The role of parliament in UN Human Rights Mechanisms

The National Human Rights Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan hosted a seminar on “Enhancing Parliamentary Engagement in UN Human Rights Mechanisms: Ratification of Optional Protocols Providing for Individual Communications Procedures”.

The seminar was organized by the National Human Rights Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan together with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and its Regional Office for Central Asia, with the participation of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). The event brought together deputies of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, representatives of the National Human Rights Centre, as well as experts from the UN OHCHR, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the International Commission of Jurists.

The seminar was intended to deepen parliamentarians’ understanding of the role of the legislative branch within the UN human rights system, to familiarize them with the procedures for considering individual communications under the optional protocols to UN international treaties, and to discuss the legal and institutional implications of their possible ratification for Uzbekistan.

It is important to note that the parliament’s engagement with UN human rights mechanisms is a logical continuation of the strategic course proclaimed by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev from the rostrum of the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council on 22 February 2021 – in a historic address delivered when Uzbekistan participated for the first time as an elected member of the Council. The Head of State emphasized that the country’s democratic reforms had become irreversible and that ensuring fundamental human rights and freedoms would continue to occupy a central place in the building of New Uzbekistan. The President reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s firm commitment to its international human rights obligations and announced the continuation of close cooperation with member States of the Council and all partners in order to advance the UN Secretary-General’s initiative “The Call to Action for Human Rights”. 

In his address, the Head of State noted that Uzbekistan, as a member of the Human Rights Council, would protect and actively promote the universally recognized principles and norms of international human rights law. The parliament’s consideration of acceding to the optional protocols providing for individual communications procedures represents the next natural step in the consistent implementation of this course.

The constitutional and legal basis for the issues under discussion is provided by the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan as revised. Under Article 55 of the Constitution, everyone has the right, in accordance with the legislation and international treaties of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to apply to international bodies for the protection of human rights and freedoms once all available domestic legal remedies have been exhausted. The right to apply to UN treaty bodies is thereby enshrined at the constitutional level and is directly connected to the question of ratifying the optional protocols that provide for individual communications procedures. 

In turn, Article 56 of the Constitution provides that national human rights institutions complement the existing forms and means of protecting human rights and freedoms, contribute to the development of civil society and the enhancement of the culture of human rights, and that the State creates the conditions for the organization of their activities.

Welcoming remarks were delivered to the participants by the Director of the National Human Rights Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan and member of the UN Human Rights Committee, Academic Akmal Saidov, the Acting Regional Representative of the UN OHCHR for Central Asia, Ennio Boati (online), as well as a representative of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The seminar programme was structured around four thematic sessions: “The UN Human Rights System and Parliaments”, “Procedures for Considering Communications under the Optional Protocols”, “Implementation of the ‘Views’ of Treaty Bodies”, and “Implications for Uzbekistan and the Way Forward”.

According to the National Human Rights Centre, the seminar concluded with an open discussion and a summing-up of its results. Participants underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation between the parliament, the National Human Rights Centre, and UN mechanisms, as well as of continuing the expert dialogue on questions of acceding to the optional protocols.

The seminar was held as part of Uzbekistan’s ongoing efforts to implement the National Human Rights Strategy and expand cooperation with the United Nations treaty bodies and mechanisms.

UzA