We have hosted an international conference in Tashkent to discuss best national and international practices in building the independence and effectiveness of advocacy institutions in Uzbekistan and abroad.

On October 25, 2019, the international conference ‘The Concept of the Development of the Advocacy Institution: Experience of Uzbekistan and Foreign Countries’ was held by USAID, the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan, the Chamber of Advocates of Uzbekistan, GIZ and UNDP Uzbekistan at Tashkent’s Wyndham Hotel.

Low level of public trust in Uzbekistan’s advocates' professionalism  was revealed by a great number of appeals submitted to government bodies to help in resolving legal disputes related to their job. This underlines the need to substantially reform the structure and the quality of Uzbekistan’s legal advocacy and bar institutions.

The conference was split into two sessions. The first session was titled ‘Modern Advocacy: Organizational and Legal Framework’, focused on the models of advocacy development utilized in Russia, Georgia, Belarus, Turkey, Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic, with consideration of international standards and recommendations for the organization, taxation and advanced training of lawyers.

The second session was titled ‘Strengthening the Independence and the Role of the Bar’, which brought together the experience of Uzbekistan, Germany, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan in building and maintaining the independence of lawyers, again considering standards and recommendations from UN treaty bodies and international organizations.

The conference has been the latest bit in series of events hosted by UNDP Uzbekistan and its national partners, drawing on best international experience to help further reforms within Uzbekistan’s governance and judiciary sectors.