President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan addressed 46th UN Human Rights Council session virtually on 22 February in which shared his vision and steps being taken in the country to uphold human rights that include Women, Children, Youth, Citizen, Labor and last but not the least Speech/Press and Religious freedoms as well. Most important thing to note was Uzbekistan participated in this forum for the first time. Uzbekistan achieved status of country of religious liberties , no discriminations whatsoever only a couple of months ago last year 2020 when US State Department removed Uzbekistan’s name from a watch list of countries on religious freedoms. Here Uzbekistan wins another feather in its cap as the first country in Central Asia to secure that position.
In that background, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s participation in UNHRC session is not only depicting his nations confidence and pride but it speaks louder about their commitments to the human rights and equal opportunities for all communities living in Uzbekistan. This commitment has been proved in recent past in different measures and decisions taken by the government in accordance with the UN charters and with participation of representatives of UNHRC, especially when “National Human Rights Strategy” was being evolved as mentioned by the President in his address.
This strategy was approved by the President in June 2020. Government elaborates the purpose of the adoption of the National Strategy as to define the main tasks and directions of the state policy on ensuring human rights and freedoms in Uzbekistan as an important and necessary condition for improving living standards and welfare, competitiveness of the state on the world arena, its sustainable development and democratic renewal.
