Protecting Human Rights in the Modern World: The Experience of Uzbekistan and Russia

On July 29 of this year, a legal colloquium titled Protecting Human Rights in the Modern World: The Experience of Uzbekistan and Russia was held at the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights. The event was organized as part of the visit to Uzbekistan by Tatyana Moskalkova, High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation and Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Opening the event, Director of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, Academician Akmal Saidov, warmly welcomed the members of the Russian Federation’s Human Rights Commissioner’s delegation led by Tatyana Moskalkova, as well as other participants. He emphasized the significance of holding this legal colloquium in a historically important year: the 80th anniversary of the Victory in World War II, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and the 50th anniversary of the OSCE Helsinki Final Act.  Moreover, July 30 is recognized worldwide as International Friendship Day, while in our country it is widely celebrated as the Day of Friendship of Peoples.

During the Second World War, victory was achieved at the cost of enormous losses, and this bloodiest war in human history brought indescribable grief and suffering to all of humanity in every corner of the world, said A. Saidov. In the harsh years of the war, our peoples extended a helping hand to each other, shared both sorrows and joys, and made a great contribution to humanity’s just cause.

Today's global challenges – climate change, food and energy security, trade wars, illegal migration, and social inequality demand collective action. Only by acting together can we effectively respond to these threats.

As noted by the Director of the National Center of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, in the current international climate, which is becoming increasingly complex and unstable, national human rights institutions have become an essential part of national systems for protecting human rights in many countries around the world. It is no secret that the true strength and effectiveness of these institutions are directly linked to their legal status.

Currently, nearly 200 national human rights institutions operate in 150 countries. In addition, over 1,000 ombudsman institutions function across 140 countries. It is important to emphasize that there is no single model for national institutions suitable for all countries. Each country can draw upon the experience of others; however, such institutions are established with respect to national and local cultural and legal traditions.

 

Uzbekistan was the first among Central Asian countries to establish a system of national human rights institutions.

This system includes the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman), the Commissioner for Children’s Rights (Children’s Ombudsman), the Commissioner under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the Protection of Entrepreneurs’ Rights, and the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights.

Uzbekistan’s experience in building national human rights institutions has been positively recognized by the international community and academic circles, and it has sparked interest for study in various countries. As stipulated in Article 56 of the newly revised Constitution of Uzbekistan:
"National human rights institutions shall supplement the existing forms and means of protecting human rights and freedoms, promote the development of civil society and enhance the culture of human rights. The State shall create conditions for organising the activity of national institutions of human rights."

Following this, the floor was given for the keynote address to Tatyana Moskalkova, High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation and Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

 Expressing gratitude to the leadership of the National Center for the opportunity to speak at the legal colloquium, Tatyana Moskalkova highlighted that the institution of the Human Rights Commissioner is one of the youngest and most dynamically developing democratic institutions for human rights protection in the Russian Federation.

For Reference: Professor and Honored Lawyer of the Russian Federation T. Moskalkova was elected as the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation in 2016. She rose from working as an employee in the Pardon Department of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR to the rank of Major General of the Police and Member of Parliament.

Today, Tatyana Nikolaevna is recognized as one of the architects of Russia’s current two-tier state system for human rights protection. On her initiative, legislation was adopted to establish a solid legal foundation for regional ombudsmen. She also laid the scientific and organizational groundwork for a continuous professional development system for ombudsman services. Moreover, under her initiative, the Scientific and Educational Center for Human Rights was launched.

Due to Tatyana Nikolaevna’s personal efforts, the Eurasian Ombudsman Alliance is operating actively and consistently. Furthermore, the CIS member states recently elected her as the first Chairperson of the newly established CIS Commission on Human Rights. The Commission is composed of two representatives from each of seven CIS countries, including Uzbekistan, which is represented by the Ombudsman and a representative from the National Center for Human Rights.

It is also worth highlighting that since 2019, a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation and the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights has been successfully implemented. Under this memorandum, the parties actively cooperate on issues such as protecting citizens’ rights, exchanging information, and organizing and participating in human rights-related events.

The participation of Russian representatives in the Samarkand Human Rights Forum has become a well-established tradition. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the close cooperation between the national human rights institutions of both countries made it possible to assist citizens in returning to their home countries and restoring essential documentation.

As a testament to the success of this collaboration, Tatyana Nikolaevna became one of the first recipients of Uzbekistan’s highest award in the field of human rights the “For the Protection of Human Rights” badge, established on the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

 

During the event, the achievements made under the National Human Rights Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan were also discussed. Participants exchanged views on Uzbekistan’s national experience in the protection of human rights, prospects for further development of national human rights institutions, legislative innovations, and avenues for cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia.

At the conclusion of the legal colloquium, Tatyana Moskalkova, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation and Chairperson of the CIS Commission on Human Rights, visited the recently opened "House of Human Rights" of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights.

The esteemed guest was presented with newly published books on human rights.

Press Service
National Center of the

Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights

  • Added: 29.07.2025
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