Uzbekistan - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 30, May 9, 2018
Recommendations by Canada

Recommendations

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Thank you, Mr. President.

Canada commends Uzbekistan’s work in addressing human rights challenges, including child labour in the cotton sector. We hope to see progress entrenched through continued reform.

Canada recommends that Uzbekistan:

1. Collaborate with the ILO to end the systematic use of forced labour of adults in the cotton sector and develop a comprehensive plan to eliminate its use.
2. Revise practices in detention facilities to eliminate use of torture or other cruel treatment or punishment; employ independent monitoring, and thoroughly investigate and prosecute allegations of such practices.
3. Repeal legislation that criminalizes consensual same-sex conduct and adopt laws to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
4. Revise provisions in the country’s criminal and administrative codes relating to freedom of religion or belief, so as to conform with Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Canada hopes for continued progress in Uzbekistan, particularly in the area of harassment of persons, including civil society actors and journalists.

Background

According to UPR Info, a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) that tracks the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, in the first two cycles of the UPR, Uzbekistan received 289 recommendations, of which 175 were accepted (an acceptance rate of 62%). Canada’s previous recommendations were related to the right to freedom of association and expression, child labour standards, the elimination of the use of torture, and the conditions of detention facilities.

Since Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev assumed power in September 2016, the country has taken a number of promising steps in its efforts to address a number of human rights challenges. The ambitious Action Strategy 2017-2021 contains a number of items related to human rights protection, including strengthening the rule of law, protecting the rights and freedoms of individuals, and enhancing women’s social and political participation. The Strategy is an indication that Uzbekistan is working to address human rights concerns in the country.

According to a December 2017 report from the International Labour Organization (ILO), Uzbekistan has ended the systematic use of child labour, and has taken measures to end the use of forced labour during its annual cotton harvest. Uzbekistan has displayed an increased openness to engage on this issue, particularly with some domestic and international civil society actors. Uzbekistan has also taken steps, as noted in Human Rights Watch Report 2018, to relax restrictions on civil society, including by expanding media freedoms in reporting and releasing some wrongfully imprisoned activists. The elimination of exit visas is also a positive step in this regard.

Despite positive steps, the challenge will be to transform recent progress into lasting institutional improvements. Uzbekistan still faces challenges in: systemic adult forced labour in the cotton sector, politically-motivated detention, media freedom and freedom of expression; systemic discrimination, particularly against vulnerable groups such as women and LGBTI persons; and protection of religious freedoms. These concerns have been highlighted by a number of international NGO and civil society representatives