OSCE organizes meeting on improving conditions for political parties and NGOs in Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, 15 July 2010 - Improving conditions for political parties and non-governmental organizations in Uzbekistan was the focus of a meeting organized today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, together with the National Human Rights Centre of Uzbekistan, the Justice Ministry and the Institute for the Study of Civil Society. 

"From the first days of its independence, Uzbekistan has carried out a policy of social partnership and has actively developed civil society. OSCE standards have a great significance for improving legislation in Uzbekistan in the field of political parties and NGOs," said Akmal Saidov, the Director of the National Human Rights Centre.

"Full respect for freedom of association is an essential feature of any thriving pluralistic democracy, and a precondition for the stable and peaceful development of society. We therefore welcome the engagement Uzbekistan has shown in organizing this meeting and are ready to work with the authorities in developing concrete activities to improve the legal framework for political parties and NGOs as well as its implementation," said Douglas Wake, the First Deputy Director of OSCE/ODIHR.

Ambassador Istvan Venczel, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, stressed that this event is an important contribution to the efforts made in Uzbekistan in the area of democratization: "The role of political parties and non-governmental organizations is crucial in this respect. I hope that this meeting will be followed by more direct co-operation between the authorities of Uzbekistan and ODIHR."

Some 70 representatives of state institutions, civil society and the media, as well as international experts from several OSCE countries, reviewed Uzbekistan's experience with developing conditions for the work of political parties and NGOs and discussed ways to improve law and practice in light of OSCE commitments and other international standards.

The meeting was organized as a follow-up to the visit of ODIHR Director Ambassador Janez Lenarcic to Tashkent in 2009 and builds on previous recommendations made by ODIHR, including those contained in a 2005 review of Uzbekistan's NGO legislation and the report on the December 2009 parliamentary elections.