Tashkent, August 30, the United Nations Development Programme and the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman) today signed MoU to strengthen capacity of Office of the Ombudsperson in re-alignment of its legal and operational base as part of human rights reform agenda, which is being carried out in line with the Action Strategy of Uzbekistan for 2017-2021.

In her welcoming speech Helena Fraser, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan noted that   Offices of the Ombudsman are crucial for the promotion of good governance, they are key players in the entrenchment of democratic values across the world.

The Memorandum is signed within the framework of the joint project of the Ombudsman of Uzbekistan and the UNDP "Capacity building of Ombudsman Office in Uzbekistan".

The signed Memorandum is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the Office of the Ombudsperson in fulfilling its mandates of promoting and protecting human rights in Uzbekistan in line with Paris and Belgrade Principles. These goals will be achieved through institutional development, training of the Institute's staff in priority areas, including on establishment of National Preventive Mechanisms in accordance with international standards, the preparation and publication of materials on activities of Ombudsman on protection of human rights and freedoms.

The adoption in 2017 of the Action Strategy of Uzbekistan for 2017-2021 has become a kind of a new point of reference for the current stage of cooperation with the United Nations. Of particular importance were the high-level meetings with UN Secretary-General António Geterres and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, held in Tashkent and New York. Strengthening the dialogue was also facilitated by the visits to Uzbekistan of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief, the UN Special Secretary for Human Security, the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth.

As a result of these meetings, the country adopted important policy documents in the field of human rights and cooperation with UN bodies, which are now actively implemented. Among them is highlighted the "Program of events dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights", approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of May 5, 52018.

In addition, UNDP will assist in raising awareness of Ombudsperson institution and key stakeholders on Paris Principles and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GAHNRI) accreditation process and requirements.

Following implementation of the MoU,  a joint project will be developed to strengthen the role of the Ombudsperson in line with Paris Principles

The signing ceremony was attended by members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Constitutional Court, representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Human Rights Center, Chamber of Advocates, Lawyer Training Center, Women's Committee of Uzbekistan, as well as UNDP in Uzbekistan, OSCE, British Embassy in Uzbekistan and mass media.

Implementation of the joint project of the Ombudsman of Uzbekistan and the UNDP "Capacity building of Ombudsman Office in Uzbekistan" is financially supported by the British Embassy in Uzbekistan.