OSCE co-organizes the International Conference of Lawyers in Tashkent

On 10 February 2023, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, in co-operation with the Chamber of Advocates of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Justice and the international NGO Regional Dialogue, co-hosted in Tashkent the International Conference of Lawyers on “The Role of Professional Bar Associations in the Development of the Advocacy”.

Alim Ernazarov, Chairman of the Chamber of Defense Lawyers, opened the conference. High-level guests delivered their opening remarks, including Akmal Saidov, First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis; Narimon Umarov, Chairman of the Senate Committee of Oliy Majlis on Judicial and Legal issues and Anti-Corruption; Alisher Karimov, Deputy Minister of Justice of Uzbekistan; Mjusa Sever, Director of the Regional Dialogue; and Hans-Ullrich Ihm, Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

Currently, judicial and legal reforms are one of the main priorities for the Government of Uzbekistan and key among OSCE commitments. Defense lawyers play a crucial role in this process. Taking this into account, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the Chamber of Advocates Uzbekistan have developed a joint project aimed, inter alia, to assist in studying foreign experience in the development of the institution of the bar.

The Conference offered an opportunity to discuss issues that are significant for the entire legal community, such as organizing the activities of professional associations of defense lawyers, providing ongoing education for them, as well as disciplinary practice and guarantees of defense lawyers’ activity.

More than 100 participants – lawyers of Uzbekistan, representatives of the legal community and experts from foreign countries (representatives of the Slovenian and German Bar Associations and the Committee for Public Counsel Services of Massachusetts, United States) took part in the international conference.

Hans-Ullrich Ihm, the Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, assured that the OSCE will continue supporting the judicial and legal reforms taking place in the country, as well as the institutional and professional development of the Chamber of Advocates of Uzbekistan and its members.