Freedom of speech guarantees are reflected in the revised version of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan

On 6 December 2023, in Tashkent, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, jointly with the Committee on Innovative Development, Information Policy and Information Technology of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Public Fund for Support and Development of National Mass Media, held a round table on "Constitutional and legal guarantees of freedom of speech and media activities in Uzbekistan". The opening of the press gallery of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, established with assistance from the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, also took place.

Twenty-six representatives, including members of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, prominent bloggers and journalists, leading scholars and experts working in the field of information and mass communications, participated at the roundtable todiscuss the current constitutional and legal guarantees for freedom of speech and media activities in Uzbekistan.

During the roundtable, it was reaffirmed that continued efforts to address "hate speech" are crucial in establishing a constructive dialogue and respectful attitude towards each other in the media environment. In addition, the speakers shared their expertise and effective strategies for countering hate speech in the media.

Silke Kloever, the Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, remarked that "Human rights and freedoms, democratic values are about respect and acceptance of different opinions, willingness to speak freely and to search for compromises by means of dialogue".

This roundtable was organised within the framework of the PCUz UB project “Promoting Rule of Law, Human Rights and Media Freedom”.