Shavkat Mirziyoyev : Our main goal is to ensure stability in society and the progressive development of our unique country
Tazeen Akhtar
Islamabad/Pakistan /22 June 2022
We live in all time changing world that is always taking new shape and when we study it after a certain period of time, we feel that our planet has transformed altogether. The nations that keep the pace with the changing trends of the world , can survive in the comity of nations with honor and dignity. Constitution is an agreement between a national state and the nation. The state and the nation agree upon rules and regulations about how the state will deliver governance and what obligations or responsibilities will be performed by the nation. This agreement is never static and stagnant. It can be improved and altered in accordance with new requirements of the state and aspirations of the nation.
Uzbekistan, being a vibrant national state and one of the largest economies in Central Asia, is planning to improve the Constitution in the same line. The President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev keeps in touch with the nerves of the public. He received many opinions from the citizens from different parts of the country to review the Constitution. It was only then that the Kengashes of the Chambers of the Oliy Majlis created the Constitutional Commission. Over the past month, the Commission received 48,492 proposals from citizens.created a Constitutional Commission on 20 May 2022 to deeply look into the matter.
On June 20, President held a meeting with members of the Constitutional Commission. He highly appreciated the activity of compatriots, their sense of belonging to the future of country, and expressed his vision of constitutional reforms. The President rightly observes that Constitution of Uzbekistan is a solid legal basis for all the successes achieved in the years of Independence. At the same time, life does not stand still, the worldview of the people is changing.
The President noted :
“The updated Constitution should create a solid legal basis and a reliable guarantee of long-term development strategies for our country, in general, its future prosperity and tomorrow’s prosperous life of our people. In a word, having deeply embedded in the content of our Constitution the idea “In the name of the honor and dignity of a person” and the approach “Man – Society – State”, which is the main principle of our current reforms, we need to turn them into the main value of our daily life. In other words, human dignity, honor and pride should henceforth come first in all areas.”
The President shared his vision on improvement of constitution focusing on 4 priority areas. He made proposals for each of them.
First Direction, a person, his life, freedom and dignity, inviolable rights and interests are indicated.
The President recommends elevation of human dignity should be a constitutional obligation and a priority task of public authorities. These principles must be clearly reflected in our updated Constitution, find their perfect legal solution.He proposed to introduce into the Constitution a provision that “the death penalty is prohibited in Uzbekistan” because the right to life is an inalienable right of every person.
It was noted that it is necessary to clearly state in the Constitution that a person’s criminal record and the legal consequences arising from it cannot be a basis for restricting the rights of his relatives.The issues of strengthening the constitutional foundations for the humane treatment of persons deprived of their liberty were also touched upon.
The President further emphasizes on when considering cases of administrative, civil, economic, criminal liability and in other areas, the measures of legal influence applied to a person should be sufficient to achieve a legitimate goal and, if possible, not burdensome for a person.
Second Direction, it is proposed to enshrine in the Constitution the idea of “Uzbekistan is a Social State”.
As you know, decent living conditions are created in a welfare state for everyone, no one is left without attention, alone with their problems. Therefore, it is proposed to reflect in the Basic Law the obligations of the state to provide the population with housing, strengthen the economic and spiritual foundations of the family, create all conditions for ensuring the interests and full development of children, support people with disabilities, and protect human health and the environment.
“In a word, the care of the state for men and women, families and children, youth and the elderly, persons with disabilities, all people, whether in the country or abroad, should be enshrined in the Constitution,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.
Third Direction is to clearly define in the Constitution the status of the mahalla and the duties of state bodies in the process of interaction with it. At the same time, it was proposed to reflect the principle that the mahalla is not part of the system of state authorities, can independently resolve issues of local importance on the ground, and receive support from the state for these purposes.
Fourth Direction is the improvement of public administration, the strengthening of democracy.
The President attaches great importance with the above mentioned topic. He says “We are aimed at building a democratic state that lives by the concerns of the people. This means that the state, its bodies and officials work for the people, serve them. People’s control over state power will be established. I propose to introduce into the Constitution norms that ensure openness, transparency and accountability in the activities of state bodies, as well as the compactness and efficiency of these bodies.”
Thus, proposals were put forward to expand the powers of the Oliy Majlis to form a government and ensure its effective functioning, transfer part of the powers of the President to the Oliy Majlis.
It was emphasized that the time has come to exclude from the Constitution the provision that Khokims simultaneously head the councils of people’s deputies.
The head of state proposed introducing the institution of making legislative proposals into the Constitution. Thanks to this rule, the people will have the right to initiate laws. According to this provision, a group of at least 100,000 citizens will be able to submit their legislative proposals to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.
The necessity of expanding the powers of the Government and defining in the Constitution the responsibility of the Cabinet of Ministers and Khokimiyats on environmental issues, youth, family support, social protection of persons with disabilities, development of public transport, creation of conditions for recreation of the population, support of civil society institutions was also emphasized.
The importance of updating and improving the conceptual and legal framework of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy is also indicated, taking into account the fundamental changes taking place in the world.
According to the procedure of improvement in constitution, the deputies of the Legislative Chamber will subsequently submit the proposals summarized by the Constitutional Commission as a legislative initiative to the lower house of parliament. They will be discussed in detail in Parliament, which will prepare a draft of the updated Constitution. According to the current legislation, the Parliament has the power to independently amend the Constitution.
As the constitution is about the relationship of citizens and the state, the President wants to include the gather the maximum public input to prepare a final draft. This indicates that the President is looking forward to a broad based national consensus in the process. He takes the process as not only the improvement but reforming the constitution. Therefore , the President proposed to consider the draft Constitution at a nationwide discussion and adopt it by referendum.
“If we carry out a constitutional reform based on the opinions and support of our citizens, through a referendum, this will be a real expression of the will of our people – a truly people’s Constitution.Our main goal is to ensure stability in society and the progressive development of our unique country! I call on all our people to unity and solidarity in achieving this great goal.” the President emphasized.
The meeting continued in the format of an open exchange of views. The members of the Constitutional Commission who spoke expressed their opinion on the proposals of the population and the need for reforms.
(Tazeen Akhtar is covering Uzbekistan Pakistan Relations for more than 1.5 Decade. He has visited Uzbekistan two times to cover important events. He is Editor of International Affairs web and magazine “Pakistan in the World” – He is Editor of Urdu Daily Azkaar in Islamabad Pakistan – He is analyst current affairs @ Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Pakistan) He is member of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors – He can be reached @ tazeen303@gmail.com/ https://www.facebook.com/tazeen.akhtar.14/ https://twitter.com/TAZEEN303)
