OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan

The Project Co-ordinator works closely with the authorities and representatives of civil society to improve the human rights situation in Uzbekistan. It assists in developing the rule of law and building a strong and vibrant civil society, with special attention on the implementation of international human rights conventions ratified by and binding upon Uzbekistan.

Monitoring human rights

Comprehensive monitoring of the human rights situation is essential to identifying areas of concern and initiating adequate remedies. The Project Co-ordinator closely monitors trials, receives individual complaints and follows developments related to human rights activists and political opponents in Uzbekistan.

Assisting the development of civil society

In line with OSCE commitments, the Project Co-ordinator has used its long experience of co-operating with civil society to develop a training programme for representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and government agencies. To achieve sustainable change and further the development of civil society, the Project Co-ordinator helps to strengthen the capabilities of national trainers and develops leadership and advocacy skills.

Supporting the Ombudsman

The Project Co-ordinator supports and helps to build the capacity of the Ombudsman in Uzbekistan. In 2006, it designed a series of training sessions conducted by international experts aimed at creating a core group of trainers who can pass on their institutional knowledge and inform the public about the activities of the Ombudsman. Training sessions were conducted for regional representatives of the Ombudsman and will be followed by a series of workshops aimed at disseminating information in the regions of Uzbekistan.

Empowering women

To support the goal of achieving equal representation for women in the political and social sphere, the Project Co-ordinator actively promotes their participation in civil society.

• In 2004, ahead of the December elections, it held a series of training events to promote the participation of women candidates and ensure equal representation of women in the political process.
• In 2005, the Project Co-ordinator assisted in organizing roundtables on Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) monitoring and reporting in the regions of Uzbekistan.
• In 2006, those activities continued and are geared towards training NGO partners on writing an alternative CEDAW report.

The Project Co-ordinator also supports efforts aimed at adopting a law on equal rights and opportunities, and will encourage participation by civil society actors in discussions of the draft law.

Promoting prison reform

Preventing and combating torture within the law enforcement system is of vital importance in Uzbekistan. To facilitate the reform of the prison system, the Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan trains prison staff and assists NGOs that monitor places of detention. It supports the newly-established training centre for prison officials and is promoting the transfer of prison administration from the Ministry of Interior to the Ministry of Justice.