Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — At a plenary session, the Senate considered and approved the Law "On Uzbekistan’s Accession to the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making, and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters" (Aarhus, on 25 June 1998).

The Convention is a key international document aimed at protecting human rights to a favorable environment and ensuring access to environmental information for citizens, the public, and government agencies.

The primary goal of the document is to regulate mechanisms for public participation in decision-making that may impact the environment and public health, as well as ensuring the right to judicial protection in cases of environmental violations.

Under the Convention, government agencies are obligated to provide information about environmental elements (air, atmosphere, water, soil) upon request from citizens and public organizations. Additionally, the document foresees the involvement of the public in the development of environmental programs and strategies.

Senators believe that Uzbekistan’s accession to the Aarhus Convention will be a significant step in ensuring citizens’ environmental rights, strengthening international cooperation in environmental security, and enhancing the country’s image on the international stage.

Following the discussion, the Law was approved by the senators.