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Umbrella Project for Human Rights in Uzbekistan

Umbrella Project for Human Rights in Uzbekistan. CoP meeting 25-26 November, 2005. Background snapshots. Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, February 3, 2003 (22 recommendations)

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Umbrella Project for Human Rights in Uzbekistan

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  1. Umbrella Project for Human Rights in Uzbekistan CoP meeting 25-26 November, 2005 UNDP 2005

  2. Background snapshots • Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, February 3, 2003 (22 recommendations) • National Action Plan aimed at combating torture approved by GOVT in March 2004 by Prime-Minister. At the request of the concerned international community, UNDP led the process to support the drafting of the Plan. • UNDP Umbrella Project was established in December 2003, with the primary objective to support the implementation of the relevant components of the Action Plan (DEX modality) • Visit of Independent Expert under 1503 procedure in October, 2004 • President’s decrees on introduction of habeas corpus to the legal system of Uzbekistan and Abolishment of capital punishment, both from 2008 (issued in August 2005) UNDP 2005

  3. Human rights situation in general (before May 2005) • Widespread and systematic use of torture and ill-treatment of detainees* • Arrested person has problems with guaranteed access to lawyer* • Judiciary system is not independent* and corrupted. • No independent and free mass media - harassment and intimidation of journalists* • No opposition political parties* • Serious problems with freedom of conscience, freedom of speech and freedom of religion * • Strict regulation of all NGOs* • Persecution of human rights defenders* *Some sources of information:Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee : Uzbekistan. 26/04/2005.CCPR/CO/83/UZB; World report 2002/2003/2004 by HRW; Torture worldwide summary 2004 by HRW; Materials on Uzbekistan of 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights; ILHR report 2005 on Uzbekistan's Observance of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. UNDP 2005

  4. Project Info • UNDP developed Umbrella project to establish a framework within which its human rights initiatives can be operationalised in Uzbekistan. • The main aim of the Project is to strengthen the human rights protection in Uzbekistan through emphasis on the strategic processes of developing national strategies, promoting GOVT-NGO partnership, knowledge networking and capacity development of relevant government officials and human rights civil society • Umbrella project is funded by: Netherlands Government, TRAC resources and TTF funds. UNDP 2005

  5. Links to other projects Capacity Building of Civil Society Groups Projects (DGTTF): overall objective was to enable human rights civil society to be engaged in constructive dialogue and to foster partnerships with GOVT and to contribute to effective implementation of HR initiatives–component of the Umbrella Project Projects fall within Objective 2 of the Umbrella Project, and thus is executed and monitored by Umbrella Project staff UNDP 2005

  6. Key initiatives of the project/UNDP • Drafting of amendments to the current Criminal Procedural Code was supported (habeas corpus etc.) • Within the framework of the MoU between UNDP and Freedom House, organized joint Media training for representatives of Ministry of Interior and civil society representatives (first ever) – May 2004 • Workshops on HR monitoring, fact-finding and documentation for human rights defenders and Ministry of Interior is organized jointly with HURIDOCS (Switzerland). October-December 2004 • Three government officials and 8 lawyers trained at Danish Institute for Human Rights • Workshop on human rights sensitization for civil society and government officials is supported – July 2004 UNDP 2005

  7. Key initiatives of the project (UNDP) • Tashkent Bar Association and all regional branches (12) are supported in order to have enhanced access to legal info (computers, software and web-site are provided), follow up networking activities • Study tour and internship of 6 Uzbek HRD was organized jointly with Moscow Helsinki Group (field visits and practice) – August 2005 • Two major trainings for HRDs and Uzbek lawyers on Writing reports and cooperation with GOVT (experts from MHG and DEMOS) – March – June 2005 • Two joint civil society – government projects supported in Jizzak region (department of interior and Municipal body are involved) – (first ever) UNDP 2005

  8. Key initiatives of the project (UNDP) • Workshopon Incorporation of International Standards into Legal Standards of Uzbekistan for Courts, Ministries, Security Services, Ministry of Interior and Uzbek lawyers – March 2005 • HR workshops for Ministry of Interior Senior staff are conducted jointly with Freedom House. • International conference on international Best practices in criminal procedure (habeas corpus) – May 2005 • Support tothe joint study-tour of 6 high officials from law enforcement agencies and 4 human rights defenders to Slovenia (first ever) • 11 ACT (Small grants) projects are supported and managed by project staff (problems with bank accounts and receiving funds by NGOs) UNDP 2005

  9. Human rights situation (updates after May 2005) • All old problems are still existing • Representatives of NGOs are persecuted* • Many of the project’s beneficiaries in non-governmental sector are: closed, suspended or jailed • Almost all international organizations funded by USA are closed, suspended or without accreditation* (Internews, IREX, ICNL, ACCELS, PeaceCorp) • Ministry of Justice’s requests for various information to international organizations (possibility of activities’ delay) * Source of information: Letter by International League for Human Rights dated 31/05/05; IHF Report:The Persecution of Human Rights Defenders in Uzbekistan in the Aftermath of Andijan, July 2005; Materials of FIDH-OMCT: closure of NGOs, harassment and first detentions after Andijan; EurasiaNet CS bulletin from November 23, 2005. UNDP 2005

  10. Updates to the project • Project document is to be revised in order to minimize the support to HR civil society and HRD component, as communicating with international organization can present risks to them (closed) • UNDP (project assistant) ceased the receiving complainants physically in the office. Already received written complaints are to be finalized and this service is to be stopped • National Human Rights Advisor position abolished • Several planned, developed and already committed projects and activities are suspended or canceled UNDP 2005

  11. Lessons learned • UNDP can offer very limited security measures/protection to National staff • Hence, HR Advisors and Programme officers who operate in the field should be international staff only • The most sensitive issues are to be handled by OHCHR (within its formal mandate) • UNDP CO has to understand clearly the extent of its HR involvement within its Democratic Governance component • Serious problems on HR front should not put the risk on the rest of UNDP programmes, including DG component UNDP 2005

  12. Thank you for attention Q&A section UNDP 2005

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