On 31 March 2005, the Human Rights Committee considered Uzbekistan’s Second Periodic Report on its implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Committee praised the State party for its legal reform in the area of criminal law, induction of the Parliamentarian Ombudsman and invitation to national non-governmental organizations to actively participate in the reformation of the State’s Criminal Code. Such praise was overshadowed by concerns the Committee raised regarding human rights violations in the country. Importantly, the Committee expressed concern about the ill-treatment of alleged criminals. In response to such treatment, the Committee suggested that the State party provide the Committee with more information on criminal cases and convictions, respond promptly and independently to claims of torture and other ill-treatment of prisoners, adopt laws forbidding the expulsion of foreigners to countries where they will be subjected to torture, curb the excessive detention time of suspects, and ensure those who are arrested have access to an attorney.
Concerns were also raised with regard to government repression of civil society. The Committee underscored the importance of adopting measures to prevent the harassment and intimidation of journalists, ensure the registration of political parties and public associations and encourage the free exercise of religion.
Violation of women and children’s rights also surfaced in the Committee’s Concluding Observations. The prevailing phenomenon of domestic violence, polygamy and child labor in the cotton industry provoked the Committee to recommend that the State party take appropriate steps to put an end to such practices.
Please click here to view the Concluding Observations.
Compiled from: Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 40 of the Covenant: Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee, Advance Unedited Version, Uzbekistan, 31 March 2005.