On November 25, 2019, the National Anti-Human Trafficking and Forced Labor Commission held its first video conference meeting with the officials of the US Department of State, the Senate said.
Reportedly, the chairwoman of the Senate Tanzila Norboeva was present in the meeting and made remarks.
The parties exchanged views on measures taken in Uzbekistan to combat human trafficking and forced labor.
Uzbekistan officials noted that combating human trafficking and preventing forced labor was elevated to the highest-level public concern in Uzbekistan. This is evidenced by the adoption of 13 regulations in this area over the past three years.
They added that In line with the recommendations of the International Labor Organization, the US Department of State, Cotton Campaign and Human Rights Watch, a roadmap was developed to improve Uzbekistan's position on human trafficking and forced labor. Also, a program of practical measures to ensure the protection of rights and freedoms of Uzbekistan citizens abroad was adopted.
In order to strengthen the liability for child and forced labor, Amendments are envisaged to the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, they highlighted.
The US State Department officials supported the measures taken in Uzbekistan, and expressed their satisfaction with the work of the ILO team to monitor the forced labor in the country and expressed readiness to visit Uzbekistan in December this year to continue consultations and monitoring.
