Staff from the regional subdivisions of Department for Human Rights Protection and Legal Provision of the Internal Affairs Ministry in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Bukhara, Kashkadarya, Khorezm, Navoi, Samarkand and Surkhandarya regions as well as representatives of other internal affairs services dealing with human rights issues took part in the three-day courses, which wereheld in Termez as well as Bukhara and Khiva, two other cities in Surkhandarya.

The UN General Assembly has designated 10 December 2008 to 10 December 2009 as the International Year of Human Rights Learning. The year commenced on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Course participants examined basic principles of human rights and the international system of human rights protection, including international human rights documents and treaties. They also discussed the role of law enforcement in ensuring rights such as the right to peaceful assembly, privacy and freedom of expression, and conduct practical exercises on protecting and restoring human rights and freedoms.

The course series was the second of its kind organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator. The first series took place in February in Tashkent and Ferghana. These courses form part of project that aims to help Uzbekistan’s Interior Ministry build the capacity of its Human Rights Protection Department.