Conference participants discussed Uzbekistan’s system for human rights protection, international experiences of promoting democratization and human rights, the role of law-enforcement and judicial bodies in protecting human rights and how legislation can strengthen human rights and democracy.

"Undoubtedly, the focus of this conference is very important. Democratization and human rights are closely linked," said Ambassador Istvan Venczel, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan. "One of the key factors in identifying the level of democratization of a certain society is the level of observance, and indeed, non-violation of human rights and freedom by the state authorities."

The event was co-hosted by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator, the Justice Ministry’s Centre for Monitoring of Implementation of Normative-Legal Acts, the National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, the Institute for Study of Civil Society and the United Nations Development Programme’s Country Office in Uzbekistan.

The Conference gathered representatives of both chambers of the Uzbek Parliament, different government ministries and state structures, law enforcement agencies, judicial bodies, national human rights institutions, non-governmental organizations, media and law academics as well as diplomats and international organization representatives. Experts and law professionals from China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation also attended the event.