Tashkent branch of the Uzbekistan Bar Association organized the roundtable directed to improve advocacy, discuss existing obstacles on accessing of lawyers and efficient protection of clients during hearing on arrest warrant issuance, replacement of capital punishment sentence to long-term or life imprisonment.

About 50 private and public lawyers imparted their experience on execution of laws on abolishment of capital punishment and transfer of delegate the right to sanction arrests, which came into force on 1 January 2008. They also learnt experience of the USA, European and CIS states on treating prisoners, sentenced for long-term imprisonment.

Lawyers welcomed the decision of the government in these directions, but noted that there is gap for improvement of existing legislation. It was noted the procedures on arrest warrant issuance and replacement of capital punishment sentence to long-term or life imprisonment should be developed.

Gulnara Ishankhanova, director of the Tashkent branch of the Uzbekistan Bar Association, said it is important meeting, which allows to discuss execution of new laws. She said similar meetings will be held soon with law enforcement bodies and judges.

The event was supported by UNDP’s "Development of Capacities of the National Human Rights Institutions in Uzbekistan". The main objective of the project is to strengthen capacities of the national human rights institutions and relevant bodies to effectively fulfil their mandates for promotion and protection of human rights in Uzbekistan.

The project focuses primarily on activities relating to human rights matters that form part of the mandate and day-to-day work of operational national human rights institutions, which would consequently improve the promotion and protection of human rights.