Civil Society Observer in Uzbekistan (September 2020)

logo_en_jpg
logo_en_jpg1

CIVIL SOCIETY OBSERVER

IN UZBEKISTAN

The monthly newsletter by the Nationwide movement "Yuksalish" and the Institute for Socio-Economic Initiatives. 

           Newsletter #5                                                                                                                       September 5, 2020

This publication is prepared within the frames of the "Partnership for Innovation-P4I" program and is made possible by the support of the
American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The contents are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

The Samarkand Web Forum Held August 12-13 Addressed the Topical Issues of Promoting Youth Rights

1_7f67d646

The forum brought together experts from UN agencies (UNESCO, ILO, IOM, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, OHCHR), the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the OSCE, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the CIS, and the SCO, as well as representatives of youth parliaments, government agencies, civil society institutions, and academic community.

As part of the Samarkand Forum, the participants discussed the draft International Convention on Youth Rights. The initiative to develop this document was put forward by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly on September 19, 2017.

The Samarkand Web Forum resulted in adopting a final resolution. It calls on nations around the world to develop and implement strategies that provide young people with real opportunities to participate fully and meaningfully in social life.


Oliy Majlis Receives New Powers. Now the Parliament Has the Power to Investigate

Bez_nazvaniya_1_fb8243bc

Among the amendments introduced in the legislation are the improvement in lawmaking processes and parliamentary control. The investigation will be carried out to study specific facts or actions that infringe on the most important interests of society and the government that could have a negative impact on the foundations of security and sustainable development of the country.

Parliament, when deciding to conduct a parliamentary investigation, composes a commission of its representatives, which:

  • has the right to involve in its work representatives of government and economic management agencies, specialists, experts, and scholars;
  • can request the necessary information from government and economic management agencies, other organizations, citizens, and also invite them to provide explanations;
  • within the prescribed period, must inform the relevant chamber of the Parliament about the work performed.

In addition, the Legislative Chamber and the Senate have been given the right to hear information from the heads of government and economic management agencies on their activities.

It was also clarified who should sign the response to the parliamentary inquiry, the inquiry of the senator, member of the Legislative Chamber, or the corresponding Council of people’s representatives. This is the official in whose name the request is forwarded or an interim official.


UN Agencies Launch a New Program for Uzbekistan

cq5dam

UN agencies will provide support to people most affected by the coronavirus in Uzbekistan through a new program worth 1 million USD. It will include support measures to:

  • migrants and their families;
  • workers in the informal sector left without earnings;
  • families returned from conflict zones;
  • women and girls, as well as victims of gender-based violence.

During the implementation of the program, young people in Uzbekistan will be actively provided with advice on legal, business, and psychological issues. Within the framework of the Joint Program, it is planned to widely use digital technologies aimed at facilitating the process of legalizing informal employment relationships. In particular, by:

  • improving the access of workers of the informal sector to social insurance instruments;
  • monitoring payments;
  • evaluating the effectiveness and coverage of social protection;
  • flexible response to changes in the situation on the labor market for the most vulnerable segments of the population.

Khokims May Be Prohibited from Seizing Lands

20151107000952

The Parliament has considered a bill on strengthening guarantees of property owners’ rights, developed by the Supreme Court. The document proposes to establish a ban on the seizure of lands by khokims, to limit their powers in this matter. The right to seize land plots can be transferred to the Councils of people’s representatives.

The document proposes to establish a ban on the seizure of land plots by khokims, as well as to limit their powers to own and use the land, to lease a land plot. It is planned to transfer the right to seize land for state and public needs, as well as for the implementation of investment projects, to the Jokargy Kenes of Karakalpakstan, the Tashkent city and regional councils of people’s representatives. In addition, other more changes are also planned to introduce, according to which re-consideration and cancellation of the results of the privatization of property of state-owned enterprises (organizations) will not be allowed.


A Project to Support Women’s Startups Launched

su1ODO15976504264715_l

IT Park with the support of USAID has launched the TumarisTech Project to support women’s startups. The project aims to strengthen the involvement of women in the ICT ecosystem: from the development of BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) through training women who want to work as freelancers, to the development of startups and investment training.

Within the framework of the project, in particular, it is planned to support women’s startups - where at least half of the founders and 60% of the team are women. It is also planned to use the track mentoring institution. One tracker mentor will be appointed for every two projects, which will lead and support the team, give the necessary advice and comments. The most successful ideas will be able to receive funding, and some of the participants will undergo training in order to invest in the future on their own.

Register here

Special Registry to Appear in Two other Versions-for Youth and Women

is22etxb1_WjCAbao

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has instructed to make two special registries for unemployed young people and women: Youth’s Unemployment Registry and Women’s Unemployment Registry.

The lists will be created in order to provide young people and women with jobs, as well as training them in demanded professions and entrepreneurship, followed by financial support for setting up businesses.

Uzbekistan has already introduced a Special Registry "Iron notebook", which has a list containing information about socially vulnerable families in need of assistance.


"Ishga Marhamat" Mono-Centers to Start Functioning in Each Region

photo_2019-10-02_09-36-53-4

By the Resolution of the President, ‘Ishga Marhamat’ Mono-Centers will be opened in each region of the country by the end of 2020.  Owners of private vocational training institutions will be able to receive government assistance. An electronic register of disabled persons with the ability to work will be formed.

The mono-center activities will be aimed at:

  • attraction people to entrepreneurship;
  • increasing labor activity and vocational training of poor and unemployed citizens;
  • ensuring the employment of the population.

Training of the population in professions, the basics of entrepreneurship, and foreign languages ​​in demand on the labor market will be organized on an ongoing basis, with the involvement of non-government institutions of vocational education.


Top 15 Think Tanks of Uzbekistan

Efr1Gc0XoAEGc-Z

The top 15 think tanks of Uzbekistan have been chosen to take into account their reporting in international publications, research, and expert opinions, as well as participation in forums and references in international rankings.

Hot topics in blogs 

Parliament activities

The Bill on Conducting Meetings, Assemblies and Rallies Put for Discussion Again

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan has published a new version of the bill on rallies, meetings, and demonstrations. New concepts appeared in it – "march", "picketing" and "flash mob". It is proposed to hold events during working hours, within two hours and at a distance of no closer than 300 meters from administrative buildings. The deadline for submitting an application to organize a march, rally, etc. has been reduced to 15 working days.

The law will not apply to the organization and conduct of rallies, meetings, and demonstrations by political parties, public and religious associations. According to the bill, the conduct of rallies, meetings, and demonstrations should be based on the principles of priority of the rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests of citizens, legality, the voluntariness of participation in them, publicity, openness, and their conduct on a peaceful basis, as well as a mutual responsibility of the parties.

Read the bill

Bill on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations Published

The bill "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations" (new edition) has been published on the website of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis. The document was developed by the Ministry of Justice jointly with the interested ministries and departments. The current version of the law was adopted in May 1998.

The bill "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations" (new edition) defines the basic concepts, as well as changes the procedure for registering religious organizations and spelled out the grounds for refusal.

The bill gives definitions to such concepts as "materials of religious content", "illegal religious activity", "religious organization" and etc. It also spelled out the main areas and principles of state policy in the field of freedom of conscience and the powers of authorized government agencies in this area.

Read the bill

A New Version of the Law on Combating Human Trafficking Adopted

The President has signed a new version of the Law on Combating Human Trafficking. It introduced new concepts, defined preventive measures, and the procedure for identifying victims of human trafficking, including minors, and their rights.

The law was supplemented with new concepts, including "trafficking of minors", "country of origin", "victim of human trafficking", "coercion" and others. A new chapter on the prevention of human trafficking has been introduced into the law. The guidelines of state policy in this area are also listed.


Social Protection Assessment Report Discussed

jamoatchilik

A joint report "An assessment of the social protection system in Uzbekistan" has been published for public discussion. It was prepared by the International Labor Organization, UNICEF and the World Bank and contains a description of key social protection programs, assessment of their feasibility, effectiveness, promptness and cost-effectiveness. The report offers recommendations for strengthening the social protection system in Uzbekistan. The fieldwork for the assessment was carried in October 2018 - August 2019

Download the report

New appointments 

foto_ambasciatore_2_2

Agostino Pinna, the newly appointed Ambassador of Italy to Uzbekistan was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov on August 24.
During the reception, the sides discussed issues of strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The parties exchanged views on the terms of upcoming joint events at various levels.

Prior to this appointment, he served as the Inspector General of the Ministry and Departments abroad in Rome and as the First Counselor at the Italian Embassy in Moscow.


1039387212_2

Munir Mammadzade takes duties of the UNICEF Office in Uzbekistan. He previously worked as the Deputy Representative of the UNICEF Office in Kyrgyzstan.

Prior to this, Munir Mammadzade served as UNICEF Deputy Representative in Kyrgyzstan for the last three years. He also worked for UNICEF Offices in Azerbaijan, Moldova, Nepal as well as the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia.


Other news

Bobomurod Abdullaev Released from Custody on Receipt

Bez_nazvaniya_2

Journalist Bobomurod Abdullaev, extradited from Kyrgyzstan, was released on receipt of proper conduct. It is reported that the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev made such a decision at the request of Abdullaev’s mother. Earlier, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Uzbekistan reported that the journalist had been detained in Bishkek at the request of the Uzbek side.


"The Paradox of Uzbekistan’s Budding Virtual Civic Space"

thediplomat-img_0722

The Diplomat published the article The Paradox of Uzbekistan’s Budding Virtual Civic Space. The authors Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili, director of the Center for Governance and Markets and associate professor of international affairs at the University of Pittsburgh, and Bakhrom Mirakilov, an independent analyst who emphasized the role of informal virtual initiatives that appear to be efficient in the pandemic and boldness of the civic activism in Uzbekistan.

Read the article

Prices for UzAutoMotors Cars Have to Be Reduced 

UZAuto

The special commission of the Antimonopoly Committee has reported that the UzAutoMotors Company unreasonably inflated prices for cars in the amount of 3 to 19 million UZS. The automaker has been instructed to reverse the March decision to raise prices, as well as recalculate the customers.

The commission ordered the company to cancel this decision and start selling cars at reduced prices. In addition, UzAutoMotors was instructed to recalculate customers who have purchased cars since March, when the price increase was announced. This case is a precedent and can be a signal of aspiration of the society to have a liberal and free competitive market. 


© Copyright 2020 • info@yumh.uz • 16, Sh. Rashidov street, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

You’re receiving this email because you subscribed for emails from the Nationwide movement "Yuksalish". Unsubscribe

Sent via

SendPulse