The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Office of the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsperson), and NGO MADAD, hosted a roundtable discussion on the implementation of legislation criminalizing gender-based violence in Uzbekistan.

The event brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, and international partners, to assess progress and discuss further steps to strengthen legal protections for survivors of domestic violence.

The roundtable highlighted the significant progress made in Uzbekistan’s legal framework since the adoption of amendments criminalizing domestic violence in 2023. Participants emphasized the role of Uzbek civil society organizations and activists in advocating for these landmark changes and stressed the need for continued collaboration to ensure their effective implementation.

"As UNDP, we stand ready to support platforms like this, where CSOs can regularly and constructively engage with relevant stakeholders on a wide range of human rights issues, including women's rights," Ms. Fujii added. "We believe that such platforms enhance our understanding of the scope of human rights issues across the state, the varied impacts of these issues based on social, cultural, geographical, and other factors, deficiencies in human rights protection, and the priorities and strategies for their implementation."

Since 2017, UNDP has actively supported Uzbekistan in strengthening the rule of law, advancing gender equality, and fostering cooperation between state institutions and civil society. A key focus has been monitoring judicial implementation and using data-driven insights to inform legislative reforms. Previous research, including "Analysis of Judicial Practice on Mandatory Moving-In Cases" and "Brief Description of Analyses of Judicial Practice on Deprivation of Parental Rights Cases," contributed to key amendments that expanded access to state-funded legal aid, strengthened judicial oversight in civil cases involving women affected by violence, and improved housing protections for survivors of domestic violence, ensuring greater security and legal support. 

"Conducting such public monitoring of the implementation of legislative norms helps identify laws that require further improvement. Moreover, broad discussions highlight the importance of close cooperation between government agencies and civil society organizations," noted Tulkin Tursunov, Executive Director of the NGO "Madad."

Building on these efforts, UNDP project "Strengthening the rule of law and human rights protection in Uzbekistan" is now releasing two new studies: "Analysis of Judicial Practice on Domestic Violence Offences" and "Analysis of Judicial Practice on Domestic Violence Cases." These publications provide an in-depth review of how domestic violence cases are handled in the judicial system and offer recommendations for further legislative and procedural improvements. The findings aim to support policymakers, legal professionals, and civil society in ensuring the effective implementation of Uzbekistan’s legal framework on GBV.

“Violence against women and girls is one of the most systematic and common human rights violations. The EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 confirms the commitment of the European Commission to do all it can to prevent and combat gender-based violence, support and protect victims, and hold perpetrators accountable. About a year ago, the EU Council and the European Parliament agreed on a first-ever EU law on combating violence against women and domestic violence. Once adopted, the new law will set common rules on the definition of these offences and related penalties. It will also make it easier for victims to access justice and obliges member states to provide an appropriate level of specialised protection and support,” said Ilkka Räisänen, Roving Ambassador of Finland to Central Asia.

The roundtable concluded with a call for sustained dialogue between government bodies and civil society to monitor legal developments and address challenges in implementation.

This initiative is supported as part of UNDP project "Strengthening the rule of law and human rights protection in Uzbekistan" funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and implemented by the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan. UNDP reaffirms its commitment to supporting Uzbekistan’s efforts in promoting gender equality and human rights protection.