UNITED NATIONS CCPR Distr. International Covenant GENERAL on Civil and CCPR/C/UZB/3 4 June 2008 Political Rights ENGLISH Original: RUSSIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 40 OF THE COVENANT Third periodic reports of States parties UZBEKISTAN [31 March 2008] GE.08 – 42323 (EXT) CCPR/C/UZB/3 page 2 CONTENTS Paragraphs Page Abbreviations .................................................................................... 4 5 Introduction ....................................................................................... 1-21 6 I. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATE PARTY...................................................................................... 22-116 10 A. Demographic, economic, social and cultural characteristics.................................................................. 22-37 10 B. Constitutional, political and legal structure..................... 38-116 21 II. GENERAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ..................................... 117-260 37 A. Adoption of international human rights rules ................. - 37 B. Legal framework for protecting human rights at the national level ................................................................... 117-196 43 C. Framework for promoting human rights at the national level ................................................................... 197-247 53 D. Submission of periodic reports........................................ 248-260 62 III. NON-DISCRIMINATION AND EQUALITY AND EFFECTIVE MEANS OF LEGAL PROTECTION ................ 261-277 65 IV. APPLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS ......................................... 278-901 68 Article 1. Right of self-determination....................................... 278-294 68 Article 2. Observance of and respect for the rights recognized recognized in the International Covenant ................................ 295-353 70 Article 3. Equality of men and women with regard to civil and political rights .......................................................................... 354-390 79 Article 4. Restriction of the rights and freedoms of citizens .... 391-397 86 CCPR/C/UZB/3 page 3 Paragraphs Page Article 5. Prohibition of unwarranted restriction of human rights ........................................................................ 398-416 87 Article 6. The right to life as an inalienable human right......... 417-446 89 Article 7. Prohibition of torture and cruel treatment and punishment ............................................................................... 447-476 93 Article 8. Prohibition of slavery and the slave trade................. 477-494 98 Article 9. Right to liberty and security of person...................... 495-525 100 Article 10. Human treatment of persons deprived of their liberty ........................................................................................ 526-553 105 Article 11. Prohibition of arbitrary deprivation of liberty for for breach of contract ................................................................ 554-557 108 Article 12. Right to freedom of movement and free choice of residence.................................................................................... 558-583 109 Article 13. Grounds for expulsion of foreign nationals............ 584-603 113 Article 14. Equality of citizens before the law.......................... 604-654 115 Article 15. Determination of criminal status of unlawful acts and their liability to punishment .............................................. 655-657 121 Article 16. Recognition as persons before the law.................... 658-674 121 Article 17. Personal privacy...................................................... 675-686 123 Article 18. Freedom of conscience............................................ 687-716 125 Article 19. Freedom of thought and opinion............................. 717-739 128 Article 20. Prohibition of propaganda for war.......................... 740-744 131 Article 21. Right of peaceful assembly and grounds for its restriction ........................................................................ 745-758 132 Article 22. Freedom of association ........................................... 759-796 133 Article 23. Social and legal family services and protection of the family.............................................................................. 797-825 139 Article 24. Protection of children’s rights and freedoms.......... 826-855 145 CCPR/C/UZB/3 page 4 Paragraphs Page Article 25. Prohibition of discrimination in the exercise of political and civil rights............................................................. 856-875 149 Article 26. Equality before the law ........................................... 876-886 152 Article 27. Minority rights ........................................................ 887-901 154 CCPR/C/UZB/3 page 5 ABBREVIATIONS CEDAW Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women CERD Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination CIS Commonwealth of Independent States EAP Economically active population ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross ILO International Labour Organization NGO (Non-profit) non-governmental organization OSCE Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund CCPR/C/UZB/3 page 6 Introduction 1. The following persons comprised the working group for the preparation of the third periodic report of the Republic of Uzbekistan on application of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: A. Saidov, Director of the National Centre for Human Rights; A Ismailov, Deputy Director of the National Centre for Human Rights; F. Bakayeva, Head of the Analysis and Research Department; L. Kashiskaya, Head of the International Cooperation Department; G. Nazarova, Principal Consultant, Analysis and Research Department; D. Turayev, Principal Consultant, International Cooperation Department; R. Khusniyarova, Senior Specialist, Analysis and Research Department; K. Arslanova, Senior Specialist, Legal and Information Department; L. Begmatova, Senior Specialist, Information and Legal Department; and F. Khamdamova, Senior Specialist, Human Rights Education Department. 2. The following State bodies took part in the preparation of the report: • Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis • Senate of the Oliy Majlis • Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Oliy Majlis • Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Ministry of Justice • Ministry of Internal Affairs • Ministry of National Education • Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialist Education • Ministry of Labour and Social Protection • Ministry of Health • Ministry of Defence • Ministry of Finance • Office of the Procurator-General • Constitutional Court • Supreme Court • Higher Economic Court • National Security Service CCPR/C/UZB/3 page 7 • Central Penal Correction Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs • State Statistics Committee • State Environmental Protection Committee • Uzbek Press and News Service • Central Electoral Commission • Centre for Monitoring the Application of Legislation of the Ministry of Justice • Religious Affairs Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers • Uzbek Television and Radio Corporation • National Centre for the Further Training of Legal Specialists • Advanced Courses of the Office of the Procurator-General • Tashkent State Institute of Law • Academy for State and Social Construction (Office of the President) • Institute of the National Security Service • Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs • Institute for the Monitoring of Legislation (Office of the President) 3. The following non-profit non-governmental organizations (NGOs) took part in the preparation of the third periodic report: Bar Association of Uzbekistan; Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan; Oila Centre for Applied Science; National Association of Non-Profit Non- Governmental Organizations; Society for the Disabled of Uzbekistan; Kamolot youth movement of Uzbekistan; Makhalla foundation; International Cultural Centre of Uzbekistan; National Centre for the Social Adaptation of Children; Council of the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan; Sen Yolg’iz Emassan foundation; Soglom Avlod Uchun foundation; Nuronni foundation; Forum for Culture and the Arts of Uzbekistan; Izhtimoy fikr Centre for Public Opinion Studies; Centre for the Study of Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (attached to the Centre for Civic Initiatives); and the Centre for the Study of Legal Problems. 4. Over the years of independence Uzbekistan’s development has taken place in two separate periods, each occupying its own place in the country’s history. 5. The first period, from 1991 to 2000, was a transitional stage of priority reforms and changes, in which the foundations of Uzbekistan’s statehood were laid. This period saw the establishment of the legal and organizational bases for the building of a democratic State governed by the rule of law, for a socially orientated market economy, and for the formulation CCPR/C/UZB/3 page 8 of a State policy of promoting, respecting and defending human rights and freedoms. It was in this period that Uzbekistan acceded to the six core international treaties of the United Nations on human rights, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 6. The second period, from 2001 to 2007, played a no less important