Democracy in Uzbekistan

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

      Newsletter #10                                                                                                           February 5, 2021 

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

Legislation of Uzbekistan: What Has Changed Since January 1, 2021

ID cards replacing passports

All newborn citizens of Uzbekistan, stateless persons, and foreign citizens permanently residing in the territory of Uzbekistan, instead of a biometric passport, receive ID cards as a document proving the identity and citizenship of the owner, valid for 10 years.

Traffic rules can also be recorded on a mobile

Traffic violations can be recorded both with the help of video recorders and CCTV cameras and other recording devices, as well as mobile phones.

Reduction of the shadow economy

The order is established according to which until January 1, 2022:

Incomes of small businesses in the field of public catering received from individuals using bank cards and contactless payments are not included in the total income in order to make the transition to the payment of generally established taxes.

Compulsory vocational training for migrants

A procedure has been introduced for compulsory vocational training for persons traveling abroad for labor migration.

For this, 13 "Ishga marhamat" (Welcome to work) mono-centers, 30 vocational training centers, 11 short-term vocational training courses, and 136 vocational training points for the population of the mahallas will be involved. In total, in the period of 2020-2021, it is planned to train 74 thousand citizens, for which 95 billion soums will be allocated.

Antimonopoly Compliance

Antimonopoly compliance system is being implemented as an experiment in the following enterprises with state participation:

• Uzbekistan Airways;
• Quartz;
• Asaka Bank;
• UzAutoMotors;
• Uztransgaz;
• Navoiazot;
• Thermal Power Plants;
• National Electrical Networks of Uzbekistan;
• Qizilqumcement.

The audio recording of hearings in all courts

In all courts, the court sessions can be audio recorded on the basis of the request of the parties in the case and with the consent of the presiding judge, and the minutes of court sessions will be formed using this system.

Public examination of master plans

For public control over construction, master plans of settlements will be approved taking into account the results of public discussion.

Reward money for reporting harm to nature

Photographs and video recordings of violations in the field of ecology, environmental protection, and nature management, sent by the population to a special information system of the State Committee for Ecology on the Internet, are considered in the manner prescribed by the Code of Administrative Responsibility.

Whistleblowers are rewarded with reward money of 15 percent of the amount of the fine imposed on the offender.

The Cotton Campaign International Coalition has released a statement on the results of monitoring the 2020 cotton campaign in Uzbekistan.

The coalition applauded the significant progress in ending forced labor during the cotton harvest last year in the country, noting that the Uzbek Human Rights Forum, for the first time in 10 years, has not documented a single case of forced labor in a number of cotton-growing regions.

At the same time, according to the Cotton Campaign, citing independent observers, during the campaign, there were cases of forced labor organized by officials, as well as cases when civil servants were obliged to pay part of their salaries to hire cotton pickers.

“Brands want to source products from countries with strong independent civil societies that can create an enabling environment to rigorously monitor and enforce supply chain standards,” the Cotton Campaign said in a statement.

The Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan Registered a Branch of the American Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development

On January 6, the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan registered a branch of the American nonprofit organization Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development (its representative office was closed in Uzbekistan in 2006).

The main goals and objectives of the branch are assistance in improving nutrition and socio-economic wellbeing, improving the production of food, fiber, and fuel, including livestock, food and non-food products, distribution, and rational use of natural resources.

The branch, among other things, will assist in the implementation of the Safe Migration in Central Asia project (SMICA, 2019-2024), funded by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID. The budget of the project is USD 2.34 million and it aims at preventing human trafficking, protecting survivors, promoting safe migration, reducing the vulnerability of the population at risk to all forms of human trafficking, and improving identification and assistance to victims of human trafficking in Uzbekistan.

Civil Society Activists Joined Human Rights Commission

Several independent civic activists joined the Commission on Observance of Constitutional Rights and Freedoms of Citizens. Jonas Astrup, the International Labor Organization’s chief technical adviser in Uzbekistan wrote about this on his Twitter account.

According to the law on the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights, the Commission on Observance of Constitutional Rights and Freedoms of Citizens assists the Ombudsman in the exercise of his/her powers in parliamentary control over the observance of legislation on human rights and freedoms by government agencies, enterprises, institutions, organizations, and officials.

The renewed composition of the Commission, which includes 27 members, was approved by a joint resolution of the Councils of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate on December 26, 2020. Among the Commission, members are Aliya Yunusova, Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Eldor Tulyakov, Executive Director of the Development Strategy Center, Askar Mamatkhanov, Deputy Chairman, Executive Director of Yuksalish Nationwide Movement, Sayyora Khodjaeva, Director of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, and others.

From among the civic activists, the Commission joined by Abdurakhmon Tashanov, head of Ezgulik Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan, Shukhrat Ganiev, Director of the Humanitarian Law Center, and Dilovar Kabulova, Director of the Civic Initiatives Support Center.

The Draft 2021 State Program Was Discussed on Three Online Platforms

During the public discussion of the draft 2021 State Program within January 18-28, about 5 thousand comments and proposals were received.

Unlike previous years, the project was published on three platforms at once, which made it possible to expand the coverage of the population:

• http://jamoatchilik.uz/
• http://regulation.gov.uz/
• http://2021.strategy.uz/

The public discussion in three online platforms simultaneously expanded the coverage of the population. So, in 10 days, about 5 thousand comments and proposals were received from citizens, including compatriots abroad. They will be taken into account when correcting the final version of the State Program.

Another distinctive feature of the current draft is that during the preparation of its initial version, more than 3 thousand opinions and proposals of parliamentarians, specialists from ministries and departments, experts from foreign organizations, and the public had been analyzed and summarized. Yuksalish Nationwide Movement only through http://jamoatchilik.uz  platform had received more than two thousand proposals and recommendations from citizens, compatriots living abroad, and representatives of nongovernmental nonprofit organizations. The summarized information was sent to the Administration of the President.

The draft State Program included measures to further support nongovernmental nonprofit organizations and the media in the development of a free civil society.

In particular, it provides for:

• Guiding the activities of the Public Fund for Support of NGOs and other civil society institutions towards solving urgent problems on the ground.
• Involvement of NGOs on the basis of a social order to identify problems on the ground, analyze them in-depth, develop proposals for solving them and ensure public control over their implementation.
• Allocation of 60 billion soums from the budget for state grants and social orders.
• Launching the Institution of the Permanent Representative of Nongovernmental Nonprofit Organizations in the Legislative Chamber.
• Establishing a system of quarterly monitoring visits to pretrial detention centers and penitentiary institutions with the participation of members of the public.
• Public and parliamentary oversight of all public procurement.
• Establishing a system of reporting to the public on the implementation of projects in the regions at the expense of foreign loans.
• Introduction of a system of public hearings and public monitoring of the implementation of the adopted documents.
• Formation of the Public Women’s Council.

The State Program for the “Year of Supporting Youth and Improving Population Health” of 2021 was approved.

The State Program has 274 articles. It is planned to allocate 29.5 trillion soums, 2.6 billion dollars and 57.5 million euros to finance the planned activities (in 2020 the fund allocation was 18.2 trillion soums and 10.3 billion dollars).

In 2021, Yuksalish Nationwide Movement plans to launch an open electronic platform to inform the public about the implementation of the State Program, hold regular briefings and public hearings to monitor the implementation of the State Program with the participation of representatives of civil society institutions, including the media, by inviting representatives of ministries and departments. It is also provided for the publication of quarterly information bulletins on the reforms in the country in the state and foreign languages.

Chairs of Mahalla to Become Community Managers

In Uzbekistan, it is planned to expand the powers of the mahalla, improve the material security of its chair and staff members. Heads of local self-governing bodies will become effective managers.

“The chair of the mahalla (self-governing body) is the support of the President at the grassroots level,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev said while visiting Yangibog mahalla in Yunusobod District of Tashkent on January 15. The head of state gave instructions to create management companies for high-quality maintenance of houses, repair of internal roads and expansion of public services.

“If we change the economy of the mahalla, our society will also change. To do this, it is necessary to support the initiatives of young people, to effectively use the Every Family is an Entrepreneur program,” he added.

During a trip to Bukhara Region on January 25, the head of state said that the chairs of mahallas in Uzbekistan would be trained in mono-centers in order to turn them into effective managers and local administrators able to solve not only everyday issues but who have the opportunity to employ citizens and improve their socio-economic state.

President’s Website in a New Format

The official website of the President of Uzbekistan www.president.uz has been launched in a new format. It has been working in test mode since January 1. The website was last updated in 2017.

The design has been changed and the content enriched. In particular, the new website has a section ‘Administration of the President’, where visitors can get general information about the main tasks of the Administration, the organizations under the President, and the Administration. For the first time, information about the leadership of the Administration and Presidential Advisory Services is available on the website.

New functions have been introduced to increase the interactivity of the website. Widgets for the pages of the head of state in social networks Facebook and Twitter were also installed. These pages can be viewed directly on the website.

Among the innovations – moving to the portal ‘Virtual Reception of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan’, obtaining contact details of the People’s Receptions.

Tanzila Narbaeva: “The local Council of people’s representatives should become the body that gives permission for the budget execution”

At the 11^th plenary session of the upper house of Parliament on January 6 Tanzila Narbaeva, chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis noted that the Councils of people’s representatives should take a responsible approach to monitor the execution of the local budget.

The head of the Senate emphasized that the local Council should not be a body that approves the expenditure of already spent budget funds, but a body that gives permission for budget execution.

“This is the demand of the day. Last year, hokims (heads of local administrations) submitted to the Council a budget for approval, which had already been spent, meaning “It has already been used up, I ask you to approve it.” It is not right. Local Councils should not allow this, it is prohibited. They have to give permission for the execution of the budget,” she said.

From 2021, a procedure has also been introduced according to which the hokims of districts and cities must develop targeted programs to reduce poverty in the region by February 1, and local Councils must hear and discuss quarterly reports on the implementation of these programs.

Over 170 State-Owned Cultural Properties to Turn Over to Private Management

The government Resolution of January 20 approved a list of 172 objects of the state-owned property of culture and art, which are on the basis of public-private partnership turn over to private management.

Objects, which include cultural centers, recreation parks, and others, are transferred on the condition that they retain their type of activity. The initiators are allowed to engage in works close to the culture and art area:

• provision of services;
• small production;
• commerce.

The privatization of cinemas, cultural centers, parks, theaters, children’s music and art schools that are part of the system of the Ministry of Culture and the Uzbekkino National Agency is prohibited without the consent of these departments. It is also prohibited to seize land plots located on the territory of these facilities to the reserve of local administrations.

Regional Rule of Law Index to Be Introduced

In accordance with the Resolution of the President, the Index of the Rule of Law of the Regions is being introduced in Uzbekistan. It will be determined based on statistical indicators and results of opinion surveys in the following areas:

• compliance with legislative acts in the regions;
• ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens;
• the state of administration of justice and enforcement of court decisions;
• establishing law and order, as well as ensuring security;
• effective control over the activities of local executive bodies;
• effectiveness of combating corruption;
• transparency of government institutions.

The data for the formation of the index will be entered through the Huququstuvorligi information system.

The index is compiled according to 182 criteria, of which 111 are based on statistical data and 71 on the results of opinion surveys. Statistical indicators are entered into the system by specialized organizations (Supreme Court, General Prosecutor’s Office, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and others). The survey will be conducted among the population and specialists (judges, entrepreneurs, journalists, lawyers, and others).

The index is formed annually before May 1 for the past year. The Ministry of Justice must then submit the index results to the Administration of the President, Parliament, and the Republican Council for Work with International Ratings Indices.

Money Reward for Corruption Report

The Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan has approved the Regulation on the procedure for encouraging persons who reported corruption offenses or otherwise contributed to the fight against corruption.

A one-time money reward can be received if there is one of the following reasons:

• if a corruption violation has been disclosed on the basis of a notification to the anti-corruption authorities when a bribe has been demanded from the person or another corruption offense known to him has been committed;
• detention of a wanted person on the basis of a message to law enforcement agencies about the search for a person for a corruption offense (with the exception of law enforcement officials).

Individuals who report corruption offenses or otherwise contribute to the fight against corruption can be rewarded with a one-time money reward in the amount of from 669 thousand soums to 5.575 million soums (approximately USD 60 to 530).

If the amount of a bribe or damage caused or the value of the appropriated property is more than 100 times the size of the base calculated value (from February 1, 2021 - 245 thousand soums), the remuneration is calculated in the amount of 10 and 15 percent of the value of the property.

14.7 Thousand Women Received Protection Orders in 2020

In 2020, the Government of Uzbekistan issued a protection order to 14,774 women and girls affected by harassment and violence.

Most of the orders were issued in Tashkent city, Tashkent, Samarkand, Ferghana, Kashkadarya, and Andijan regions, as well as Karakalpakstan.

About 11,000 women who received orders needed protection from their spouses. In 6,836 cases women suffered from physical violence, in 6,281 - psychological pressure, in 1,480 - harassment. In 121 cases, the order was issued to victims of economic violence and in 56 cases - sexual violence.

The bulk of those in need of protection are women over 30. Among those who received protection orders, there are 125 underage girls.

In 73% of cases, those who received orders were subjected to domestic violence, the rest - in public places, at work, and in educational institutions.

For violation of the requirements of the protection order, 146 people were brought to administrative responsibility within a year.

Hot topics in blogs

Presidential Elections Could Take Place in October

Members of the Legislative Chamber adopted a law on amendments to legislative acts, including the Constitution, which propose to postpone elections from December to October. The document was sent to the Senate.

According to the initiators of the amendments, the changes will serve as the basis for “the timely formation of the highest government bodies after the elections and the adoption of important political decisions”, in particular, the State Program.

Praising of the International community to ongoing reforms

Samuel Brownback, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, USA, has praised the efforts of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to improve religious freedom in Uzbekistan and expressed hope that work would continue.

“Yuksalish” has a Permanent Membership at WANGO

On January 28, 2021, Yuksalish Nationwide Movement received the status of a permanent member of the World Association of Nongovernmental Organizations (WANGO).

WANGO is an international organization that brings together nongovernmental organizations around the world to promote peace and global wellbeing. The Association promotes the mechanisms and ensures support necessary for NGOs - members of the organization - to communicate, collaborate, share, inspire and multiply their contribution to solving the basic problems of humanity.

Founded in 2000 by several international NGOs, WANGO has quickly grown into one of the leading international organizations for nongovernmental organizations committed to the universal peace, justice and wellbeing for humanity.

Five Co-Working Spaces for NGOs to Start Operating in the Regions of Uzbekistan

Within the framework of the Partnership for Innovation Program, initiatives of public organizations were supported to create and develop modern models of resource centers - NGO co-working spaces.

Accessible and fitted up with the necessary equipment, workspaces and zones to increase the potential of civic activists will appear on the basis of five pilot NGOs:

• ‘Nihol’ Center for Support and Development of Initiatives (Tashkent Region);
• ‘Hamdard’ Center for Social, Medical, Legal Support of Vulnerable Population (Khorezm Region);
• NGO ‘Ezgu Niyat’ (Ferghana Region);
• ‘Tumaris’ Women’s and Youth Center (Navoi Region);
• ‘Taraqqiyot’ Center for Support and Development of the Population (Ferghana Region).

New appointments

Feruza Eshmatova Was Confirmed to the Position of Ombudsman

On January 15, members of the Legislative Chamber elected Feruza Eshmatova as an Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman). Her candidacy is  approved by the Senate on February 5.

Prior to that, Feruza Eshmatova, born in 1979, specializing in law, served as a chairperson of the Committee on Women and Gender Equality in the Senate.

For reference: the Ombudsman is elected for a term of five years. A candidacy is nominated by the President of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan and Indexes

Positive Dynamics of Uzbekistan in International indices

The positive dynamics of Uzbekistan’s position in a number of international ratings and indices reflects the scale of transformations in the country.

For example, in the Open Data Inventory ranking over the past year, the country has climbed up to 125 positions at once. Uzbekistan’s positions have also noticeably improved in the Index of Economic Freedom (up by 52 positions) and the Global Cybersecurity Index (up by 41 positions).

It is noteworthy that in 2020 the country for the first time was included in the Global Innovation Index and the Competitive Industrial Performance Index.

7 Positions up in the Corruption Perceptions Index

Transparency International, the global civil society organization leading the fight against corruption, has published the annual Corruption Perceptions Index for 2020.

Uzbekistan scored 26 points and ranked 146^th out of 180 in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index for 2020, moving up 7 positions. The country continues to lag behind in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region.

Other news

Teachers Request Not to Cut Back on Education in Boarding Schools for Visually Impaired Children to 11 Years

According to the Resolution of the President of October 13, 2020, from the 2021-2022 academic year, the duration of general compulsory secondary education in specialized educational institutions will be reduced from 12 to 11 years. An appeal appeared on social networks from teachers in specialized schools for children with visual impairments.

According to Akmurat Atamuradov, a teacher at the special boarding school #77 for blind children, reducing the duration of education by one year will not allow visually impaired students to fully master the state educational standard.

He argues that by this decision all children with disabilities are assigned to one category that is, not classified. Meanwhile, disability can be of different types.

“Yes, some children with disabilities may not be able to learn. But children with visual impairments are mentally healthy, they simply cannot see. In general education schools, mathematics is in one book, while this discipline for children with visual impairments is in 10 books. What is written on one page of textbook in general schools, we have it on 3-5 pages. A child with visual impairment writes 3-4 times slower and reads 2-3 times slower than a child without loss of vision. During 12 years of education, our students achieve a lot. After the opening of the 12^th grade, they even won the republican Olympiads,” Akmurat Atamuradov noted.

The New Line of the Tashkent Metro Is Inaccessible to People with Disabilities.

Journalist Dana Oparina, together with Farhod Abdurakhmanov, a member of the Association of People with Disabilities of Uzbekistan, monitored the infrastructure of Tashkent - namely, accessibility of a new metro line in Sergeli District of the capital.

The monitoring showed that the new metro line is poorly integrated into the urban environment. In particular, not all station crossings are equipped with ramps and other facilities for persons with disabilities. Thus, the passing from the Olmazor station to the new line is impossible for a person in a wheelchair, there are no ramps on the Chilonzor line as well.

There is no special place for vehicles of people with disabilities in the parking lot near the metro station. The station has the ramps and elevator signs. At the same time, the elevator itself is far enough, and the lane to the elevator is not equipped with a tactile paving. It is noteworthy that the elevator buttons have tactile markings. The barrier free environment is not well thought out.

Soon after that, representatives of the JSC Uzbekistan Railways met with the participants of the public monitoring in order to eliminate the existing shortcomings together with the Association of People with Disabilities of Uzbekistan.

In general, Farhod Abdurakhmanov said that at the moment 9 out of 12 basic requirements of the Association have already been taken into account. He also submitted specific proposals for creating additional conditions for people with disabilities.

In particular, it was proposed to consider the possibility of installing call buttons for station staff and special parking spaces for people of this category, push-button traffic lights and a pedestrian crossing next to the road near metro stations, and others.

The parties agreed to continue cooperation to improve the quality of service for metro users with disabilities and to create favorable conditions for each passenger of the Tashkent metro.

Houses of Nongovernmental Nonprofit Organizations Were to Start Operating in All Regions of Uzbekistan by January 1, 2019

This was provided by the Decree of the President dated May 4, 2018. How is this task implemented in practice?

So, as of January 2021, NGO Houses operate in four regions of Uzbekistan - Khorezm, Sirdarya, Navoi and Jizzakh regions. In four more centers of Bukhara, Samarkand, Karshi and Ferghana regions, the construction of NGO Houses have been completed, and their official commissioning is expected in the near future.

In the city of Tashkent and Karakalpakstan, buildings have been allocated for NGO Houses, and currently they are under repair. In Andijan Region, it is only planned to allocate a space in the first quarter of 2021. Due to the lack of allocated funds, space and other reasons, NGO Houses are not yet created in Namangan, Surkhandarya and Tashkent regions.

A Portal to Submit Ideas for Improving School Education Starts Operating

The Ministry of Public Education of Uzbekistan has launched a portal enabling to submit fresh ideas and proposals for the development of school education (idea.uzedu.uz).

The site offers to submit ideas in different categories, including improving the quality of education, raising the status and qualifications of teachers, public-private partnership issues, developing out-of-school education, introducing innovations and technologies, improving teaching the Uzbek language, improving school infrastructure, inclusive education and others.

To send an offer, a person needs to fill out the form on the website. The Ministry officials will review the application and contact the sender. If the idea is found promising, the applicant will be invited to a meeting.

Uzbekistan to Build a Distribution Center for COVID-19 Patients in Southern Tajikistan

On the base of the medical facility being built by Uzbekistan in Kubodiyon District of Khatlon Region of Tajikistan, a distribution center will be opened for patients with suspected COVID-19.

The equipment that will be installed in the Distribution Center will allow, in the shortest possible time, to establish the presence of a coronavirus infection in a person and then promptly send the identified COVID-19 patients to receive qualified assistance to hospitals in the region and the capital. Procurement of the equipment will be financed by JSC Uzbekneftegaz.

The Uzbek side started the construction of the medical complex in the second half of 2018. This is one of the projects approved during the visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Dushanbe in March 2018. According to the plans of the builders, the facility will be ready to receive patients by spring.

The construction of the center is one of the projects approved during the visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Dushanbe in March 2018. Within the framework of the same agreements, a new school for 630 students, built at the expense of Uzbekistan, was put into operation in Spitamen District of Sogd in September 2020.

Success Stories of NGOs in Uzbekistan

Five-Time World Football Champions among Amputees

‘Matonat Football’ Football Development Center for Amputees of Uzbekistan is a nongovernmental nonprofit organization that supports and develops football among people with disabilities.

“The Center’s team is a five-time world football champion among amputees, winner of more than 30 international tournaments,” Rustam Mehmanov, Chairman of NGO ‘Matonat Football’, says. “Our football team exists for over 30 years. Day after day, our young men prove that their possibilities are endless, physical disabilities cannot be an obstacle to a full life, including sports, work, and family.”

As an NGO, the Center passed state registration with the Ministry of Justice in January last year. The Center initiators set a goal to create an infrastructure similar to the Big Football Academy, where we can gather young people, both boys and girls, with disabilities or congenital limb pathology. There are plans to organize production facilities at the Academy so that, along with the development of football skills, they master the profession.

“The young men will be able to do what they love, receive a stable income and devote their free time to football,” Rustam Mehmanov notes. “We also want to involve more girls. Why? Uzbekistan is considered the birthplace of football for amputees in the post-Soviet space. Why not be the first about the girls? There are only five such women’s teams in the world today.

In November last year, the Center for the first time in Uzbekistan organized a tournament among amputees - the Cup in memory of football veterans. Ferghana hosted that tournament. The ‘Matonat Football’ Center also plans to hold an annual football championship and the Cup of Uzbekistan, international tournaments in the republic. In addition, the team is preparing for the next World Cup, which is scheduled for 2022. The players are enthusiastic and ready to confirm the title of the strongest on the planet.”

Challenges are not obstacles to charity

The story is about the activists of the “Mehr-Muruvvat” NGO, who in the difficult year of 2020 tried to provide targeted assistance to the residents of Kokand (Fergana) and surrounding areas.

Non-governmental non-profit organizations deal with the social and economic problems of people since they are well aware of the real state of affairs on the ground, which allows them to act in a targeted manner.

This became especially relevant during crises and critical situations. 2020 has become a year of challenges for Uzbekistan: natural disasters, a man-made disaster, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Difficulties did not break down people, but made them become a reference point for reassessing values, transforming life pathways.

Civil society institutions, initiative groups, indifferent people who did not sit on the sidelines also played a significant role; they, along with government agencies, actively participated in informing the population and helped those in need. NGO “Mehr-Muruvvat” ("Goodness and Mercy") from the city of Kokand, Fergana region is among these initiative groups.

In March last year, the organization announced a “Shoulder to Shoulder” campaign to raise funds to help needy and socially vulnerable families during the pandemic. A month later, with the funds raised, activists and volunteers of the NGO "Mehr-Muruvvat" purchased food kits, antiseptics and hygiene products and delivered to 3 thousand families from Kokand, Dangara, Besharyk, Furkat, Uchkuprik, Baghdad and Buvaid districts of the Fergana region. Those families are of the senior people, people with disabilities, citizens who applied for assistance through the Call Center on the hot line 1197. In addition, 63 families received targeted financial assistance for almost 58 million soums.

“To preserve the life and health of patients with COVID-19 and pneumonia, 50 oxygen concentrators worth 250 million Uzbek soums were purchased and delivered to Kokand from China the funds from sponsors and benefactors,” said Rustamjon Khusanov, head of the “Mehr-Muruvvat” NGO. – “We donated part of it to city medical institutions, and part to citizens in need for free use. We are glad that we were able to support people in such a difficult time for everyone.”

In June, in compliance with quarantine restrictions, a cycle of thematic cultural and educational events for children was held, timed to coincide with June 1 - International Children's Day. In the courtyards of multi-story buildings, activists and volunteers played with children, and performed for them. Children received sets of outerwear and sweets as a gift.

NGO “Mehr-Muruvvat” actively helped the victims of the man-made disaster at the Sardoba reservoir in Syrdarya region. The activists of the organization mobilized the townspeople by announcing a collection of humanitarian aid under the slogan "The population of Kokand is with you, people of Syrdarya."

“Thousands of people who are not indifferent to the misfortune of others responded to the call,” noted Rustamjon Khusanov. “As a result, during May 5 -20, several vehicles of humanitarian cargo were delivered to the Syrdarya region. Outerwear for children and adults, furniture, household utensils and appliances, baby carriages, toys and school supplies, food, medical supplies and other essential goods worth 1 billion 300 million uzbek soums.

In general, the NGO "Mehr-Muruvvat" initiates and implements good deeds, as implied in their name (translated from the Uzbek language "Goodness and Mercy"). The organization supports socially vulnerable groups of the population, including persons with disabilities, women and children, the elderly, low-income families. Partners, benefactors, sponsors and caring people help them in achieving their objectives.

"Transparent and Inclusive Governance through Innovation and Cooperation between Civil Society and Local Authorities" in figures 

Yuksalish Nationwide Movement and the branch of the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (France) in Uzbekistan, with the financial support of the European Union, are implementing the project ‘Transparent and Inclusive Governance through Innovation and Cooperation between Civil Society and Local Authorities’.

Interim results of the project implementation over the past 12 months are in our next #infographic.

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