Samarkand Forum: an international event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights
The high-level session of the fifth Samarkand Human Rights Forum, which began its work on September 28 in the capital of Uzbekistan, continued with a jubilee session on the topic "From international obligations to effective implementation: the role of national implementation mechanisms in the field of human rights." This event was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights. Reports were heard from the Chairman of the Supreme […]
Samarkand Forum: an international event dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights
The high-level meeting of the fifth Samarkand Forum on Human Rights, which started on September 28 in the capital of Uzbekistan, continued with a jubilee session on the topic "From international obligations to effective implementation: the role of national implementation mechanisms in the field of human rights." This event was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights.
Reports were presented by Robakhon Makhmudova, Chairperson of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Gulrukh Agzamova, Chairperson of the Committee of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis on Democratic Institutions and Civil Society Development; Vasip Şahin, President of the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey; Suchart Setthamalinee, National Human Rights Commissioner of Thailand; Ertunç Erkan Balta, Ombudsman of the Republic of Turkey; Mohammed bin Saif Al-Kuwari, Deputy Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar and member of the Steering Committee of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions; Jhala Azizova, Regional Legal Coordinator of the International Committee of the Red Cross for Eastern Europe and Central Asia; Temur Shakirov, Director of the Europe and Central Asia Programme of the International Commission of Jurists; and Azamat Shambilov, President of the Center for International Development and Justice.
The discussions also featured online participation and speeches by Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and President of the National Human Rights Council of Morocco; Jiang Jianguo, Executive Vice President of the China Society for Human Rights Studies; Yana Lantratova, Human Rights Commissioner of the Russian Federation; Anvar Sabirov, Head of the National Human Rights Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Marie-Ève Boyer-Friedrich, Human Rights Officer of the Treaty Body Capacity Building Programme of the Human Rights Council and Treaty Mechanisms Division of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; and Gianni Magazzeni, President of the Executive Board of the international non-governmental organization "UPR Info."
As noted by the participants, the year 2026 will also mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights. Over the past thirty years, the National Center has taken a leading position in promoting international human rights standards, ensuring the fulfillment of Uzbekistan's international obligations, strengthening cooperation with UN human rights systems, as well as in human rights education, research, and institutional development.
This anniversary opens up broad opportunities to assess the role and place of national institutions, as well as national mechanisms for implementation, reporting, and follow-up (NMIRFs) in the effective practical implementation of international obligations. In this context, it is no coincidence that this meeting, along with celebrating the 30th anniversary of the National Center, became an important platform for dialogue on the growing role of national mechanisms for implementation, reporting, and follow-up in the realization of international human rights obligations.
During the discussions, the main focus was on interagency coordination, national mechanisms, and best international practices. According to the participants, the active discussions within the Forum will make a worthy contribution to developing practical solutions for expanding the implementation of human rights standards at the national level, promoting the right to development, and strengthening global solidarity in addressing contemporary challenges.
Within the framework of the fifth Samarkand Forum on Human Rights, an award ceremony was also held for the winners of the human rights educational program "Capstone Project Uzbekistan." The awards were presented to the winners by Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights; Martin Van Buren, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Republic of Uzbekistan; and Azamat Shambilov, President of the Center for International Development and Justice.