Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree Thursday creating the Citizens Chamber (CC) under the President, Uzbekistan 24 reported.

The decree also instructs the creation of public chambers of Karakalpakstan, provinces and the Tashkent city.

The CC’s main areas will be:

• establishing advanced form of systemic and effective dialogue, uniting the efforts of the state, the public, civil society institutions, aimed at further comprehensive development of the country;
• assistance in enhancing the participation of the public in the affairs of the state and society;
• systemic study of the public opinion, discussion on the ground and in industries of urgent issues;
• initiating fundamental and practical research in the field of development of civil society;
• assistance in establishing practical and effective cooperation of civil society institutions in achieving the UN's sustainable development goals;

The decree determines that the CC will consist of 50 members working on a voluntary basis. 18 members are appointed by the president from among citizens, representatives of NGOs and the media, who have made a great contribution to the development of society. Another 18 are admitted based on the decision of the Citizens Chamber and competitive selection of candidates submitted by NGOs, the media and representatives of the general public. 

In order to avoid duplication of the functions of the chamber, the decree has abolished the Advisory Council on the Development of Civil Society under the President and the Center for the Development of Civil Society.

The CC must annually submit to the president and parliament a national report on the status and development trends in the civil society.

Proposals for amendments and addenda to the Constitution and draft acts on the most pressing issues of the country's socio-economic life will be sent to the Public Chamber for consideration.

A Citizens Chamber bill should be developed within three months.

The President announced in his address to the parliament the proposal to create a Citizens Chamber to strengthen citizens oversight and establish closer interaction between the state and society.