May 26, 2008

Politics:
Parliament holds seminar on Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Economics:
Insurance Business Prospects Discussed in Tashkent
Event Addresses Foreign-Investment-Based Companies Operations
New melioration approach
Society:
Lawmakers, Officials Scrutinize Bill on Medication
Red Cross & Red Crescent Hold Global Alliance Meeting
UWED Legal Clinic trains college graduates on labour rights
Uzbekistan Museums Festival Launched in Country

POLICY

PARLIAMENT HOLDS SEMINAR ON UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

The Legislative Chamber (lower house) of Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan hosted a workshop to discuss implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on May 23. UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Kyoko Postill participated at the workshop.

Committee on international affairs and inter-parliamentary cooperation of the Legislative Chamber organized the workshop entitled "Actual issues on practical implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights" in cooperation with UNDP project "Enhancing Legislative and Institutional Capacities of the Parliament".

The project "Enhancing Legislative and Institutional Capacities of the Parliament" supported this seminar. The aim of the project is to enhance capacity of the Legislative Chamber for effective law drafting, increased transparency and accessibility of the law drafts to public, and wider participation of academia, experts, general public, civil society, relevant governmental structures in legislative processes.

The workshop was attended by the MPs, ministries and departments, Human Rights Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis (Ombudsman), National Human Rights Center, UNDP, scientists and others. The participants considered the enforcement of the decree of the president of Uzbekistan "On the Action Program dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights".

On 10 December 1948 the General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – a historic milestone in the evolution of our common understanding, and affirmation, of values we deem inviolable: that all human beings are born free and with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms!

The Declaration, for the first time, set out universal human rights for all people in an individual context, thanks to extraordinary vision and determination of the drafters. Now available in more than 360 languages (including the Uzbek language), the Declaration is the most translated document in the world - a testament to its universal nature and reach. It has inspired the constitutions of many newly independent States and many new democracies.

The UN launched a year-long commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 2007. The entire UN family will take part in a campaign to promote the Declaration's ideals and principles of justice and equality for everyone. UNDP Uzbekistan also plans to support and organize various events to contribute to commemoration of the anniversary of the Declaration.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a decree "On the Action Program dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights" on 1 May 2008. The Decree foresees implementation of various activities in the field of human rights: in education, legal developments and improvement of access to justice. The country also allocated US$100,000 to the commemoration of the Declaration.

Opening the workshop, Muhammadyusuf Teshabaev, chairperson of the Committee on international affairs and inter-parliamentary cooperation, said the protection of human rights and freedoms became the issue of state policy. He said Uzbekistan joined to over 60 main human rights documents, including six key UN treaties.

Akmal Saidov, chairperson of the Committee on democratic institutes, NGOs and self-governance bodies and director of the National Human Rights Center, noted that the Declaration inspired the constitutions of over 110 countries. He said that the Constitution of Uzbekistan reflects some ideas of the Declaration.

Kyoko Postill said: "The Declaration is a historic milestone in the evolution of our common understanding, and affirmation, of the universal value: that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." She welcomed the adoption of the presidential decree on and expressed hope that all its activities will be implemented successfully.

During the discussion, the participants considered issues on improvement of execution of protection of political, economic, social rights and freedoms of people, monitoring of the realization of human rights and freedoms, liberalization of judicial-legal system and others.

ECONOMY

INSURANCE BUSINESS PROSPECTS DISCUSSED IN TASHKENT

Insurance plays an important role in providing for social protection of population, actively attracting investments into economy. In this regard Uzbekistan pays a profound attention to further developing the sphere of insurance in line with international requirements, as well as enhancing the operations of an insurance market, Jahon Information Agency reported.

The resolution of president on measures to further reform and develop the market of insurance services of April 10, 2007 serves as an important factor in accomplishing the tasks set in the context of insurance policy.

At the moment 28 insurance companies are now operating in the country. Several companies offer reinsurance and render services of insurance brokers and assistance. On the outcomes of 2007 the insurance companies of Uzbekistan accumulated over UZS 72.3 billion of insurance bonuses on free and obligatory types of insurance. It is 45.5% more compare to 2006.

At the moment, the national insurance companies offer more than 200 types of services. Based on the requirements of market and existing legislation each company strives to render quality and competitive services.

The forum held in Tashkent on insurance business of Uzbekistan has dwelled on the said topic, according to the report. The forum also saw the discussion of today’s state and prospects of the sphere, as well as coverage of the topic in mass media.

The “Insurance business in Uzbekistan” publication has also been presented as a part of the event in Tashkent, according to the report.

EVENT ADDRESSES FOREIGN-INVESTMENT-BASED COMPANIES OPERATIONS

Thanks to gradual investment policy, favorable system of privileges and preferences the foreign investments being attracted to Uzbekistan’s economy are increasing. This factor turns decisive, positively impacts the stability, structural and quality transformations in economy.

The total volume of investments attracted to the nation’s economy grew by 23 percent in 2007. Over 700 new enterprises were established with participation of foreign investments. Such indicators are important in providing people with jobs and raising their well being. Therefore, the country creates the necessary guarantees and favorable conditions for operations, among others, of companies with foreign investments in a bid to provide for further rise of their share in the nation’s economy.

The seminar “Operations of companies with foreign investments in the Republic of Uzbekistan: practice and problems” to have taken place at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan saw discussion of the aforesaid issues as much as tasks and prospects for the future, Jahon Information Agency quoting UzA.

In line with laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan with regard to customs fees and foreign investments, the property being brought in by foreign investors to the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan to meet the production needs shall not be levied fees.

The Resolution of Cabinet of Ministers of December 6, 2007 on the procedure of applying the customs privileges with regard to the property being brought in by foreign investors to the Republic of Uzbekistan for their own production needs has yet more promoted the improvement of such process, according to the report.

The resolution stipulates that the privileges rendered to foreign investors during their operations in Uzbekistan, as well as release of property from fees being brought in by foreign investors for their production needs shall also be applied towards enterprises with foreign investments.

However, as the report has suggested, there are several cases of violations of those provisions by officials responsible for implementation of requirements of legislation. In particular, more than 600 requests were filed in 2007 by foreign investors and foreign-investments-based companies with the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan. Over 400 of those applications were admitted to be lawful with full rehabilitation of violated rights of investors.

The staff members of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade, ministries of finance, economy, state tax committee and customs committees, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Supreme Economic Court, Uzinfoinvest Agency, and companies with foreign investments are reported to have participated at the seminar in Tashkent.

They spoke of the proposals to address the problems along implementing the said normative documents and not to allow for such cases in the days to come.

NEW MELIORATION APPROACH

This year the State Land Reclamation Program for 2008-2012 aims to build and reconstruct nearly 40 melioration objects.

The Uzbek Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources informed that these projects will be funded by the Land Reclamation Fund established within the presidential Decree “On measures of fundamental improvement of melioration system”.

The Fund is called to support agricultural enterprises by financing land reclamation works and measures on strengthening resource basis of water organizations by crediting purchases of machines and equipment including leasing. Here the purposeful and efficient use of funds must be permanently supervised.

The fundamental improvement of the country’s melioration system is a priority of agricultural development in the period of 2008-2012, says Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources. It is paid much attention to cardinal change of development and implementation approaches of land reclamation programs, basing on strict distribution of functions and increase in responsibility of customers and executors.

Land reclamation also means reliable mechanism for financing melioration works, high-quality improvement of mechanism for supporting the melioration networks guaranteeing their efficiency, normative drain and waste water through drain pipes, strengthening of resource basis and modernization of melioration equipment and machines of water organizations and water consumer associations through a wide introduction of leasing operations.

Under the State Land Reclamation Program for 2008-2012 the Chinese CNC Machimpex is to deliver 63 excavators, 10 bulldozers and their spare parts to Uzbekistan. These machines will be used for implementation of land reclamation projects in Ferghana region. The purchase is funded by the China Exim Bank’s credit.

Uzbekistan has bought melioration equipment worth nearly US$ 50 million by means of Chinese bank’s credits. By late 2010 the country intends to involve foreign investment of US$ 1.2 billion in the implementation of 25 land reclamation projects and reconstruction and construction of irrigation and waterpower engineering establishments.

The State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan says that in the first quarter this year the growth rate of agricultural gross product against last year was 104.8%. By April 1, 2008 the total number of farms was 222 thousand with averagely 26.2 ha of land per farm. The republic is about to finish up the process of turning partnership farming households (shirkats) into sole farming proprietorships.

SOCIETY

LAWMAKERS, OFFICIALS SCRUTINIZE BILL ON MEDICATION

The Labor and Social Issues Committee of the lower chamber of national parliament along with the Ministry of Healthcare of Uzbekistan held the roundtable on discussion of the new draft law “On medicinal agents and pharmaceutical activity”, Jahon Information Agency reported.

Those who spoke at the roundtable have said that during the years of independence as a part of reforms in the sphere of healthcare Uzbekistan adopted over 60 normative and legal documents. All of them immediately or indirectly touch on the issues related to medication and pharmaceutical activity.

In particular, among such important laws is the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On medicinal agents and pharmaceutical activity” of 1997. The document regulates the activities in the area of circulation of medication. Also, the Law envisages the state guarantees on providing the population with medicines.

The Law sheds light on such norms as the procedure of registration of medicinal agents and products of medicinal purpose, production of medication and their manufacturing at drug stores, packaging and exterior design, undertaking of clinical tests, as well as procedure of selling, exporting and importing the pharmaceutical products. Besides, the document provides for responsibility for side effects of medication as well as advertising.

In the framework of parliamentary control the Labor and Social Issues Committee of the lower chamber has not once studied the implementation of the said Law at the local levels. As an outcome, alongside with positive things the Committee used to uncover some shortcomings, as well. But at the same time, the newspaper report suggests that the relations in the sphere of medicinal agents and pharmaceutical activity require further reforming in the country.

The presidential Decree “On the Program of modernization, technical and technological re-equipment of enterprises of pharmaceutical sphere for the period until 2011” has been adopted in pursuit of such very goal, according to the report. In this context, such move necessitates the revision of the Law “On medicinal agents and pharmaceutical activity” while basing on the contemporary requirements.

Thus, the participants of the roundtable at the national parliament dwelled on the new bill which was actively scrutinized at three smaller groups on its separate aspects, for instance, on the issues of powers of Ministry of Healthcare and state bodies in providing with medication, quality control and regulation of production of medication, as well as their realization. On the outcomes of work of those groups the specific proposals were elaborated in terms of the need to better the draft law, according to the newspaper.

RED CROSS & RED CRESCENT HOLD GLOBAL ALLIANCE MEETING

On May 24-26 this year the Second HIV/AIDS Global Alliance meeting was held in Tashkent. The National Council of Red Crescent Society of Uzbekistan and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCRCS) organized the event.

During the three-day meeting the participants from over 30 countries made presentations on the ongoing measures aimed to overcome the spread of HIV and other diseases.

The main goal of Global Alliance meeting is to unveil the viable measures to further surmount the spread of HIV infection, provide for practical care and treatment of HIV, as well as decrease the stigma and the HIV discrimination.

The Global Alliance was established on December 1, 2006 on the international day of struggle against HIV by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent with the participation of National Societies of Central Asian countries, Caucuses, Russia, Ukraine as well as the European states.

The main goal of the Global Alliance is to offer the maximum influence to vulnerable layers of population by applying the most effective measures.

“At the moment HIV is the most troubling problem in the world. If there is not for a quick action than the epidemic which at the moment is focused on special groups such as the drug addicts is going to spread into the general population. So I think this meeting comes at a very important time”, - the Special Representative of the IFRCRCS Secretary-General, Dr. Mukesh Kapila has said.

The Global Alliance on HIV is a structure that allows mobilizing the potential and resources for rendering the effective support to national societies in achieving the goals in their programs on HIV protection.

“Here we come together to look at our plans for the next couple of years. This meeting gives us an opportunity to scale up our efforts to protect the increasing of HIV and other mortal diseases”, - the Deputy Head of Europe Zone of the IFRCRCS Leon Prop has noted.

The delegates to the Tashkent meeting said that the Global Alliance would assist to improving the measures on the protection of HIV/AIDS in Uzbekistan.

UWED LEGAL CLINIC TRAINS COLLEGE GRADUATES ON LABOUR RIGHTS

Clinicians of Legal Clinic under the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) carried out training for graduates of Tashkent Polytechnical College. The training was directed at raising awareness of graduates on their labour rights.

The training was organized by UNDP project "Legal Aid and Legal Literacy for Better Access to Justice". The project is directed at improving access to justice for people who cannot afford or have limited access to legal services, including women, children, the poor, the elderly and people with disabilities and increasing quality of legal services through training of law students.

Clinicians of Legal Clinic with legal specialists and experts prepared this event, which was aimed at raising legal awareness of youth in labour rights. The topic was selected based on the fact that graduates do not have information on order, rights and obligations employees.

Students, attending the training, received information on legislation on employment, rights and obligations of employees and employers, signing of contract and other issues. Clinicians answered to various questions of attendees.

It should be noted that this was the second training, organized at the Tashkent Polytechnical College. The previous one took place a month earlier and the participants expressed huge interest. The college administration proposed to hold another similar event to meet demands of students and teachers.

UZBEKISTAN MUSEUMS FESTIVAL LAUNCHED IN COUNTRY

The festival of museums of Uzbekistan timed to the 2200th anniversary of the city of Tashkent took off at the hall of the Exhibition of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan, Jahon Information Agency reported.

The festival is launched by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, Tashkent City Municipality and Uzbekmuzey Foundation, according to the report.

Deputy Culture and Sports Minister of Uzbekistan A.Khaydarov, Deputy Tashkent City Mayor, Chairwoman of the City Women’s Committee A.Abdurakhimova, the Vice President of Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan S.Gulomov and others spoke at the opening of the festival in Tashkent.

The festival will last until May 26. The main goal of launching the festival is to showcase the museum exhibits which tell about history and culture of the city of Tashkent, stages of its development, as much as exchange of experience on museum studies.

As a part of the event the visitors may learn about interesting archaeological discoveries, written sources and statistical data about the past of Tashkent which are now in the safekeeping at almost 20 museums nationwide.

Those are the exhibits of the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan, State Museum of History of Temur and his Dynasty, Samarkand State Museum and Preserve, museums of area studies, literature and arts of Jizzakh Province, and Angren City Area Studies Museum.