Tashkent hosted an international conference on the theme “Business and human rights: the protection and social responsibility.” The event was organized by the National Center for Human Rights of Uzbekistan, Chamber of Commerce and the Federation Council of Trade Unions of the country with the support of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan.

The international conference, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of state independence of Uzbekistan, was attended by the members of Legislative Chamber and Senate of Oliy Majlis, representatives of ministries, agencies, institutions of civil society, foreign and international organizations and media.

At the event, director of National Center for Human Rights A. Saidov noted that Uzbekistan now served more than 70 major human rights instruments whose provisions are implemented in national legislation for protection of political, economic, social and cultural rights and freedoms. Uzbekistan has consistently and strictly fulfills international obligations, including the Millennium Development Goals and the Declaration on the Right to Development.

During the years of independence, public expenditure on social services increased by more than five times. Each year, about 60% of the budget goes to health, education, municipal services, social protection and other industries. In September 2010, parliamentary hearings were held on issues of implementation of UN Millennium Development Goals in Uzbekistan. One of their results was the adoption of a package of additional measures for achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Uzbekistan for the period 2011-2015 by the government. For 20 years the country achieved more than 3-fold decline of infant and maternal mortality, average life expectancy has increased by seven years, among men it reached 73, among women – 75 years.

At the forum, special attention was paid to the development of small businesses and private entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan, UzA informs. The year of 2011 was declared by President Karimov as the Year of small business and entrepreneurship. The main directions of state support of entrepreneurial structures were outlined. In particular, set of measures was adopted to further create favorable conditions for increased business activity, simplifying the procedure of state registration of enterprises and reducing government intervention in the financial-economic activity of enterprises, expanding economic freedoms and rights of the private sector.

In the Concept on further deepening of democratic reforms and formation of civil society, proposed by President Islam Karimov, it was noted that adoption of laws ensure the further expansion of the scope, role and share of small businesses (including family) and private entrepreneurship in the economy. Currently, the bills “On Social Partnership,” “On Public Control,” National Programme of Action for Human Rights are under intensive development.

Conference participants reviewed the international experience of business participation in the observance and protection of human rights. Reports were presented on more effective cooperation between government bodies, civil society and private sector in protecting human rights.