TASHKENT, September 28. /Dunyo IA/. Today, the 5^th Samarkand Forum on Human Rights has commenced its work in the capital, dedicated to the theme “The 60^th Anniversary of the International Covenants on Human Rights and the 40^th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development: Global Partnership for Human Dignity, Equality and Sustainable Development”, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

More than 200 experts are participating in the international forum in both online and offline formats. The forum's program features addresses by the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis Tanzila Narbaeva, Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis Nuriddin Ismoilov, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan Sabine Machl and others.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, Akmal Saidov, noted that the international conference, traditionally held every two years, has in a short period transformed into a unique dialogue platform for discussing topical issues in the sphere of human rights and searching for effective solutions.

It was emphasized that the current forum is timed to coincide with a number of significant milestones. This year marks the 60^th anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the 40^th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development, as well as the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights.

Particular attention during the forum is being paid to contemporary global challenges in the field of human rights protection. In particular, the rapid development of artificial intelligence and digital technologies opens up new opportunities, while simultaneously creating new legal and ethical risks.

In this regard, the participants are discussing issues related to improving the universal system of human rights protection in light of modern realities, as well as international cooperation in this field.

According to the program, two plenary sessions and seven parallel breakout sessions will take place in Tashkent on the first day of the forum. On the second day, the events will continue in Samarkand, where the final plenary session will be held. It is planned to discuss and adopt the Final Document of the forum during this session.