CIVIL SOCIETY OBSERVER
  IN UZBEKISTAN  

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

       Newsletter #8                                                                                                           December 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

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign Kicks off

The ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ Campaign got started in Uzbekistan this November 26, 2020. t. As part of it, an online meeting was organized on the theme ‘Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women: measures taken to mitigate its consequences, lessons learned, and next steps.’

The event with the engagement of Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Chairperson of the Commission on Gender Equality, Matilda Dimovska, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, Helena Fraser, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, representatives of Parliament and international organizations discussed the measures to mitigate the consequences of violence against women, best practices and future plans.

The participants noted that the Uzbek government identifies the issues of gender equality among the priority areas of state policy. The emphasis is made on supporting and promoting women in the socio-political arena. Thus, following the results of the elections to the Oliy Majlis and local Councils of people’s representatives, held in December last year, the country’s Parliament rose to 37^thplace among 190 states in the world by the number of women MPs. Five years ago, Uzbekistan was in 128^thposition by this indicator.

Over the past four years, 24 regulatory legal acts have been adopted affecting the interests of women, as well as the Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality by 2030 has been developed. Last year, with the aim to support women in need of social protection over 172 thousand women received loans in the amount of 4.9 trillion soums to start their own business out of the funds of commercial banks and the Public Fund for Support of Women and Families.

A hotline has been operating since April 10 to prevent violence, provide legal and social assistance to women in quarantine conditions. Over the past period, about four thousand calls have been received. 40 percent of them are associated with violent incidents. The women were provided with psychological, legal and rehabilitation assistance.

On World Children’s Day, UNICEF released a new report

‘Situation Analysis of Children in Uzbekistan’ 

Along with positive trends in child survival, education, and child labor elimination, the report also describes alarming trends in social protection coverage for children from low-income families and children with disabilities, in the nutrition of pregnant women, and the mental health of adolescents.

The UNICEF report contains recommendations to help reduce inequalities for children in Uzbekistan. In particular, it is proposed to develop a multidimensional indicator for measuring child poverty, which would allow assessing the impact of various influencing factors: poor health, lack of education, inadequate living standards, the threat of violence, and living in environmentally hazardous areas. Recommendations include expanding and strengthening the social protection system to better respond to the needs of children and to various shocks and threats and to effectively integrate social welfare programs, social services, and labor market programs.

“The launch of the report is timely. As the world at large and Uzbekistan grapple with a COVID-19 pandemic – with missed education, worsening malnutrition, limited water, and sanitation facilities, and rapidly rising child poverty, we need information, data, and evidence to make sound decisions, interventions and arrest potentially catastrophic outcomes for children,” Munir Mammadzade, Representative of UNICEF Country Office in Uzbekistan, said.

Accountability of State-Owned Companies to Be Ensured

According to the government Resolution, ministries and departments that are founders, shareholders, and participants of enterprises with a state share of 50 percent or more will now post data on the financial and economic activities of these companies on official websites.

The web resources should publish basic information about companies with state share (except for the data that is widespread in a limited amount and contains commercial secrets):

• size of the authorized capital and state share;
• balance sheet and financial results for the quarter and year;
• production indicators;
• number of workplaces;
• the composition of the management and control bodies of enterprises.

In addition, from January 1, 2021, all enterprises with state share are required to have official websites and publish on them at the end of the quarter and year, economic, financial, and other statistical data, as well as the results of achieving strategic goals.

From 2021, Children Will Receive Vitamins and Iodine Preparations for Free

From 2021, in Uzbekistan, children will begin receiving free vitamins, anti-parasitic drugs, iodine preparations, and women under 35 years old - folic acid and iron preparations.

In accordance with the Presidential Resolution ‘On additional measures to ensure healthy nutrition of the population’ from June 1, 2021, the following are provided free of charge:

• micronutrient powders - children aged 6–23 months to enrich the food prepared for them at home;
• vitamin A - children aged 6 months to 5 years;
• special medications for the prevention of helminthiasis - children aged 2-10 years.

From July 1, 2022, the following are provided free of charge:

• iodine preparations to pregnant women and lactating mothers, as well as children aged 3–15 years;
• iron and folic acid preparations to women of fertile age up to 35.

Zamin International Public Foundation Launches a Project for Children with Hearing Impairments

Zamin International Public Foundation has launched the Zamin Education Project within the framework of the Education Development for Hearing Impaired Children Program. Its goal is to support students with hearing impairments in the development of professional skills and socialization in society, preparation for admission to higher educational institutions, development of a new methodology, advanced training of teachers of specialized boarding schools in the field of information technology.

The project is being implemented jointly with the Muhammad al-Khorezmi Specialized IT School, where the first Zamin Education Resource Center has been opened. FM-system, assistive equipment, installed in the classroom, helps to enhance the quality of material perception. Also, each student is provided with individual hearing aids.

After the positive results of the pilot educational and resource center, it is planned to open Zamin Education classes in all regions of the country.

For Animal Cruelty - from a Fine to Imprisonment

The Prosecutor General’s Office has submitted for public discussion a draft law in which it is proposed to supplement the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan with a new article 202¹ (cruelty to animals).

According to the draft law, cruelty to animals and torture that resulted in their death or injury are planned to be punished with a fine of 25 to 50 basic calculated value or community service up to 240 hours or correctional labor for up to one year or restraint of liberty for up to 6 months or imprisonment for up to 6 months.

The same act committed:

• by a group by prior agreement;
• with the dissemination of information in the media and the Internet;
• in relation to two or more animals;
• in the presence of minors;
• in relation to animals included in the Red Book, it is proposed to punish with a fine from 50 to 100 basic calculated value ​​or community service up to 360 hours or correctional labor for up to 3 years of restraint of liberty for up to one year or imprisonment for up to one year.

At this time, for torture, death, or mutilation of animals, administrative liability is provided for under Article 111 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, the amount of the fine is from one to three basic calculated value, for a repeated violation or committed in the presence of a minor, a fine from three to five basic calculated value or administrative arrest up to 15 days.

The Prosecutor General’s Office in preparing the draft law worked with ‘Mehr va Oqibat’ Animal Protection Society, which has been working to strengthen responsibility for cruelty to animals since 2013.

Subdivisions of SOS Children’s Villages to Be Transformed

Subdivisions of SOS Children’s Villages of Uzbekistan will be renamed: children’s villages - into alternative child care services, youth homes - into youth support services and social centers - into services for prevention of child abandonment.

This follows from the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of this November 21. The document was worked out for the development of family and other alternative forms of foster care, as well as their quick social adaptation to social life.

The tasks of the alternative care service include: creating an environment similar to living conditions in a family, protecting the life and health of children, providing secondary education, developing skills for work, and others.

The main goal of the social support service is to form the independence of the orphan child, which is expressed in the ability to set meaningful goals and achieve them without constant guidance and outside help.

Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences Established

The Institute of State and Law under the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan was established by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers.

The main tasks of the Institute of State and Law:

• providing consulting and expert support in carrying out reforms in society and state-building, judicial-legal and social-economic areas;
• preparation of proposals for improving the legal regulation of relations between the legislative, executive and judicial authorities, law enforcement and other bodies.
• conducting inter-scientific fundamental research in the state and legal areas;
• cooperation with government bodies and business associations, conclusion of agreements with civil society institutions, international and foreign organizations on legal research;
• coordination and methodological support of scientific and practical activities of republican higher educational institutions and research organizations in the field of state and law, as well as the establishment of a Coordination Council for the study of problems of state and law.

Funding for the Institute in 2020 will be carried out from funds allocated from the state budget for the Academy of Sciences.

A New Head of Vaqf Public Charity Foundation Has Been Appointed

Yahyo Ubaydullo oghli Abdurakhmonov, imam-hatib of the Shaikh Zainiddin Mosque in Shaykhontokhur District of Tashkent, has been appointed a Chair of Vaqf Public Charity Foundation. The former head of Vaqf Foundation, Iskandar Khalilov, who headed the Foundation since October 2018, was transferred to other duties.

Yahyo Abdurakhmonov studied at the Mir Arab Madrasah in Bukhara in 1999-2003, and in 2004-2008 at the Tashkent Islamic Institute. He completed advanced training courses at Al-Azhar University in Egypt. In 2009-2011, he studied at the Higher Courses of Journalism at the National University of Uzbekistan. In 2004-2018, he worked as imam-noib, and acting imam-hatib of the Kulol Kurghon Mosque in Yunusabad District of Tashkent. He was appointed imam-hatib of the Shaikh Zayniddin Mosque in December 2018.

Vaqf Public Charity Foundation was established by Presidential Decree dated April 16, 2018. The tasks of Vaqf Foundation include the construction, repair, and reconstruction of mosques and buildings of religious educational institutions, material and social support for workers of mosques and places of pilgrimage, material and spiritual support for the strata of the population in need of social protection, including persons with disabilities.v

“All our actions should be aimed at alleviating the living conditions of the population, creating opportunities,” President

This November 24, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a video conference meeting, which discussed the issues of supporting entrepreneurship in the regions and developing the service sector.

So, for 10 months of this year, 12 thousand permanent jobs were created in the Sirdarya Region - the annual plan was exceeded by a third. In Gulistan, two times more jobs were created than forecasted, and in Bayaut District - 1.5 times. As a result, about 90 percent of the unemployed of the region were provided with jobs.

The indicators were recognized as successful in Karshi and Kitob District of Kashkadarya Region (jobs were created 2.5 times more than planned), Kiziltepa District (3.5 times), Uchkuduk, Navbahor districts and the city of Zarafshan (2 times) of Navoi Region.

At the same time, in a number of districts, work in this field was recognized as unsatisfactory. In particular, in Bukhara Region, the job creation plan has been fulfilled only by 30 percent. The situation is the same in Jondor District.

“All our actions should be aimed at alleviating the living conditions of the population, creating opportunities. But the hokims - heads of district, city, regional administrations we appoint do not understand this. Now only hokims who gain positive results in tackling the issues of the people will receive orders and promotions,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted.

The head of state said that only by improving the roadside infrastructure it would be possible to adjust the provision of services for 700 billion soums, including through the construction of 400 large service facilities along 10 thousand kilometers of roads passing through the territory of more than 150 districts and cities.

Uzbekistan and the United States Adopted Joint Statement on Women, Peace and Security

The joint statement of Uzbekistan and the United States on women, peace, and security has been adopted as part of the implementation of the Decree of the President of Uzbekistan on the approval of the country’s national strategy on human rights and in close cooperation with the US Department of State’s Office on Global Women’s Issues. The US State Department expressed its readiness to assist in the development of Uzbekistan’s National Action Plan for the implementation of Resolution 1325.

The statement notes that “with the support of the US and civil society,” the plan will highlight the importance that the Uzbek government attaches to promoting and protecting women’s rights, as well as the importance of promoting women in the political, economic and social areas. The full and meaningful engagement of women at all levels of decision-making leads to the creation of more peaceful and prosperous societies.

On October 23, 2020, the delegation of Uzbekistan headed by Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, took part in the work of the international forum on gender issues, organized by the US State Department in a virtual format. Following the forum, Uzbekistan became a member of the ‘US Call to Action to Empower Women’, having signed the relevant document along with 31 countries.

In addition, conducting a high-level trilateral business forum with women entrepreneurship leaders from the United States, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan is currently being worked out with the State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Issues.

“American Window” to Open in Karshi

In early 2021, the US Embassy in Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the American Councils for International Education, will launch an “American  Window” initiative that will cover the entire territory of Uzbekistan.

The ‘windows’ will house modern resource libraries and conference rooms. Electronic and paper books, a variety of educational and cultural resources in English, computer labs with Internet access, programs with American experts, and other hobby events (screenings of films in English and conversation clubs) will be available.

Each American Window will also serve as a hub for Education USA, a free consultation center for those wishing to study in the United States to earn Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

Construction of the first American Window ​​began on September 30 at the Barkamol Avlod Center in Karshi, Kashkadarya Region. The major American Window space in Central Asia, with an area of ​​230 sq. meters, will be located in Karshi and managed by the American Councils. The center will start operating early in 2021 and will include a computer lab, library, conference room, and Education USA classroom. The entire space of the center will have glass walls and an American-style design.

Tanzila Narbaeva: Sexuality Education Should Not Be a Taboo Topic

At the press conference held on November 12, 2020, Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, head of the Commission on Gender Equality, said that it is necessary to stop the issues of sex education in Uzbekistan considered a closed topic, it is necessary to teach this from childhood.

“There are stereotypes that girls should not be examined by a gynecologist. Sex education is considered a closed topic for us. Nobody has the right to talk about it. In many families, even parents do not tell their children about it. It is not right. We believe that sex education should be taught from youth, from childhood. Let not directly, but the mother should talk about it with her daughter, the father with his son,” the head of the Senate said.

The Ministry for Support of Mahalla and Family runs the Mahalla and Family Institute, which launched the implementation of a large-scale project to educate parents. Within the framework of education lessons introduced in schools, the issues of sex education and gender equality will be considered.

Uzbekistan Mass Media Received 90 Notices since the Beginning of the Year

For 9 months of 2020, the Agency for Information and Mass Communications sent 90 notices to the media. State-owned channels received about 20 violation notices, while private channels Zo’r TV and Sevimli TV- 7 and 5, respectively.

Newspapers and magazines received 29 notices, including Ishonch, Sugdiyona, Bekajon Plus newspapers, Teatr magazine, and others. The websites received 22 notices - Effect.uz (three), Nova24.uz (two), Qalampir.uz (two) and Repost.uz (two), etc.

“The Agency for Information and Mass Communications limits itself to official notices about cases of violation committed by the emerging independent media, and still does not apply any other measures within its competence,” the Agency said.

It is also noted that during this time not a single media outlet was brought to administrative, financial, or criminal liability.

Hot topics in blogs

House of Friendship and NGOs Opens in Navoi

The building of the House of Friendship and NGOs put into commission this November 24 in Navoi city, Navoi Region. It accommodates 37 public organizations free of charge, including national cultural centers and NGOs operating in the region.

Additional funds of the local budget allocated 1.8 billion soums for the overhaul of the building, and 250 million soums for equipment, computers and other necessary tools.

This is the second House of Friendship and NGOs, created by the Presidential Decree ‘On measures to radically increase the role of civil society institutions in the process of democratic renewal of the country.’ The first was opened in Urgench, Khorezm Region.

The Third Evacuation Operation of Compatriots from Syria Getting Prepared

The government of Uzbekistan is preparing another operation to return compatriots from Syria - women and children who have found themselves in a difficult situation. In the Syrian Arab Republic, with the participation of the delegation of Uzbekistan, organizational issues are being worked out.

The return of citizens to their homeland is a direct obligation of the government of Uzbekistan and the implementation of measures for this purpose is solely for humanitarian reasons.

In May last year, as part of the humanitarian operation ‘Dobro’ (Good deed), 155 women and children were returned to Uzbekistan from Syria. Later in October, another operation took place – ‘Dobro-2’, when 64 children were brought home from Iraq.

Parliament Is Watching for Citizens’ Proposals on Traffic Safety

The Committee on the Issues of Security and Defense of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan approaches to citizens with a request to send proposals and recommendations on improving the field of traffic safety. Those willing should contact the Committee directly or email mudofaa@parliament.gov.uz.

The Committee plans to hear information from the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the work done within the framework of the Concept of Traffic Safety 2018-2022, adopted in May 2018. Following the meeting, drafts of regulatory legal acts will be developed to improve the road safety system.

Another Humanitarian Cargo Sent to Kyrgyzstan

 On November 18, another batch of humanitarian cargo was delivered from Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan - specialized hospital containers designed for 200 beds.

The containers will be used to build an infectious diseases hospital. In the near future, it is planned to send another batch of the same modular structures to Kyrgyzstan. Earlier, Uzbekistan also sent to Kyrgyzstan a medical cargo (equipment and medicines) and three thousand tons of wheat. It is also planned to send Uzbekistani physicians to help the country in the fight against COVID-19.

New appointments 

Komiljon Sharobiddinovich Tojiboev has been elected a chairman of the Executive Committee of the Central Council of the Ecological Party of Uzbekistan.

Komiljon Tojiboev was born in 1974 in Turakurgan District of Namangan Region. He graduated from the Biology Department of the Namangan State University. Prior to his appointment, he worked as Director of the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences.

Uzbekistan and Indexes

Internet media in Uzbekistan

Yuksalish Nationwide Movement has made a rating of the most popular Internet media in Uzbekistan. Kun.uz is in the lead among publications in the state language. According to SimilarWeb, more than 15 million people visit it on average a month. Telegram page of Kun.uz has about 1.5 million subscribers, and twice as many on Instagram - 3 million followers.

Gazeta.uz and Podrobno.uz are among the most popular in the Russian-language segment of Internet media. Thus, Gazeta.uz is visited monthly by 3.2 million people, and Podrobno.uz - 1.7 million people. The top five in citation in Telegram includes Kun.uz, Xabar.uz, Uza.uz, Daryo.uz, and Qalampir.uz.

Top 30 bloggers and influencers

Taking into account the indicators of the activity of journalists, leaders of opinions and public figures, the Top-30 influencers and bloggers of Uzbekistan have been formed in the Telegram messenger.

Some of them can compete with a number of major publications in terms of the number of subscribers and daily use. So, more than 320 thousand people have subscribed to Xushnudbek.uz page, over 1.7 million people read his posts every day. Troll.uz, Davletov.uz, RaisBuva and DavronFayziev are among the top five leaders in terms of the number of subscribers.

Yuksalish Nationwide Movement Updates the Annual Rating

Yuksalish Nationwide Movement together with experts from the Institute of Social and Economic Initiatives has made the Top 40 promising leaders in the public sector.

It includes young Uzbekistanis at the age range of 26-40. Despite their age, they have a solid practical experience behind them. Over the past few years, they have managed to prove themselves in various industries, promoting innovative ideas and approaches.

When forming the rating, education, the recognition of leaders among the public, the level of their participation and influence on the reform agenda were taken into account.

Other news

Sport-Loving Communities to Receive from Three to Ten Million Soums

Once every three months all regions and cities of Uzbekistan will organize the competition ‘Mahalla (community) with a developed healthy lifestyle’. This is provided for by the Presidential Decree on the widespread introduction of a healthy lifestyle and the popularization of mass sports.

The winning communities will receive a cash reward of 10 million soums, the second place - five million soums and the third - three million soums.

The funds will be allocated from the Mahalla Public Charitable Foundation. The winnings can be used to build and equip sports grounds and organize sports events.

A Consultation Platform between Journalists and Lawyers to Be Created

The Agency for Information and Mass Communications has announced the creation of a special website where media representatives can consult with lawyers on controversial issues.

The platform, in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, will regularly post reviews, videos, answers to questions and comments from lawyers.

Ministry of Internal Affairs: Gulnara Karimova Did Not Commit Suicide and Did Not Infected with Coronavirus

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has denied Gulnara Karimova’s infection with coronavirus and reports of suicide. She continues to serve the sentence imposed by the court, the Ministry noted.

On October 22, a message appeared on the page of Iman Karimova, daughter of Gulnara Karimova, regarding her mother’s health. The publication noted that “her mother’s condition worsened dramatically over the past few days.”

Law enforcement agencies of Uzbekistan have denied the disseminated information. “Her health condition is good. She is not infected with COVID-19. There is no lung pneumonia either,” the Ministry stated.

Proposals for the State programs 

Yuksalish Nationwide Movement for the wide involvement of the population in the decision-making process, establishing an effective mechanism for dialogue with citizens, initiated the acceptance of proposals for the State Program 2021 through a special platform Jamoatchilik.uz.

To do this, it is necessary to go to the Jamoatchilik.uz platform and click on the ‘submit a proposal’ button. Anyone can express an idea, proposal, leave a comment. The form is available in Uzbek and Russian.

Over the past period of time, about 1.8 thousand proposals were submitted on five priority areas of the National Action Strategy.

The Number of Students Registered on METSENAT.UZ Platform Exceeded 1,000

The number of applicants for the first grant in the amount of 400 million soums announced by the Agency for Youth Affairs, the Youth Union of Uzbekistan and the Mehrli Qo’llar (Mercy Hands) Charity Foundation has exceeded 500 people!

It should be mentioned that METSENAT.UZ Project is a platform that brings together organizations that want to sponsor education and students in need. In order to receive a grant or scholarship, students must first register on the platform and apply to participate in the announced programs.

Public oversight activities

Yuksalish Nationwide Movement regularly monitors the implementation of the State Program. At the same time, not only by requesting and summarizing information received from government agencies responsible for execution, but also directly with a visit to the field.

In 2020, the specialists of the Yuksalish Nationwide Movement, with the engagement of the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman), the Commissioner for Protection of Rights and Legitimate Interests of Entrepreneurs under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and a number of NGOs, held public control events in six regions of Uzbekistan. Meetings with representatives of the business community, social sector, government agencies, civil society institutions and the population were organized. The delegation visited the facilities, the construction, repair and reconstruction of which were envisaged in accordance with the State and Investment Programs.

The public monitoring events were organized with the support of the regional office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Central Asia.

The details of each monitoring activities are provided in the official web-site.

Uzbekistan Establishes Its First Anti-Corruption Laboratories

For the first time in history, Uzbekistan is launching a project on establishing anti-corruption laboratories. The initiative is being implemented by the Nationwide Movement Yuksalish, the Anti-Corruption Agency, with the support of the International Non-Governmental Organization Regional Dialogue (Slovenia).

The project on establishing anti-corruption laboratories was presented on December 2 at the international online workshop on ‘Implementing the "integrity vaccine" in public administration’, organized as part of the Anti-Corruption Week in Uzbekistan.

The initiative is a large-scale anti-corruption survey that includes eight areas of research. The ultimate goal is to get the most complete picture of the corruption situation at all stages of education, ranging from preschool to higher education.

Success Stories of NGOs in Uzbekistan

On November 7, an experimental Сenter for local development was opened in Ehtirom Mahalla of Khonka District, Khorezm Region.

This center was created by the Sabr Republican Center for Socio-Economic Development in cooperation with Interbilim NGO in the Khorezm region within the framework of the project ‘Innovative mechanisms of social partnership for solving social problems in rural areas of Bukhara, Samarkand, Khorezm, and Fergana regions and reducing poverty through development entrepreneurial skills and employment for those from low-income families, especially young people, and women’.

The project in the form of a state social order is financed by the Public Fund for Support of NGOs and Other Civil Society Institutions at the Oliy Majlis. At the expense of the funds received, the necessary training and production equipment, inventory and materials were purchased. With the assistance of the Main Department of Employment of Khorezm Region, premises for training courses have been allocated.

The center has organized free short-term vocational training courses for unemployed women and young people from Khonka, Boghot, and Khazarasp districts in six areas: sewing and folk crafts, confectionery, hairdressing, accounting, and computer literacy. The course attendees will be taught by qualified instructors, practitioners, experienced entrepreneurs, and artisans. Within the framework of the project, about 420 unemployed people will acquire entrepreneurial skills, as well as master professions that are in demand in the labor market.

DownsideSportUz Initiates the Author Project ‘OscarT21’

A Non-profit social-info project  DownsideSportUz has initiated the author project ‘OscarT21’. It is aimed at supporting active, gifted children with mental disabilities, attracting investment for education, employment of people with disabilities, popularizing early intervention in development, teaching children with Down syndrome.

The mission of the project defines the formation of a social model of behavior that considers a special child as a full member of society. In such a state and society, a special child, a person does not feel guilty that he/she is not like everyone. Fear, ignorance, prejudice, and infringement of rights are a thing of the past.

“Such a model can be created by people with disabilities themselves and their parents. When they understand how important it is for them to live a full, interesting life, travel, work, be useful to society. ‘Nothing for us without us’. We better understand and know our needs and requirements. Therefore, we can speak and defend our rights,” the DownsideSportUz NGO notes.

People can buy the products of the author brand ‘Downsidesport’, ‘OscarT21’ on the official website downsidesport.uz in the Promotions section. The donation function is active for the implementation of a project for the training and employment of people with mental disabilities.

The motto of the project is ‘Nothing is impossible, the impossible takes a little more time!’

Podcast on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The capital’s Sharoit Plyus NGO, a public association of persons with disabilities, has released the first podcast dedicated to the issues of inclusive development.

Oybek Isakov, Chairman of the Association of Persons with Disabilities of Uzbekistan, Shakhnoza Ikramova, head of Umnichka Non-government Education Institution and Dilmurod Yusupov, a doctoral student at the Institute of Development Studies, the University of Sussex, UK, discussed the essence and significance of the Law ‘On the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ signed by the President in October this year.

Collection of Regulatory Documents on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in One Telegram Page

A young programmer Salamat Avezov has launched a special page ‘Disability Rights’ in the Telegram messenger, which provides detailed legal information on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Its goal is to increase the legal literacy of people with disabilities in society, to protect their rights and freedoms, to promote the realization of their rights on an equal basis with everyone, and to provide comprehensive support for people with disabilities.

The author posts answers to frequently asked questions in an easy-to-understand format on the Telegram page gives explanations on certain acts of legislation. People can use @nogironhuquqibot to submit their questions.

“People with disabilities, like me, face difficulties every day, including in the legal sphere,” Salamat Avezov says. “To find answers to their questions, they must look through a lot of documents. I tried to collect the most demanded information in one page and I will gradually replenish the database.”

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