Priorities in the field of human rights

These days, the international community is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Human rights are central to the political, legal, social, and economic modernisation reforms being carried out in New Uzbekistan. 

Uzbekistan supports the UN Call to Action on Human Rights.  The Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy is consistent with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 and aims to ensure that no one is left behind.

The new Constitution reaffirms the commitment to the principles of human rights, freedom of speech and conscience, and equality of all citizens regardless of their nationality, language, or religion. These provisions enshrine the country's strategic course towards building a democratic, legal, and social state. The constitutional enshrinement of these norms not only reflects the historical choice of the people, but also serves as a solid foundation for long-term development, strengthening the rule of law, ensuring justice and protecting the dignity of every person. At the same time, it fosters public trust in state institutions, enhances Uzbekistan's position in the international arena, and demonstrates its readiness for open and constructive cooperation on a global scale. 

In line with advanced democratic standards, electoral legislation has been radically improved. The country has taken into account several previous recommendations by the ODIHR by introducing roadmaps for reform, enhancing legislation and electoral procedures, and ensuring transparency.

The 2024 parliamentary elections were held for the first time under a mixed, i.e., majority-proportional, electoral system, which was a significant step towards increasing the representativeness and transparency of parliamentarianism. The innovations removed restrictions on the electoral rights of certain groups of the population, which is entirely in line with international standards. 

The country is actively implementing its Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality by 2030, and the quota for female candidates for parliament has been increased to 40 per cent. These measures are in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5, which calls for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Taking into account and analysing the unique needs of each person, a gender-responsive state budget is adopted annually, which promotes the equitable distribution of resources, since without taking into account the needs of women, such budgets can have negative consequences.

An important law providing for additional measures to protect women and children from violence is being effectively implemented. Criminal liability for domestic violence has been introduced, and liability for sexual offences against children has been strengthened. This law has received widespread international support, including from international human rights organisations. 

In the field of child protection, a unique law "On the Protection of Children from All Forms of Violence" (14 November 2024) has been adopted, prohibiting physical, sexual, and psychological violence, neglect, exploitation, and bullying of children. Amendments were made to the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Responsibility, providing for liability for domestic violence against children (October 2024).

Further new reforms have been adopted to support civil society. To this end, the Head of State has issued a decree providing for the creation of additional conditions to increase the effectiveness of socially beneficial programmes (26 August 2024, No. UP-124). Six key areas of state support for civil society institutions and enhancing their role at the current stage of the country's development have been identified. 

In the sphere of judicial and legal reforms, democratic institutions of justice – the Miranda Rules, Habeas Corpus, Pro Bono – have been enshrined at the constitutional level. Since January 2025, the position of investigating judge has been introduced. The law of 28 January 2025 introduced amendments and additions to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan aimed at expanding the practice of applying the institution of habeas corpus. The right to issue warrants for searches, wiretapping, and seizure of property has been transferred from prosecutors to the courts.

Uzbekistan actively participates in the UN World Programme for Human Rights Education. A National Human Rights Education Programme is being implemented in the country. Training and special courses on "Human Rights", "Women's Rights" and "Children's Rights" are being introduced into the vocational and higher education system. Training courses are being launched on the rights of persons with disabilities, women, children, and migrants. A series of manuals and brochures on human rights is being published on an ongoing basis, and an electronic platform for human rights education has been launched.

Over the past short period, we have made significant progress in our interactions with UN human rights structures. In recent years, the country has been visited by two UN High Commissioners for Human Rights and four UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights. We have sent a standing invitation to all HRC mandate holders to visit our country. 

Uzbekistan firmly adheres to its international human rights obligations. In 2020, the first National Human Rights Strategy was adopted, defining priority areas for reform in the protection of individual rights and freedoms, improving legislation, and expanding international cooperation. A draft of the second National Human Rights Strategy for the period up to 2030 has now been developed. At the same time, we understand that we are only at the beginning of this journey and count on the support of our international partners.

Interfaith tolerance

Religion plays a significant role in the common history of humanity and in modern societies. Religious freedom has a long and complex history. Religion can unite people, but more often than not, it has had the opposite effect, dividing them into opposing sides, each of which considers its own side to be sacred. As is well known, the leading founders of religious freedom were two natives of Virginia, US Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Today, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (Bill of Religious Freedom) plays a key role in the development of religious freedom. 

The right to freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental right of every human being. As a universal human right, freedom of religion or belief ensures respect for diversity. Its free exercise directly contributes to democracy, development, the rule of law, peace and stability. Violations of freedom of religion or belief can increase intolerance and are often early indicators of potential violence and conflict.

The role of religion in shaping the public agenda and the responsibility of states to protect the human rights of all people are becoming increasingly important aspects of international relations and national policy. In most multicultural democratic societies or countries where the principle of "secularism" is enshrined in the constitution, the issue of neutrality in the public sphere has become central to political debate, judicial policy, and people's everyday lives. 

 This increased emphasis on "secularism" is closely linked to the need to simultaneously respond to religious pluralism within various institutional structures and adapt models of relations between religion and the state in a way that does not conflict with human rights. 

Secularism is the foundation of a united Uzbekistan. While spirituality is a personal matter for each individual, secularism concerns us all. Secularism in Uzbekistan means the freedom to be a believer or a non-believer, the opportunity to perform one's religious rites, provided that public order is maintained. Secularism is a neutral position of the state and in no way means the elimination of religion from society and public space.

In today's rapidly changing world, swept up in various processes of globalisation and regionalisation, a secular state is not a tribute to fashion, but a prerequisite for the comfortable existence of a multi-confessional society and fruitful cooperation between the state and religious associations pursuing a common goal – to create better living conditions for their citizens and to maintain a decent, high standard of living.

Religion is one of the most important factors influencing the development of society, the state, and each individual separately. Reforms in the field of religious freedom are an integral part of political and legal reforms in New Uzbekistan. The country is implementing consistent reforms in the political and judicial spheres, enhancing the role of civil society institutions, including those related to religious freedom.

Uzbekistan attaches exceptional importance to ensuring religious freedom in the country. The country has centuries of historical experience of different faiths and ethnic groups living together. For thousands of years, different religions and beliefs have coexisted on its territory. There has never been any conflict between traditional faiths in our country. This is not only something that has been passed down to us, but is also embedded in our traditions.

Uzbekistan does not consider the issues of religious freedom, faith, and security separately. Supporting the provisions of the Beirut Declaration and the 18 commitments set out therein regarding "Faith for Human Rights", a new Constitution was adopted by a nationwide referendum. It defined the "five foundations" of the New Uzbekistan as a sovereign, democratic, legal, social, and secular state (Article 1), thereby determining the path of development and the country's future, which "will never change".

The Constitution of Uzbekistan guarantees freedom of conscience for all, and everyone has the right to profess any religion or not to profess any. The forced imposition of religious views is unacceptable (Article 35).

Based on the principles of secularism and freedom of conscience, the new Constitution enshrines equality, equal respect for every person, freedom of conscience, absence of state interference, and separation of religion from the state (Article 75).

The policy of ensuring freedom of conscience for everyone, regardless of their nationality, language, religion, or social background, creating all the necessary conditions for the free activity of all religious denominations, and ensuring the peaceful coexistence of nationalities and denominations in our country will continue in the future. In the new Constitution, we have once again emphasised the need for inter-religious and inter-ethnic harmony, which is extremely important at all times, but especially so at the present moment.

In our diverse world, the concepts of tolerance and non-discrimination are not just ideals, they are a necessity. One of the most important priorities of Uzbekistan's state policy is the development of a culture of tolerance and humanism, as well as the strengthening of inter-ethnic, inter-confessional, and civil harmony within society.

According to the country's Constitution: "Uzbekistan is a sovereign, democratic, legal, social and secular state with a republican form of government" (Article 1).

Based on this principle, on 25 February 2025, the Concept for Ensuring Freedom of Conscience of Citizens and State Policy in the Religious Sphere in Uzbekistan was approved by law (25.02.2025 No. ZRU-1037).

The Concept defines the implementation of the right to freedom of conscience, as well as the constitutional provisions that establish Uzbekistan as a secular state, and outlines the goals, objectives, principles, and priority areas of state policy in the religious sphere.

Currently, 2,373 religious organisations operate in the Republic, comprising 2,174 Islamic and 199 non-Islamic denominations, as well as 16 religious confessions.

Since the entry into force of the Law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organisations" in 2021, 62 religious organisations belonging to five different denominations have been registered in the republic.

Since 2019, Uzbekistan has carried out five humanitarian operations, known as "Mehr" (Merci), to return compatriots from areas of armed conflict. Uzbekistan has repatriated 531 people, mainly women (121) and children (379), from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

In June 2023, at the UN headquarters, the international community heard first-hand accounts from returnees who had started a new life after returning to Uzbekistan.

Under the auspices of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, a Regional Expert Council has been established, comprising leading experts from Central Asian countries. Its main task is to improve regional and national programmes for the rehabilitation and reintegration of persons returned from conflict zones, as well as to develop proposals for combating terrorism.

Uzbekistan's model for repatriating compatriots, based on international law and principles of cooperation with global partners, can serve as a best practice for repatriation, ensuring the best interests of the child and the full reintegration of women returning from conflict zones.

Prof. Akmal Saidov, 

Director of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights

UzA