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Strict controls rather than equal partnership
In March 2020 the registration of a human rights NGO Huquqiy Tayanch (Legal Support), the first
since 2003, has sparked some hope for further liberalisation of the third sector in Uzbekistan.
407
Despite this successful single case and the recent easements in the formal registration and
regulation requirements of NGOs in Uzbekistan tightly controlled measures are still in force. The
sector is in need of systemic changes to provide freedom of association and to develop models of
equal social partnership.
408
Persistent stereotypes and prejudices towards independent NGOs
prevail, with a lack of trust and negative attitudes towards NGOs, sometimes seen as ‘foreign agents’
by the Uzbek government and society may further hinder the reforms that are vital to strengthen
the capacity of self-initiated NGOs.
409
On April 16
th
2020 the Public Chamber under the President was created with the main objective to
establish a dialogue between the state, citizens, and civil society institutions.
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The Public Chamber
can organise public hearings, examine draft laws and regulations, and monitor and prepare annual
national reports on the state of civil society in Uzbekistan. However, as not all of its members are
elected, with 18 out of the 50 members appointed by the president, there are doubts that the
Chamber will be truly public and independent and that it may turn into another state Chamber.
411
Currently, the Ministry of Justice together with civil society activists are working on a new NGO code
which should become a touchstone to develop a genuine and vibrant civil society in Uzbekistan.
However, the working group should have submitted a draft of the NGO code to the Cabinet of
Ministers by February 1
st
2020. This is not the first delay, with several deadlines missed already.
412
To
make it happen the authorities are advised to follow these recommendations:
Improve data collection practices on NGOs and make their financial data publicly available
for researchers and those interested in independent assessment and evaluation of the third
sector development;
Make the registration process of self-initiated NGOs transparent and easy in the interest of
grassroots initiative groups, provide legal support and samples of Charter documents to
avoid shortcomings in the application documents and to facilitate their swift processing;
Provide financial and organisational support to self-initiated NGOs and other civil society
institutions through state funds and other means of support by encouraging local public and
philanthropic fund-raising activities;
Restrict unlawful state intervention in the activities of NGOs through burdensome
requirements for reporting and advance approval for the day-to-day activities of NGOs; and
Lift limits on foreign funding of NGOs and other administrative barriers to their international
contact.
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Eurasianet, Uzbekistan sparks hope with registration of NGOs, March 2020, https://eurasianet.org/uzbekistan-sparks-hope-with-
registration-of-ngos
408
The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan, ‘On Social Partnership’, dated September 25, 2014, Lex.Uz, https://www.lex.uz/docs/2468216
409
Nikita Makarenko, Maidan-Paranoia, Gazeta.uz, January 2020, https://www.gazeta.uz/ru/2020/01/31/ngos/; Referencing the 2013/14
protests in Ukraine that led to the overthrow of its Government; Gerard Toal, John O’Loughlin and Kristin M. Bakke, Are some NGOs really
"foreign agents"? Here's what people in Georgia and Ukraine say, openDemocracy, April 2020,
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/are-some-ngos-really-foreign-agents-heres-what-people-georgia-and-ukraine-say/
410
Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, ‘On the Creation of the Public Chamber under the President of the Republic of
Uzbekistan’, April 16, 2020, uza.uz, https://uza.uz/ru/documents/o-sozdanii-obshchestvennoy-palaty-pri-prezidente-respubliki--17-04-
2020
411
Sanjar Saidov, Uzbekistan: Public of State Chamber? CABAR.asia, May 2020, https://cabar.asia/en/uzbekistan-public-or-state-chamber/
412
Gazeta.uz, NGO code will be developed in Uzbekistan, October 2019, https://www.gazeta.uz/ru/2019/10/05/ngo/
Spotlight on Uzbekistan
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9. Rebranding Uzbek cotton: An opportunity for lasting
reform
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
By Lynn Schweisfurth
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