GENEVA, June 24. /Dunyo IA/.   On the sidelines of the 62^nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, delegation of Uzbekistan participated in a parallel event titled “Universality of Human Rights in Different Regions of the World and Contemporary Challenges”, session was timed to coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the UN Human Rights Council's inception, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Co-organizers of the event included the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), National Center for Human Rights of Uzbekistan, Council of Europe, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Arab Charter on Human Rights Committee, alongside over 35 permanent missions accredited to the UN in Geneva.

During the discussion, speakers underscored that notwithstanding variations in the historical, cultural, and socio-economic evolution of nations, human rights remain inherently universal and should continue to serve as the cornerstone of domestic policies and global cooperation. Special emphasis was placed on the necessity of reinforcing national human rights institutions, refining frameworks for compliance with international commitments, and enhancing synergy between universal and regional human rights protection mechanisms.

Permanent Representative of Uzbekistan to the United Nations Office in Geneva Eldiyor Toshmatov, addressed the gathering. In his statement, he briefed the participants on the comprehensive human rights reforms underway in Uzbekistan, which are designed to reinforce the rule of law, increase civic engagement, ensure gender equality, safeguard vulnerable populations and enhance access to justice.

It was emphasized that the adoption of the National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights marked a pivotal milestone in the evolution of the domestic human rights framework. This strategy ensures a comprehensive approach to complying with the country’s international commitments and executing recommendations issued by global human rights mechanisms.

Special emphasis was placed on the performance of the National Center for Human Rights of Uzbekistan. Since 2018, Center has functioned as the National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up, coordinating state agencies in executing recommendations issued under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), UN treaty bodies and special procedures.

In his remarks, the Head of the Permanent Mission also underscored Uzbekistan's steadfast commitment to global cooperation in human rights, highlighting the vital importance of advancing human rights education and fostering public awareness. In this context, he pointed to the Samarkand Global Forum on Human Rights Education as a highly effective international venue for exchanging expertise and best practices.

Furthermore, speakers commended the consistent efforts of the Government of Uzbekistan to mainstream the human rights agenda into sustainable development, reinforce national reporting and monitoring frameworks and uphold the principle of “leaving no one behind” within state programs and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.