.3	122.2	438.2	108.4	491.1	112.1
10. Retail turnover	Billion sum	58 136.6	113.3	71 184.1	115.3	88 071.6	114.4
11. Paid services	Billion sum	22 392.4	110.1	27 297.1	110.7	33 174.5	109.3
12. Services, total	Billion sum	65 880.4	115.1	75 356.8	114.0	92 536.0	114.5
% GDP	%	48.5	х	48.5	х	49.5	Х
Including by type:
Communications and information technology services	Billion sum	4 541.3	126.1	5 181.5	116.0	6 306.8	114.6
Finance services	Billion sum	6 728.2	132.1	8 206.7	130.6	9 898.4	119.8
Transport services	Billion sum	21 629.3	106.0	23 643.7	105.0	26 103.7	106.0
Including road transport services	Billion sum	10 254.7	117.0	12 317.8	111.8	14 701.4	116.7
Accommodation and food services	Billion sum	732.3	116.3	890.6	119.0	3 038.7	121.1
Trade services	Billion sum	18 976.0	115.6	21 366.9	118.5	27 368.2	120.5
Real estate activities	Billion sum	2 235.9	119.9	2 757.3	118.5	3 405.1	117.5
Education services	Billion sum	2 154.4	109.3	2 681.4	111.2	3 263.0	107.8
Health-care services	Billion sum	868.1	117.3	1 100.4	117.2	1 416.3	122.2
Rental and leasing activities	Billion sum	1 494.6	119.1	1 801.6	113.8	2 270.1	117.6
Repair of computers and household goods	Billion sum	1 388.4	117.1	1 724.5	116.3	2 187.9	115.6
Personal services	Billion sum	2 049.2	121.7	2 366.5	107.0	2 915.5	113.8
Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis	Billion sum	748.7	107.3	841.0	106.6	1 132.6	115.3
Other services	Billion sum	2 334.0	116.8	2 794.7	113.5	3 229.7	114.9

Annex 4

Main indicators for socioeconomic development in Uzbekistan for January to June 2017

Indicator	Unit	January to June	Structure, in %	Percentage change for January to June of the previous year
2016 г.	2017 г.	2016	2017
1. GDP	Billion sum	102 702.1	100.0	100.0	107.8	107.0
Including:
Gross value added	Billion sum	90 699.9	88.7	88.3	108.2	107.1
Net taxes on products and import and export transactions	Billion sum	12 002.2	11.3	11.7	104.4	106.1
2. Gross value added	Billion sum	90 699.9	100.0	100.0	108.2	107.1
Agriculture, forestry and fishery	Billion sum	7 816.6	8.6	8.6	106.9	105.8
Manufacturing and construction	Billion sum	32 300.7	35.4	35.6	106.7	106.4
Including:
Industry	Billion sum	24 998.6	27.3	27.5	103.6	105.7
Construction	Billion sum	7 302.1	8.1	8.1	117.5	108.7
Services	Billion sum	50 582.6	56.0	55.8	109.3	107.7
3. Rate of inflation
Monthly average	%	0.9	х	х	х	х
Up to December of the previous year	%	5.2	х	х	х	х
4. Industrial products	Billion sum	64 991.1	100.0	100.0	104.7	107.6
Including:
Mining and quarrying	Billion sum	6 681.9	11.0	10.3	105.1	103.8
Manufacturing	Billion sum	52 055.3	78.6	80.1	104.8	107.8
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply	Billion sum	5 785.9	9.7	8.9	103.5	110.7
Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities	Billion sum	468.0	0.7	0.7	114.9	109.1
5. Consumer goods	Billion sum	26 921.9	100.0	100.0	102.3	110.0
Food	Billion sum	13 188.8	50.8	49.0	116.5	107.6
Non-food items	Billion sum	13 733.1	49.2	51.0	90.8	112.3
6. Agriculture, forestry and fishery	Billion sum	24 052.7	100.0	100.0	106.8	105.8
Crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities	Billion sum	23 920.8	99.4	99.4	106.8	105.8
Forestry	Billion sum	42.2	0.2	0.2	101.3	101.3
Fishing	Billion sum	89.7	0.4	0.4	125.2	110.1
7. Investment in fixed capital	Billion sum	26 599.5	100.0	100.0	111.8	108.3
Investment at the national level	Billion sum	5 008.8	22.1	18.8	122.8	90.3
Investment at the local level	Billion sum	21 590.7	77.9	81.2	109.0	113.4
8. Construction	Billion sum	16 309.2	х	х	117.5	108.7
9. Services, total	Billion sum	48 832.8	х	х	112.9	111.6
10. Transport
Cargo turnover	Billion tonne-kilometres	41.9	х	х	105.5	102.9
Passenger transport	Billion passengers km	53.3	х	х	105.1	105.2
11. Retail turnover	Billion sum	49 747.3	х	х	114.1	111.1
12. Number of persons employed (on average)	Thousand persons	32 232.7	100.0	100.0	101.8	101.7
Including:
Persons of working age	Thousand persons	19 485.1	60.9	60.5	101.1	100.9
13. Number of persons employed	Thousand persons	13 421.2	х	х	101.8	101.7
14. Average nominal wage1	Thousand sum	1 330.8	х	х	108.8	114.6

Annex 5

State register of publishers (websites) operating in Uzbekistan as of 1 July 2017

Information by year on the websites included in the list as news media outlets

Years	2000	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	01.01 2017	01.07 2017
Number of websites	0	0	80	108	150	173	220	261	304	315	362	395	418

Annex 6

Information on all State-owned and independent websites registered (as at 1 July 2017)

No.	Type of media	State-owned websites	Independent websites	Total
Number	Percentage (%)	Number	Percentage (%)
1.	Websites	38	5	380	95	418

Annex 7

State register of news media of Uzbekistan (as at 1 July 2017) (newspapers, magazines, press releases, news agencies, television and radio)

Information on the total number of news media outlets registered with the Uzbek press and news agencies included in the State register (as at 1 July 2017)

No.	Name of region	Newspapers	Magazines	Newsletters	Television	Radio	News agencies	Total
1.	National media distributed throughout Uzbekistan	157	220	12	13	8	3	413
2.	Republic of Qoraqalpog ’ iston	42	8	-	5	1	1	57
3.	Tashkent	46	38	1	6	10	-	101
4.	Tashkent province	44	16	-	3	2	-	65
5.	Andijon province	33	5	-	3	2	-	43
6.	Buxoro province	32	5	-	5	1	-	43
7.	Jizzax province	23	3	-	3	1	-	30
8.	Navoiy province	30	6	-	6	1	-	43
9.	Namangan province	47	5	-	2	1	-	55
10 .	Samarqand province	44	5	-	2	1	-	52
11 .	Sirdaryo province	22	1	-	1	-	-	24
12 .	Surxondaryo province	32	2	-	5	2	-	41
13 .	Farg ’ ona province	76	11	-	7	3	-	97
14 .	Xorazm province	27	2	1	3	1	-	34
15 .	Qashqadaryo province	38	3	-	4	3	-	48
	Total	693	330	14	68	37	4	1 146

Annex 8

Information on all State-owned and independent print media outlets (as at 1 July 2017)

No.	Name of region	Newspapers	Magazines	Newsletters, news bulletins	Total
Total	State	Independent	Total	State	Independent	Total	State	Independent	Total	State	Independent
1.	National publications	157	33	124	220	94	126	12	7	5	389	134	255
2.	Republic of Qoraqalpog ’ iston	42	32	10	8	8	-			0	50	40	10
3.	Tashkent	46	9	37	38	17	21	1	0	1	85	26	59
4.	Tashkent province	44	29	15	16	0	16	-	0	0	60	29	31
5.	Andijon province	33	20	13	5	2	3	-	0	0	38	22	16
6.	Buxoro province	32	19	13	5	5	0	-	0	0	37	24	13
7.	Jizzax province	23	20	3	3	1	2	-	0	0	26	21	5
8.	Navoiy province	30	20	10	6	1	5	-	0	0	36	21	15
9.	Namangan province	47	19	28	5	2	3	-	0	0	52	21	31
10.	Samarqand province	44	24	20	5	4	1	-	0	0	49	28	21
11.	Sirdaryo province	22	14	8	1	1	0	-	0	0	23	15	8
12.	Surxondaryo province	32	20	12	2	1	1	-	0	0	34	21	13
13.	Farg ’ ona province	76	27	49	11	3	8	-	0	0	87	30	57
14.	Xorazm province	27	19	8	2	1	1	1	1	0	30	21	9
15.	Qashqadaryo province	38	21	17	3	2	1	-	0	0	41	23	18
	Total	693	326	367	330	142	188	14	8	6	1 037	476	561

Annex 9

Information on all State-owned and independent electronic media (television and radio) outlets (as at 1 July 2017)

No.	Name of region	Television	Radio	General
Number	State	Independent	Number	State	Independent	Total	State	Independent
1.	Located in the capital	20	10	10	20	5	15	40	15	25
2.	Republic of Qoraqalpog ’ iston	4	1	3	1	0	1	5	1	4
3.	Andijon province	3	1	2	1	0	1	4	1	3
4.	Buxoro province	5	2	3	1	0	1	6	2	4
5.	Jizzax province	3	1	2	1	0	1	4	1	3
6.	Namangan province	2	1	1	1	0	1	3	1	2
7.	Navoiy province	6	6	0	1	0	1	7	6	1
8.	Samarqand province	2	1	1	0	0	0	2	1	1
9.	Sirdaryo province	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0
10.	Surxondaryo province	5	2	3	2	0	2	7	2	5
11.	Tashkent province	3	2	1	2	0	2	5	2	3
12.	Farg ’ ona province	7	3	4	3	0	3	10	3	7
13.	Xorazm province	3	1	2	1	0	1	4	1	3
14.	Qashqadaryo province	4	2	2	3	0	3	7	2	5
	Total	68	34	34	37	5	32	105	39	66

Annex 10

Information on all State-owned and independent media outlets registered (as at 1 July 2017)

No.	Type of media	State media	Independent media	Total
Number	Percentage (%)	Number	Percentage (%)
1.	Newspapers	326	47.6%	366	52.4%	693
2.	Magazines	142	44.5%	188	55.5%	330
3.	News bulletins	8	60.0%	6	40.0%	14
4.	Television	34	50.0%	34	50.0%	68
5.	Radio	5	12.9%	32	87.1%	37
6.	News agencies	3	75.0%	1	25.0%	4
7.	Websites	38	7.5%	380	92.5%	418
	Total	556	36.6%	1 008	63.4%	1 563