During the interaction, the Ombudsman touched upon Uzbekistan's State policy on the protection of children and women from all forms of violence, the strengthening of the legislative framework, as well as the established benefits of comprehensive support for women and the implementation of the Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality in the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030.

The meeting also considered the main areas of activity of the Ombudsman Institution, the procedure for considering citizens' appeals, touched upon appeals sent by women, and monitored places of deprivation of liberty and the conditions created for women in closed institutions.

Caroline Harvey, perfoming on behalf of the Ombudsman Institute for Women's Rights, praised the reforms undertaken in Uzbekistan in this area. In particular, she praised the further improvement of the system of reliable protection of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of women and children, as well as the establishment of penalties for domestic violence.

During the interview K. Harvey positively assessed the introduction by the Ombudsman of the practice of submitting alternative reports on the implementation of UN international conventions and expressed her willingness to cooperate in this direction.

On the same day, the Ombudsman met with the Head of the Secretariat of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities George Arai and representatives of the NGO "UPR Info".

First, it was noted that in the reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan, based on the noble idea "For the sake of values and interests of human", special attention is paid to the issue of creating equal opportunities for persons with disabilities. In particular, in 2020, a new version of the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was ratified as part of the international initiative of the Head of State.

In the course of the interaction, they also exchanged views on the Ombudsman's research on the creation of equal opportunities for persons with disabilities, the roadmap developed at the initiative of the Ombudsman on the adaptation of institutions with limited freedom of movement for persons with disabilities, as well as analyzed the appeals sent by persons with disabilities.

The international experts recognized Uzbekistan's progress in fulfilling its international obligations to create equal opportunities for persons with disabilities and expressed interest in cooperating with the Ombudsman Institute, which monitors the implementation of legislation.

In his speech, Mr. George Arai, Head of the Secretariat of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, noted that the rights and powers of the Ombudsman Institute in Uzbekistan are expanding, in particular, granting the right of legislative initiative is an achievement not only of this institution, but also of all persons with disabilities.

During the meetings held in a friendly and constructive atmosphere, the sides exchanged views on further strengthening of mutually beneficial cooperation in the future.

It should be noted that during his visit to Geneva, the Ombudsman also met with the Head of the Secretariat of the UN Committee against Torture, H. Leoz Invernon.

Press Service of the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman)