News and press releases

To mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, an online roundtable discussion on combating this crime in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic was co-organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and partners on 29 July 2020. The event brought together 90 representatives and experts in the field of combating human trafficking and forced labour from more than 50 government agencies and non-governmental organizations, as well as international organizations...

As part of its ongoing series to discuss Uzbekistan’s State Programme for the year 2020, the OSCE Project Co-Ordinator in Uzbekistan on 23 July 2020 co-organized a third online discussion, this time focused on strengthening the national Parliament, increasing the role of political parties, and reforming state and public governance...

The OSCE Project Co-Ordinator in Uzbekistan held an online conference on national and international experiences in liberalizing judicial and penitentiary systems on 17 July 2020, to mark Nelson Mandela International Day. The event was jointly organized with the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Ombudsperson), the national movement Yuksalish, the UN Country Team and the regional office of NGO Prison Reform International in Central Asia (PRI).

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan co-hosted two online roundtable discussions on the main priority areas of the State Programme for the year 2020, which is part of the 2017-2021 National Action Strategy. The two events focused on the fields of rule of law and foreign policy, on 7 and 9 July respectively and were organized in co-operation with the Development Strategy Centre.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan delivered humanitarian and anti-Covid aid following the collapse of the Sardoba dam in the Sirdaryo region in Uzbekistan on 13 May 2020. More than 70,000 citizens were evacuated from their homes due to the dam burst at the beginning of the month and resulting in flood. Given that the physical distance measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 became almost impossible, it was important to provide materials to combat that transnational threat along with providing the humanitarian aid.

On 5 May, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, John MacGregor handed over personal protection equipment (PPE) to the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsperson), Mr Ulugbek Mukhammadiev. The PPE is intended to help protect the staff of the Ombudsperson’s Secretariat and Regional Representatives from contracting COVID-19 when performing their official functions. This may include visiting and monitoring closed institutions, including quarantine facilities and penal colonies.

At the invitation of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, John MacGregor, participated at the video conference of the Parliament of Uzbekistan on 30 April 2020...