Uzbekistan - Fifth periodic report of States parties due in 2014 [2014] UNCEDAWSPR 3; CEDAW/C/UZB/5 (10 April 2014)

* In accordance with the information transmitted to States parties regarding processing of their reports, the present document has not been edited.

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Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention

1. The Framework for the Further Intensification of Democratic Reforms and the Formation of a Civil Society in the Country, which Republic of Uzbekistan President I. A. Karimov delivered to a joint session of the Legislative Chamber and Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on 12 November 2010, set in motion a new phase of development for Uzbekistan in 2010-2013. The Framework was, in effect, transformed into a Strategy for the Implementation of Goals that Uzbekistan had set for itself over the medium and long terms. It involves the drafting and adoption of more than 50 laws and other legal and regulatory acts, among which an important role is played by draft laws on social partnership, public oversight, the transparency of activities of public and administrative authorities, parliamentary control and, inter alia, environmental control.

2. In 2010-2013, the efficacy of legislative and oversight activities of the Uzbekistan Parliament rose considerably in matters involving the protection of human rights and freedoms, including the rights of women. During that period, the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted laws aimed at further implementing international standards and strengthening legal mechanisms for protecting human rights: laws on preventing micronutrient deficiency among the public (2010), on preventing neglect and delinquency among minors (2010), on awareness-raising and library activities (2011), on custodial detention during criminal case proceedings (2011), on limiting distribution and consumption of alcohol and tobacco products (2011), on accession of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (2012), on the family enterprise (2012), on protecting private property and guaranteeing rights of owners (2012), on permit procedures in the sphere of business (2012), on legal and regulatory acts (revised) (2012), on investigative activities (2012), on countering the spread of disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV infection) (2013), on guardianship and wardship (2014) and, inter alia, on environmental control (2014).

3. In recent years, the law-making activities of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan have become stronger in terms of providing safeguards for various categories of rights for socially vulnerable categories of citizens. Presidential resolutions have been adopted on additional measures to protect mother and child health and create a healthy generation (2009); on the Programme of Measures to Further Enhance and Increase the Effectiveness of the Work Being Done to Strengthen Reproductive Health among the Populace, Give Birth to Healthy Children, and Create a Physically and Spiritually Developed Generation for the Period of 2009-2013 (2009); on additional measures to further enhance the social protection of elderly, retired, and disabled persons living alone for the period of 2011-2015 (2011); on additional measures for accelerated development of the service sector in rural areas for the period of 2013-2016; and on a programme for the development of services in the Republic of Uzbekistan for the period 2012-2016 (2012).

4. Of vital importance were the following resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers: on measures to further increase the effectiveness of medical and social and occupational rehabilitation of disabled persons (2010); on additional measures to implement the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Uzbekistan (2011); on measures to further upgrade the system of non-formal education (2011); on measures to further upgrade the system and organization for youth recreation (2012); on additional measures to implement in 2012 and 2013 the Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, both of which were ratified by the Republic of Uzbekistan (2012); on additional measures to improve the social and living conditions of families (2012); on measures to form in 2013-2018 modern cultural and public access centres (2013); and, inter alia, on measures to further improve the activities of citizen self-government bodies (2013).

5. As of late, parliamentary control of compliance with treaties involving human rights and freedoms has intensified considerably via monitoring, parliamentary hearings, seminars and conferences on the subject.

6. The Senate Committee on Legislation and Judicial Matters held a conference on 23 July 2010 on the topic “Enhancing the Effectiveness of Parliamentary Control: Current Situation and Prospects”; the Legislative Chamber Committee on Democratic Institutions, Non-Governmental Organizations, and Citizen Self-Government Bodies conducted parliamentary hearings on 24 September 2010 on implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and conducted a round table on 28 December 2010 on the topic “Children’s Rights: International Standards and Domestic Law”.

7. On 26 January 2011, parliamentary hearings were held in the Legislative Chamber Committee on Democratic Institutions, Non-Governmental Organizations, and Citizen Self-Government Bodies on implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; that same Committee conducted parliamentary hearings on 8 February 2011 on the topic “Enforcement of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the Ministry of Justice”, and the Senate Committee on Foreign Policy Issues held a hearing on 6 July 2011 in the khokimiyat on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; on 9 September 2011, the Legislative Chamber Committee on Matters of Defence and Security held a round table on the topic “Development of the Legal Bases of the Fight against Corruption: International and Domestic Experience”; on 16 September 2011, the Legislative Chamber Committee on International Affairs and Interparliamentary Relations held hearings on matters involving the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and on 27 December 2011, a round table held in the Legislative Chamber was devoted to discussion of the Fourth National Report of Uzbekistan on implementation of the Convention against Torture.

Non-Governmental Organizations, and Citizen Self-Government Bodies, together with the khokimiyat of Andijan Oblast, discussed the results of monitoring and analysis regarding enforcement of the law on preventing neglect and delinquency among minors on 22 February 2012 and conducted the same discussion in Fergana Oblast on 4 and 5 April; a round table was held in the Oliy Majlis on 10 April on the topic “Monitoring of the Rights of Minors”; and, inter alia, on 30 April, there was a parliamentary hearing devoted to the activities of guardianship and wardship authorities in the system of public education of Bukhara Oblast.

9. The State has devoted considerable attention in recent years to adopting effective measures to mitigate the consequences felt by citizens of the country from the global financial and economic crisis and to pursuing a timely, pre-emptive policy to protect the economy, the social sphere, and the rights of citizens from the negative impact that the crisis has on the well-being of the populace, particularly its socially vulnerable groups, women, children, the disabled, and retirees.

10. To cope with the consequences of the global financial and economic crises, the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted the Anti-Crisis Programme for 2009-2011, which provided socioeconomic protection for the populace ― above all, the socially vulnerable strata ― via measures to support domestic producers and prevent an unjustified rise in prices for food and consumer goods.

11. In 2013, the crisis notwithstanding, real personal incomes rose by 16 per cent, and the average monthly wage of employees of budget organizations and the size of pensions, social benefits, and grants rose by 20.8 per cent. For purposes of effecting a radical reduction of government interference in the activities of business entities, the year 2012 saw some 80 types of permit procedures and 15 licensed types of activity abolished, with financial report forms and the frequency of their submission cut back by a factor of 1.5.

12. Based on the Set of Measures to Implement the MDGs in Uzbekistan, the growth in personal income helped improve the structure and quality of public nutrition and the supply of durable goods available to the public; a high literacy rate was achieved (99 per cent in 2012), and the literacy gap between city and village was reduced; the percentage represented by women in Parliament rose (to 22 per cent in 2012 from 16 per cent in 2005), as did the percentage of women in the workforce, to 45.4 per cent from 44 per cent; and, inter alia, the health of mothers and children improved considerably.

13. A great deal of attention is currently being devoted to organizational and legal and financial support of national human rights institutions created in Uzbekistan. In 2009, a number of amendments and additions were made to laws on the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and on the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and to the Republic of Uzbekistan Code of Criminal Procedure and Penal Code in order to enhance legal guarantees for the implementation of the authority of the Parliament’s Ombudsman in considering complaints and requests of citizens. The year 2008 saw the adoption of the Government Resolution on the Set of Measures for State Support of National Human Rights Institutions, which helped increase the logistical and personnel potential of the Ombudsman and the National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights. On 11 December 2013 the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on Measures for State Support of the National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights was adopted.

14. The country is also devoting much attention to the development of a system of State and public monitoring of human rights, which includes committees and commissions of the Legislative Chamber and Senate of the Oliy Majlis; the Oliy Majlis Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman); the Institute for Monitoring Prevailing Legislation, under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan; the National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights; the Main Directorate for Compliance Control of Legislation of the Ministry of Justice; the Research Centre for Democratizing and Liberalizing Case Law and for Ensuring the Independence of the Court System, under the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan; and the Interdepartmental Working Group for the Study of the Status of the Observance of Human Rights and Freedoms by Law Enforcement and Other State Authorities.

15. Public oversight in the sphere of human rights, including women’s rights, is being performed by the Independent Institute for Monitoring the Formation of a Civil Society, which coordinates public monitoring and oversight among national designated entities; the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan; the National Association of Non-Governmental Non-Commercial Organizations of Uzbekistan; the National Association of Electronic Mass Media; and, inter alia, the Public Foundation to Support and Develop Independent Print Media and Information Agencies in Uzbekistan.

16. The Public Fund to Support Non-Governmental Non-Commercial Organizations and Other Civil Society Institutions and the Parliamentary Commission that manages the assets of the Fund provide financial support to civil society institutions. Over the span of 2008-2012, the Public Fund allocated more than 22 billion sum for the implementation of various social projects submitted by civil society institutions.

17. Uzbekistan actively interfaces with charter-based and treaty bodies, as well as with special United Nations mechanisms associated with fulfilment of its international obligations in the sphere of human rights and freedoms, regularly sending information to those structures with regard to various aspects of human rights. In 2010-2013, detailed information was provided in response to more than

40 requests from international structures in the sphere of human rights, including women’s rights, namely, the Special United Nations Rapporteur on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution, and Child Pornography; the Special Representative on Violence against Children and for national mechanisms for suppressing violence against children; G. Shakhinyan, the Special United Nations Human Rights Council Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery; K. Singh, the Special United Nations Human Rights Council Rapporteur on the Right to Education; and

R. Manjoo, independent expert of the United Nations Human Rights Council on violence against women.

18. It should be noted that in 2010-2013, vigorous work continued in Uzbekistan to raise the level of awareness of State employees, employees of the socioeconomic system and non-governmental non-commercial organizations, and the public with regard to matters addressed by the Convention. Particular emphasis was placed on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of women, children, youth, the elderly, the disabled and national minorities. A cycle of conferences and seminars was devoted to the rights of women and children, the legal protection of socially vulnerable strata of the populace, the participation of non-governmental non-commercial organizations in handling socially beneficial tasks and the conduct of public oversight.

19. Noteworthy events were the international workshop on “Aspects of the Refinement of the Republic of Uzbekistan Law on the Expansion of the Partnership between the State and Civil Society Institutions”, in the context of the Report of the Republic of Uzbekistan President on the Framework for the Further Intensification of Democratic Reforms and the Formation of a Civil Society in the Country

(28 February 2011); the international round table “Formation of a Culture of Human Rights ― the Most Important Task in Protecting Human Rights and Freedoms and in Further Developing a Civil Society in the Country” (30 June 2011); the international conference “International Law Standards and the Experience of Uzbekistan in the Creation of a National System for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms” (15 and 16 December 2011); the international conference “Business and Human Rights: Protection and Social Responsibility”; the international round table “Aspects of the Further Development of Institutions of Parliamentary and Public Control: Domestic and European Experience”, conducted on 7 and 8 May 2013; the international conference “Securing the Rights and Freedoms of Women and Their Full-Fledged Participation in the Socio-Political, Socio-Economic, and Cultural Life of the Country: Experience of Uzbekistan” (31 May 2013); and the international conference “Development of a National System for the Protection of Human Rights in the Context of the Modernization the Country: Experience of Uzbekistan and International Practices”, held 24 and 25 October 2013.

20. Instruction and training in matters involving economic, social and cultural human rights, including women’s rights, were also performed through the medium of the printed word. Specifically, the following were published in 2010-2013: the book Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the National Human Rights Protection System in Uzbekistan, in Uzbek, Russian, and English; a series of brochures devoted to the exercise in Uzbekistan of various categories of human rights, including women’s rights; Protection of the Rights of the Child: Handbook for Parliamentarians, in Uzbek; Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols, in Uzbek; Human Rights for Parliamentarians, in Uzbek; Collection of Fundamental ILO Conventions and Recommendations, in Uzbek; Eliminating the Worst Forms of Child Labour: A Practical Guide to ILO Convention No. 182 (Handbook for Parliamentarians), in Uzbek; Collection of Regulations for Countering the Sale of Children, in Uzbek and Russian; Women and Men ― 2007-2012, A Statistical Digest, in Russian, Uzbek, and English; Education in the Field of Human Rights: Domestic and International Standards, in Russian; The Rights of the Convicted: International and Domestic Standards, in Uzbek and Russian; United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in Uzbek; Collection of Treaties and Laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Sphere of Fighting Corruption; and, inter alia, the handbook edited for publication Framework for National Monitoring of Women’s Rights.

21. Pursuant to the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, a massive campaign got under way to raise awareness of the results of the review of the Fourth Report of Uzbekistan, the text of which was translated into Uzbek and disseminated to State agencies, non-governmental non-commercial organizations, citizen self-government bodies, and the mass media. The results were widely discussed at meetings of parliamentary committees, judicial and law enforcement bodies, national institutes for human rights, and civil society institutions. The national plan of action (NPA) to implement Committee recommendations based on the results of the review of the Fourth Periodic Report was approved on 3 August 2010 by a protocol of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The progress of the implementation of the National Plan of Action was discussed on a regular basis at meetings of the Working Group for Monitoring the NPA, which was created in the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan.

22. Software to implement the provisions of international law documents in the sphere of human rights, including women’s rights, is being used by the following documents: NPA to Implement the Recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women based on the Results of the Review of the Fourth National Report; the National Plan of Additional Measures for the Implementation in 2012 and 2013 of the Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour; the NPA to Prevent Human Trafficking (2013-2014); the plan of additional measures to improve child rearing, inter alia, to form a healthy and harmoniously developed generation; and the State programmes “Year of the Harmoniously Developed Generation” (2010), “Year of Small Business and Private Enterprise” (2011), “Year of the Family” (2012), “Year of Well-Being and Prosperity” (2013), and “Year of the Healthy Child” (2014).

23. A draft has been prepared of a unified national plan of action to implement the recommendations of the HRC and treaty bodies on the basis of the results of the review of the Second National Report of Uzbekistan within the framework of the Universal Periodic Review and the Third and Fourth National Report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the two initial reports of Uzbekistan on the implementation of the optional protocols thereto.

24. Within the framework of the implementation of provisions of treaties in the sphere of human rights, Uzbekistan prepared in 2008-2013 more than 10 national reports (see annex).

25. More than 30 State agencies and some 25 non-governmental organizations took part in drafting the Fifth National Report of Uzbekistan on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The report presented detailed information on the implementation of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations on the results of a review of the Fourth National Report, as well as the measures called for by the national plan of action for the implementation of those recommendations, and disclosed the activities of the State and civil society institutions to improve organizational and legal and educational information measures and conditions for advancing women in all spheres of society.

26. The drafting of the report was based on the provisions of article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the General Comments of the Committee, and the United Nations document entitled “Compilation of Guidelines on the Form and Content of Reports to Be Submitted by States Parties to International Human Rights Treaties”.

27. The Fifth National Report was reviewed and approved by the Interdepartmental Working Group for the Study of the Status of the Observance of Human Rights and Freedoms by Law-Enforcement Authorities in the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan on 25 February 2014 and by the Legislative Chamber Committee on Democratic Institutions, Non-Governmental Organizations, and Citizen Self-Government Bodies on 26 February 2014.

Implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

28. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan is the fundamental legislative act ensuring the exercise on equal terms of fundamental human rights and freedoms in political, economic, social, cultural and other fields of societal life.

29. Over a brief historical span, Parliament has adopted eight Constitutional laws, 15 codes, and more than 600 statutes governing human rights and fundamental freedoms. Virtually every statute contains provisions prohibiting discrimination against women, as well as mechanisms to enforce that prohibition.

30. A study of the laws shows that the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is fully reflected in the following legal-and-regulatory acts:

1. Article 18 of the Constitution states that “all citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have identical rights and freedoms and shall be equal before the law, without discrimination by sex, race, nationality, language, religion, social origin, convictions, or individual or social status”.

2. Article 4 of the Law on Education notes that “Everyone shall be guaranteed equal rights to receive an education, regardless of sex, language, age, race, ethnicity, religious orientation, beliefs, social origin, occupation, social status, place of residence, or duration of residence in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

“Citizens of other States are entitled to receive an education in the Republic of Uzbekistan in accordance with treaties.

“Stateless persons living in the republic have rights equal to those of citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan to receive an education”.

3. Article 6 of the Labour Code reads as follows: “All citizens have equal opportunities in terms of the possession and exercise of labour rights. The imposition of any restrictions or the granting of privileges in labour relations on grounds of sex, age, race, nationality, language, social origin, property or official status, attitude to religion, beliefs, membership of public associations or other circumstances unrelated to a worker’s professional qualities or the results of his or her work is not permitted and constitutes discrimination.

“Distinctions based on job requirements specific to a given post or on special concern for people needing greater social protection (women, minors, disabled persons, etc.) do not constitute discrimination.

“Anyone who considers that he or she has been subject to discrimination at work may request a court to remove the discrimination and compensate him or her for the material and moral harm suffered”.

4. Restrictions of the rights of citizens on the basis of sex are also prohibited in the laws on public discussion of draft laws, on elections to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, on Republic of Uzbekistan presidential elections, on elections to oblast, rayon, and city kengashes [councils] of people’s deputies, and other laws.

31. Based on paragraphs 9 and 10 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, work continues in Uzbekistan to improve the draft law on guarantees of equal rights and equal opportunities for women and men. With the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the draft law was studied by international expert V. Neubauer, who noted that the law is aimed at preventing discrimination against women. The expert proposed adding provisions on the authority coordinating the implementation of State policy in the sphere of women’s rights, on the equality of women and men in the sphere of marriage, on remedies for the protection of women’s rights and, inter alia, on the specification of time frames for implementation of individual articles of the law.

32. The Centre for the Support of Civil Initiatives, together with the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan and the Centre for Human Rights, with the assistance of UNFPA, took part in discussion of the draft law modified on the basis of

V. Neubauer’s comments, at the round tables entitled “Strengthening Legal Safeguards for Women’s Rights in the Republic of Uzbekistan” and “Strengthening Legal Safeguards for Women’s Rights in the Sphere of Family Relations”. Twelve events were held in virtually all regions of the country, with the participation of more than 300 representatives of local authorities, women’s non-governmental organizations, and citizen self-government bodies.

Article 2. Implementation of State policy in the prohibition of discrimination against women

33. The 2010 review of the Fourth Periodic Report of Uzbekistan on the implementation of the Convention following consideration of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations set in motion a new phase for further improvement of the activities of State agencies and civil society institutions to ensure the exercise of an array of women’s rights.

34. Within the framework of the implementation of paragraphs 7 and 8 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, the Concluding Observations and Recommendations on the results of the review of the Fourth Report of Uzbekistan were sent to all ministries and departments of the country, including legislative, executive, and judicial bodies, as well as public and administrative authorities at the local level, non-governmental non-commercial organizations, and citizen self-government bodies. The recommendations were translated into the State language in order to inform all strata of the populace, particularly rural women, of the measures taken and results obtained in the sphere of women’s rights.

35. For purposes of implementing the above recommendations, an NPA was adopted to implement the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations following consideration of the Fourth Periodic Report, which included 68 paragraphs devoted to improvement of women’s status in the country and was approved by the 3 August 2010 protocol of the Cabinet of Ministers. A working group was approved to monitor progress in the implementation of the NPA, and the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan was charged with coordinating the monitoring.

36. All oblast and rayon subdivisions of the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan have developed and approved working plans of action to implement the NPA and submit quarterly implementation information to the central office of the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan. Each khokim deputy and chairman of the women’s committee at the oblast/rayon level is chairman of the working group for monitoring the NPA at the local level.

37. The NPA and paragraphs 11 and 12 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations were discussed and reviewed in Parliament and in key ministries and departments, including law enforcement authorities, as well as in rural and remote rayons, and were incorporated into educational and training programmes of law, medical, and pedagogical institutions of higher learning and institutions for advanced training of specialists of various fields.

38. In 2010-2013, implementation of the Convention was at the centre of the Senate’s attention. Accordingly, Senate committees on foreign policy, on science, culture and athletics and on agriculture, water management and the environment held more than 10 events devoted to protecting women’s rights and ensuring their participation in the sociopolitical and socioeconomic life of the country and to performing systematic monitoring of the execution of pertinent laws. The Senate Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Athletics and the Kengash of the People’s Deputies of the Bukhara Oblast, on 28 April 2010, in the city of Bukhara, held a joint session on the execution of the Law on Protecting the Health of Citizens with regard to protecting mother and child health in Bukhara Oblast.

39. On 26 May 2011, in the Tashkent Oblast khokimiyat, a joint session of the Senate committees on science, education, culture and athletics and on agriculture, water management and the environment reviewed the results of a study of the execution of the laws on protecting the health of citizens, on protecting nature, on protecting the air, and on water and water use, as well as State programmes on health care and the environment in the Surkhan-Darya and Tashkent oblasts. On

6 July 2011, in the city of Fergana, a joint session of the Senate Committee on Foreign Policy and the Kengash of People’s Deputies of Fergana Oblast considered the question of the work done by the local kengashes of people’s deputies of Fergana Oblast to implement the Convention.

40. A round table entitled “Significance of Recommendation of the International Symposium ‘National Model of Maternal and Child Health Protection in Uzbekistan: Healthy Mother-Healthy Child’” was held on 30 April 2012; the training seminar “Gender Development Issues”, organized by the Senate Committee on Foreign Policy and the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan, with the assistance of the UNDP Parliamentary Development Support project, was conducted on

21 December 2012; and a conference entitled “Current Issues Associated with Intensifying the Interaction between Local Kengashes of People’s Deputies and Women’s Committees to Enhance the Role and Social Activity of Women” was held on 25 October 2013 in the Senate.

41. Considerable attention has been devoted by State agencies and women’s NGOs to the implementation of paragraphs 11 and 12 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations to clarify the provisions of the Convention and its practical application.

42. The Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan has held 9,314 events, published more than 200 articles in the mass media, and reached more than 1,915,450 people. Since 2010, more than 2,100 copies of the Convention and its Optional Protocol have been disseminated. In December 2013, together with partner organizations, it published

43. In 2013, to clarify Convention requirements, judicial bodies organized 5,401 events, 985 of which were in the mass media: 269 on television, 261 on radio,

391 in newspapers, 18 in magazines and 46 on websites. Of 4,155 events, 1,573 took the form of lectures, 1,879 were round tables, 697 were seminars, 6 were workshops, and 2,386 were held among rural women. Six manuals were published, 255 posters were designed and distributed, and 4,763 copies of booklets were handed out.

44. Procuratorial authorities held 3,064 events in 2010 to clarify the Convention, as well as 4,230 in 2011, 2,099 in 2012 and 1,700 over 11 months in 2013. The Higher Training Courses of the Office of the Procurator-General include a special cycle of lectures studying the Convention.

45. In 2012, the Ministry of Health conducted 150,746 events in 110,559 makhallyas, 28,815 schools and 10,719 lyceums and colleges and 653 events in institutions of higher learning for 6,123,176 students; in the mass media,

847 appearances were made on television and 1,156 on radio, and 671 articles were published in newspapers and magazines. In 2013, 159,331 events were held in 118,043 makhallyas, 28,753 schools and 11,870 lyceums and colleges, and

665 events were held in institutions of higher learning for 4,378,924 attendees. The figures for the mass media were 1,312 appearances on television, 1,677 on radio, and 828 articles in newspapers and magazines.

46. In 2009-2013, the Department for Human Rights Protection and Legal Support of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with assistance from the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan, the Regional UNDP Office in Uzbekistan, the Regional Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the EC project “Furtherance of Judicial and Legal Reforms in Uzbekistan” and with participation of international experts, conducted 35 training seminars, over the course of which

825 staff members received certificates. Accordingly, a training seminar was arranged from 30 April to 2 May 2013 on the topic “Women, Peace and Security ― Best Practices”, with participation of specialists from the OSCE International Centre for Humanitarian Operations and the Police Academy of Germany.

47. The essence and significance of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations were studied by the faculty of various departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy. That document was included in the framework of the Resource Centre for Human Rights, which functions within the Department of the Theory and Practice of Human Rights, as well as in the content of the methodological advances of the department.

48. On 16-18 March 2011, the Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy conducted a training seminar on “Carrying Out Measures of the NPA to Implement the Concluding Comments of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women following Consideration of the Fourth National Report of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the Implementation of the Provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and Tasks of the Internal Affairs Authorities”.

49. On 31 May 2012, the Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy conducted a round table on “Protection and Support of Women’s Rights by Internal Affairs Authorities”, in which 50 full-time female cadets took part. On 5-7 November 2012, a training seminar entitled “Upgrading Professional Skills of Women Staff Members of Offices of Internal Affairs and Giving Them Knowledge and Skills on the Job in the Sphere of International Standards in the Protection of Women’s Rights” was held. From 30 April to 2 May 2013 an international training seminar took place on the topic “Women’s Rights in the Modern World”, organized by the Academy in cooperation with the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan.

50. The Ministry of Defence developed an outreach and awareness-raising programme to enhance law-based literacy and knowledge of women with regard to provisions of the Convention, on the basis of which, seminars have been held for military servicewomen and their families on the topics “Rights and Duties of Women” and “Provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women”. In 2011, 32 events were held, and 1,984 people took part; in 2012, 543,510 people took part, and in 2013, a total of 654,095.

51. For practical implementation of the Programme of Measures to Enhance the Role of Women in the Formation of a Civil Society in the Country, to Strengthen the Family, and Ensure Broad Participation of Women in State and Social Construction for the Period from 2013 to 2014, the Independent Institute for Monitoring the Formation of a Civil Society (NIMFOGO), on 23 April 2013, organized a series of training seminars in all regions of the country, including the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the city of Tashkent, on the topic “Current Issues associated with Advancing the Political and Legal Culture of Women”. The Oila Centre, together with UNFPA, conducted an international conference entitled “Healthy Family ― Foundation of a Healthy Society” and, in November 2013, held a round table on “The Problem of Early Marriage in Uzbekistan”.

52. To raise awareness of members of the Milliy Tiklanish Party, 14 events were held in 2010. In 2011, that number rose to 50; in 2012, to 92; and in 2013, to 204. The events were on the following topics: “The Role of Women in the Family and Society”, “The Moral and Legal Bases of Safeguards for Women’s Rights in Uzbekistan”, “The Role of the Political Party in Advancing the Sociopolitical Status of Women”, “The Role of Women in the Development of Society”, and “The Role of Women in the Family and Society: Legal Safeguards for Their Practical Application”.

53. From 10 to 13 April 2012 and 4-7 June 2013, skills development workshops for trainers organized by the Centre for the Support of Civil Initiatives and UNFPA, as well as the National Association for Non-Governmental Non-Commercial Organizations of Uzbekistan (NANNOUz) and the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan, were held under the rubric “Framework for the Development and Improvement of National Monitoring of Women’s Rights in Uzbekistan”. On

10 May 2012, the National Centre for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, together with the Higher Training Courses of the Office of the Procurator-General, conducted a round table on the topic “Aspects of the Implementation of Standards for the Protection of the Social Rights of Women into Domestic Law.”

54. Seminars to promote the Convention to staff members of law enforcement agencies were held from 1 April through 11 June 2013, in the city of Tashkent; the oblasts of Andijan, Namangan, Syr-Darya, Samarkand, and Kashka-Darya; and the Republic of Karakalpakstan. The seminars trained 703 people, of whom 327 were representatives of regional internal affairs directorates, and 376 were decision makers.

55. On women’s rights, non-governmental television and radio stations of the National Association of Electronic Mass Media (NAESMI) prepared 65 human issue videos and 82 films that aired on TV some 2,000 times, as well as reports that involved the protection of women’s rights aired on the TV channels of the Television Network of Non-Governmental Television Companies of Uzbekistan (UzNTT) 415 times and on regional non-governmental TV channels 2,630 times.

56. For purposes of undertaking specific measures to raise awareness of the Convention among representatives of the courts and judicial bodies, procurators, lawyers and legal consultants, matters involving safeguarding the rights of women and gender equality have been included in a number of scholarly disciplines taught at the Department of International Law and Human Rights and other departments of the Ministry of Justice Centre for Professional Advancement of Jurists, the Higher Training Courses of the Office of the Procurator-General, the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Tashkent Law University and the University of World Economics and Diplomacy.

57. In recent years, a great deal of attention has been devoted to identifying violations of women’s rights, providing advisory and psychological support for women who have fallen on hard times, and providing timely consideration and resolution of women’s complaints.

58. In 2010, civil courts of the Republic examined 22 claims involving discrimination against women, and 14 of the claims were satisfied; 24 claims were considered in 2011, and 17 satisfied; numbers rose to 27 and 23, respectively, in 2012 and to 37 and 29 in 2013.

59. In the period from 2010 through 1 October 2013, procuratorial authorities handled 219 claims for protection of women’s rights, 45 of which were satisfied, and violated rights were restored for 58 of the claims.

60. Over the period from 2010 to 2013, the Republic Centre for Social Adaptation of Children received 480 applications, 70 of which requested legal assistance in the restoration of violated rights (to housing, restoration of documents, restoration of parental rights, placement in educational and preschool institutions, collection of support from parents, etc.) for young girls; 48 of which involved psychological assistance for young girls faced with hardships; and 40 of which involved targeted, integrated assistance for families raising young girls (assistance in obtaining social benefits and pensions, jobs for parents, etc.).

61. The Istikbolli Avlod Centre devotes much attention to considering requests of citizens in matters involving trafficking in women and girls.

62. Over 2013, the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan received 216 oral requests and 750 written requests, for a total of 966 involving the following: family conflicts (199); legal matters (282); requests for financial assistance (92), restoration of health (56), job placement (94), and action of officials (87); and other matters (156). A total of 58 requests were satisfied, and clarification was given in 680. The Women’s Committee site, updated on 1 January 2012, has a page that offers legal consultation on line and illuminates the achievements of women of Uzbekistan.

63. More than 20 women’s magazines ― among them Oila Va Jamiyat, Oila Davrasida, Bekajon, Begoyim, Uzbekoyim, Tumaris Avlodi, Ayol Va Zamon, Ayol Va Jamiyat, Gul Chekh Ralar, Kaynona, Kelinchak, Sanam, and Malika ― run articles aimed at advancing the legal culture and awareness of the law among women; in 2013, they published more than 8,700 articles and provided legal consultation.

Article 3. Measures taken by the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan to enhance the role of women in society

64. Within the framework of the implementation of the General Comments and paragraph 8 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, the years 2010-2013 saw continuation of the implementation of legislative, institutional, and educational information measures to support women in the exercise of their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

65. Legislative efforts of Parliament have played an important role in enhancing the economic status of women, expanding their job opportunities, and improving the well-being of the family, and Parliament has passed laws on the family enterprise, on protecting private property and guaranteeing the rights of owners, and on permit procedures in the sphere of business; decrees and resolutions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan have been adopted on additional measures to recruit graduates of educational institutions into entrepreneurial activities, on additional measures to improve the allocation of land parcels on the basis of competition among legal entities and individuals to perform entrepreneurial activities, on measures to further improve the organization and development of farming in Uzbekistan and, inter alia, on additional measures to accelerate development of the service sector in rural areas for the period 2013-2016.

66. A significant contribution to the development of the health-care system and to the efficacy of the provision of medical services to the public, including women, was made by laws on preventing micronutrient deficiency among the public, on limiting distribution and consumption of alcohol and tobacco products, and on countering the spread of disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV infection), as well as by resolutions of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers on measures to further enhance reform of the health-care system, on additional measures to strengthen reproductive health of mother and child in rural areas of the Republic and on measures to further improve activities of the psychiatric service of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

67. Considerable attention to support for socially vulnerable categories of the populace, including women, is given by the Law on Guardianship and Wardship; by resolutions of the President on additional measures to further enhance the social protection of the elderly, retired, and disabled persons living alone for the period 2011-2015 and on measures to further increase the effectiveness of medical and social and occupational rehabilitation of disabled persons; and by resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers on the State programme for the identification of congenital and inherited diseases to prevent the birth of persons disabled from childhood for the period 2013-2017, on additional measures to provide social support to young families, on measures to further improve rules for the assignment and payment of social benefits and, inter alia, on measures to further improve rules for providing medicine to certain categories of people on a preferential basis.

68. Additional conditions and opportunities in women’s exercise of their right to information and their cultural rights were created by laws on archiving and on awareness-raising and library activities and by resolution of the President on granting additional tax concessions and preferences to further develop the mass media and, inter alia, by resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on measures for the formation in 2013-2018 of modern cultural and leisure centres for the public.

69. Based on paragraphs 15 and 16 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, the country adopted measures to improve national institutional mechanism for protecting women’s rights.

70. The 25 January 2013 Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan conference to hear reports and elect officials, approved the amended Charter of the Committee, which intensified its objectives in the sphere of multilateral support of women and securing their participation in sociopolitical, socioeconomic, and cultural life of the country. It formed an institutional framework for the Women’s Committee: for purposes of control and monitoring fulfilment of the NPA for the Implementation of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, mobile groups were created for monitoring the implementation of the NPA in various regions of the country. The meetings of the Working Group on 28 August and 24 October 2012 and 8 November 2013 discussed progress in implementation of the NPA and provided procedural assistance in the organization of its implementation by regional women’s committees.

71. In accordance with the Resolution of the President on Measures to Support the Independent Institute for Monitoring the Formation of a Civil Society, that Institute, for the first time ever, was vested with performing public oversight and monitoring activities of State structures in the sphere of social welfare, entrepreneurial activities, and family business, and conducting analysis of problems identified, including those pertaining to women’s rights.

72. In 2012, the Ministry of Justice created the Main Department for Monitoring Compliance with the Law and Law Enforcement Activities, not only for State authorities, but also for law enforcement and oversight structures, for purposes of identifying violations and abuses in administration of the law, including in the sphere of women’s rights. That Department introduced an electronic databank on control measures performed.

73. On the basis of the Decree of the President on Measures for Further Improvement of the Activities of the Institute for Monitoring Prevailing Legislation, under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the objectives of that Institute were expanded in terms of monitoring not only legislation, but also law enforcement activities of public and administrative authorities, including in the exercise of the rights, freedoms, and lawful interests of women.

74. The Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on Approval of the Regulation on the Interdepartmental Working Group for the Study of the Status of the Observance of Human Rights and Freedoms by Law Enforcement and Other State Authorities expanded the functions of that body in terms of monitoring citizens’ complaints of violations of their rights and freedoms, including the rights of women, and approving and monitoring national plans of action for implementation of the comments and recommendations of United Nations convention bodies.

75. In connection with the passage of revised laws on citizen self-government bodies and on elections for the posts of citizens’ meeting chairman (aqsaqal) and chairman advisers and the decrees and resolutions of the of the President, such as those on additional measures to provide labour incentives to employees of citizen self-government bodies and on the organization of training courses to upgrade the skills of employees of citizen self-government bodies, measures have been taken to specify the authority and spheres of activity of citizen self-government bodies and to upgrade the skills of citizens’ meeting employees.

76. For implementation of paragraphs 17 and 18 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, the Resolution of the President on Additional Measures to Facilitate the Development of Civil Society Institutions was adopted on 12 December 2013; it provides a five-fold reduction, as of 1 January 2014, of the rate of the State duty collected for registration of non-governmental non-commercial organizations. For public associations of disabled persons, veterans, women and children, the registration fee is 50 per cent of the total amount for the State duty.

77. A great deal of attention in the performance report period was devoted to implementation of paragraphs 44 and 45 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations regarding collection and analysis of data.

78. Statistical digests of basic gender indices have been published in the country since 1998. The compendium Women and Men of Uzbekistan (2000-2005) was published in 2007; the compendium Women and Men of Uzbekistan, 2007 was released in 2010; Women and Men of Uzbekistan (2007-2010) and Women and Men of Uzbekistan, 2012 were published in 2012.

79. A round table was held on 22 January 2014 on the topic “Improvement of Collection, Analysis, and Use of Gender Statistics”. Current questions of gender statistics in the Republic were discussed and presentation of Uzbekistan’s first website on gender statistics, developed by the Republic of Uzbekistan State Committee on Statistics took place.

80. Within the framework of implementation of paragraph 53 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, for compliance with adopted laws and other legal-and-regulatory acts affecting women’s rights, broad use was made of technical backstopping from such international organizations as UNDP, UN-Women, UNFPA, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the EC and the Savings Banks Foundation of Germany, with which projects like the following were implemented: “Advancement of Environmental Rights of Rural Women of Uzbekistan”, “Development and Implementation of a Programme for the Conduct of Training Sessions to Develop Economic Skills and Knowledge of Rural Women and for Creation of Peer Support Groups and Assistance in Obtaining Microcredits in the Muynak Rayon of the Republic of Karakalpakstan”, “Women of Uzbekistan against HIV”, “Programme to Strengthen Reproductive Health”, “Gender Programme”, “Programme for the Creation of Information Resource Centres” and “Diligent Youth”.

Article 4. Special measures aimed at accelerating de facto equality between men and women

81. In light of paragraph 25 of the General Comments and paragraphs 13 and 14 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, the Republic of Uzbekistan is continuing procedural and institutional work to develop additional non-discriminatory measures to accelerate the process of improving the status of women.

82. Prevailing election, labour, family and administrative law has been supplemented with provisions aimed at removing obstacles to the exercise of women’s rights in socioeconomic, sociopolitical, and marriage and family spheres.

83. On 22 August 2013, additional safeguards guaranteeing the rights of women and other individuals engaged in the performance of family duties were put in place in the Labour Code and in the Law on Employment, which defined the concepts of “employed persons” and “unemployed persons” (art. 60), as well as conditions under which “unsuitable work” cannot be tendered in connection with change of residence, a work location that is inaccessible by vehicle, the unemployed person’s health or age, or other valid reasons (art. 13). Article 68 strengthens safeguards for single and multiple child parents who have children 14 years old or younger or disabled children and persons graduating from special secondary educational institutions or higher learning institutions, including girls, and for disabled persons, persons nearing retirement age, or victims of human trafficking, particularly women.

84. Article 84 of the Labour Code indicates that pregnant women, women who have children three years old or younger and persons graduating from special secondary educational institutions or higher learning institutions are not to be tested beforehand when applying for a job.

85. A 22 August 2013 law placed additional provisions into the Code of Administrative Liability regarding the liability of parents or caregivers or guardians for preventing children, including girls, from receiving the compulsory secondary general education, special secondary education, or vocational training (art. 47), as well as the liability of officials for violating employment law (art. 50) or law on social protection of the disabled (art. 57-1).

86. A 28 March 2013 law spelled out in detail the grounds in article 15 of the Family Code for lowering the marriageable age by no more than one year (pregnancy, childbirth, adjudication of a minor to be fully competent, or emancipated), as well as put in place a provision requiring a premarital medical examination for persons over 50 years of age only if they consent to it (art. 17).

87. For purposes of preventing early marriages and child marriages, the 28 March 2013 law placed article 125-1 into the Criminal Code, and article 47-3 into the Code of Administrative Liability, regarding liability for violation of the law on marriageable age.

88. In the process of the conduct of measures to eliminate practices and traditions and outdated stereotypes with regard to the role of women in society, legislation based on paragraphs 19 and 20 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations aimed at protecting the rights of women in family and marital relationships has been adopted; the level of awareness is being raised among the populace, particularly among rural women, in matters associated with a deeper understanding of the principle of equality between men and women and the unacceptability of various forms of violence in the family, and improvements are being made in the mass media in terms of coverage that includes information that does not discriminate against women or girls.

89. In 2010-2013, a number of amendments were made to prevailing law in order to strengthen the work to prevent violence against women and domestic violence and to eliminate obsolete customs and practices, including those involving minors.

90. A 12 April 2012 law incorporated into the Criminal Code a new article 130, which stipulates liability for the “manufacture or importation into the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan, for purposes of dissemination, advertising, or demonstration, of products that promote a cult of violence or cruelty, as well as for the dissemination, advertising, or demonstration itself of such products, if an administrative penalty has previously been imposed for the same kinds of actions”. Incorporated into chapter 8 of the Criminal Code are definitions of “pornographic products” and “products that promote a cult of violence or cruelty”.

91. Article 189 ― “Manufacture, importation, dissemination, advertising, or demonstration of pornographic products” of the Code of Administrative Liability has been revised, and a new article 189-1 has been introduced (Manufacture, importation, dissemination, advertising, or demonstration of products that promote a cult of violence or cruelty).

92. A 30 April 2013 law incorporated article 125-1 (Violation of the law on marriageable age) into the Criminal Code for entry into de facto marital relations with a person who has not attained marriageable age, if an administrative penalty has previously been imposed for the same kind of act; for parents, caregivers, or guardians giving in marriage a person who has not attained marriageable age, if an administrative penalty has previously been imposed for the same kind of act; for officiation of a religious ceremony for marriage involving a person who has not attained marriageable age, if an administrative penalty has previously been imposed for the same kind of act.

93. Article 47-3 (Violation of the law on marriageable age) has been incorporated into the Code of Administrative Liability, according to which the above acts will be treated as administrative offences when committed by a person for the first time.

94. To safeguard the right of children, including young girls, to receive an education, a 7 October 2013 law added to article 47 (Neglect of duties with regard to the rearing and education of children) of the Code of Administrative Liability a provision stipulating administrative liability of parents or caregivers or guardians for preventing children from receiving compulsory secondary general education, special secondary education, or vocational training.

95. It should be noted that, for purposes of creating a legal framework for the prevention of violence in the family, a framework for a law on the prevention of domestic violence has been developed, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy has developed a draft law on prevention of violence in the family and submitted it to Parliament.

96. Within the framework of the implementation of paragraphs 21 and 22 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, a sociological study was performed in 2012 to identify the scale and nature of various kinds of violence against women, as well as the perceptions of the women themselves of the phenomenon and their attitudes towards it. In the course of the survey, most participants noted that the number of cases of violence against women has dropped in recent years. Among the causes of violence, respondents placed the following: lack of success of women in life among men (18.8 per cent); despotism, low cultural level, and aggressive nature of men (17.3 per cent); unhealthy circumstances in the family, lack of mutual understanding and respect, conflict between wife and husband and in-laws (14.8 per cent); and alcoholism and drug abuse (11.8 per cent). Remarkably, 8.2 per cent of the women who took part in the survey felt that women sometimes provoked the violence with their own behaviour; 6.2 per cent of the respondents were of the opinion that violence is a consequence of the poor legal culture of women and their ignorance of their rights.

97. Women are becoming increasingly aware of the unacceptability of the use of physical violence by a husband against a wife. By comparison with the results of the survey done in 2011, 11 per cent more respondents said they regard domestic violence to be entirely unacceptable. Less than half (42.6 per cent) of survey participants who had requested assistance after having been subjected to violence had turned to law enforcement authorities, whereas others had sought help from relatives (27.7 per cent) and the makhallya (17 per cent). About 13 per cent refused to say to whom they had turned for help.

98. Research conducted for the implementation of paragraphs 24 and 25 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations showed that, over the past 10 years, no instances of certain kinds of violence (including sexual violence) against women in prison facilities were found. The penal system devote a great deal of attention to the prevention of all types of crimes, including crimes involving violence. Individual and group preventive work is done with prisoners, and personnel and prisoners are monitored constantly. Every 10 days, procuratorial authorities verify the due process attending their detention in the prison facilities, during which time they examine complaints and statements from the prisoners and others in custody.

99. As an experiment, the Main Penal Corrections Department established the post of Ombudsman for prisoner rights in correctional facilities for minors and women in the Bukhara Investigative Detention Facility, which will make it possible for them to handle, on site, questions associated with the conditions of their detention, medical care, training, and labour. The Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan, together with representatives of international organizations, regularly visit correctional facilities for women to study conditions attending detention of women and the observance of their rights to education and labour as prescribed by law.

100. Within the framework of the implementation of paragraph 23 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, the systematic recording and collection of data on the scale of discrimination or violence against women has been put in place, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Office of the Procurator-General have established rules for completing statistics cards for recording cases initiated and the status of criminal cases and the results of their investigation, as well as persons who committed crimes, including crimes against women.

101. Prevention division inspectors of internal affairs offices keep a log of instances of violence that contains all data on women seeking help. In 2012, a total of 8,443 crimes were recorded, of which 1,033 were committed against women, which constitutes 12 per cent. In 2011, that figure was around 17 per cent , and in 2010, 22 per cent. In 2013, a total of 48 rapes were recorded; 19 of 58 premeditated murders were of women; of 159 instances of grievous bodily harm, 21 were against women.

102. Citizen self-government bodies are working among the public to prevent physical and psychological violence against women. At citizens’ meetings, 8,315 religious and moral educators are carrying out activities that involve work to promote a healthy lifestyle and are providing assistance to troubled families. In the past, more than 45,000 events have been held, and they have reached some 1,900 citizens [sic], including women and youth.

103. Results of the analysis of some 4 million families indicated that 442,000 families required financial assistance, some 383,000 families required medical assistance, and more than 641,000 families required moral support. Financial assistance totalling 1.5 billion sum was provided to more than 185,000 poor families. In Fergana Oblast (2013), for example, prevention division inspectors of internal affairs offices, citizen self-government bodies, and other public structures handled conflict situations in 1,029 troubled and vulnerable families. With the help of the oblast Centre for Social Support of Civil Initiatives, practical assistance was given to 137 families.

104. The oblast women’s committee, along with the oblast Oila Centre, for enhancing women’s legal literacy, organized travelling workshops from 22 to

27 January 2013, on “Ensuring Increased Stability of the Family, Preventing Crime and Violence among Women and Minors, and Family Matters”, within the framework of which some 50 trainers from among psychologists, makhallya maslakhatchi [consultants] and activists were taught, and a total of 217,450 people took part in the training sessions.

105. On 21 May 2012, in the city of Bukhara, a workshop was held on “Violence against Women: The Role of the Family, Society and the State in its Prevention and Eradication”. On 26 August 2013, the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan, together with the oblast procurator, the directorate of internal affairs, and the Oila Centre, conducted a seminar on eliminating untoward situations for women.

106. Staff members of the prevention service of the internal affairs offices, for purposes of combating outdated customs and practices against women, gave 124,700 lectures to the public (compared with 123,311 in 2010, 130,594 in 2011 and 136,710 in 2012), including 63,981 in makhallyas for place of residence (64,720 in 2010, 67,768 in 2011, 67,264 in 2012); 25,044 at enterprises and organizations (25,455 in 2010, 26,998 in 2011, 29,105 in 2012); and 35,675 in educational institutions (33,146 in 2010, 35,828 in 2011 and 40,341 in 2012).

107. Procuratorial offices conducted 3,064 actions in 2010 to counter outdated customs and practices, 4,230 in 2011, 2,099 in 2012 and 1,700 in 11 months of 2013.

108. The National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan is doing wide-ranging work to inform the public on matters involving the elimination of stereotypes associated with traditional gender roles in the family and society. Eighty-four stories were devoted to that issue on the TV news programmes “Akhborot” and “Takhlilnoma”, as were 121 stories (455 television and radio broadcasts) on the TV programmes “Development Programme”, “Man and the Law”, “Women’s Happiness”, “My Dears”, “Spots on the Moon”, “Exposed Trade”, “Gratefulness”, “Among People”, “Lead out of the Village”, and “Prosperous Souls”. On the Yoshlar TV and Radio Channel, 120 stories were devoted to that topic on the “Davr” television programmes, and 125 stories (315 television and radio broadcasts), on the “Davr Yangiliklari” radio programmes.

Article 6. Measures aimed at suppressing all types of traffic in women and exploitation of prostitution of women

109. Under the Law on Countering Human Trafficking and key action plans for 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 for increasing the effectiveness of suppression and countering human trafficking, staff members of the Directorate for Entry, Exit, and Formalization of Citizenship of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are taking steps to prevent human trafficking: departmental and interdepartmental regulations are being developed that govern travel abroad by citizens, especially women 16 to 30 years of age; citizens who engage in prostitution and pandering are being identified, for the use of legal measures against them; with the participation of public authorities, meetings are being held with the public on “Prevention and Suppression of Illicit Trafficking in Human Beings”; for citizens travelling abroad for work, consultations are being offered in the Agency on External Labour Migration of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection; all requisite measures are being taken to return human trafficking victims to their homelands and to provide them assistance.

110. Within the framework of the implementation of paragraphs 26 and 27 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, Uzbekistan has concluded international treaties and agreements, including 30 on cooperation in the struggle against dangerous manifestations of organized crime, including human trafficking; 17 on legal assistance and legal relations in civil, family, and criminal matters; and 7 on extradition. For combating human trafficking, the following were concluded in 2010-2013: the Agreement on Cooperation of States Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Combating Trafficking in Persons, Organs and Tissues of 25 November 2005; the Cooperative Agreement among Ministries of Internal Affairs (Police) of States Members of the CIS in Combating Human Trafficking; and, inter alia, the Decision of the Council of the Heads of State on the Programme of Cooperation for 2011-2013 between CIS States Members in Combating Trafficking in Persons.

111. For studying problems of human trafficking, the Ijtimoii Fikr Centre, together with the Ma’naviyat Va Ma’rifat Centre, regularly conduct sociological surveys of citizens regarding their level of awareness and attitudes regarding crime in the sphere of human trafficking. The surveys have shown that 90 per cent of the respondents are fairly well informed of the crimes being committed in the realm of human trafficking and of the possibility of serious consequences in connection with those crimes.

112. Pursuant to the Plans of the Republic Interdepartmental Commission, over the period from July 2008 to 2013, a total of 460 monitorings were conducted in all the rayon, municipal, and oblast interdepartmental commissions for countering human trafficking, including all oblast, municipal, and rayon links of all the departments that make up the Republic Commission.

113. The number of persons accused of human trafficking was 847 for 2010, and 342 of them were women. In 2011, 654 were accused of the crime, and 331 of them were women. In 2012, 730 were accused, 350 of them women. The figures for

114. The number of human trafficking victims for 2010 was 2,325, of whom 499 were women, including 22 minor girls. Human trafficking victims for 2011 comprised 1,635, of whom 483 were women, including 41 minor girls. In 2012, there were 1,653 victims, of whom 459 were women, including 35 minor girls. For 11 months of 2013, the number of victims was 1,268, of whom 456 were women, including 38 minor girls.

115. According to data of the Supreme Court, in 2010, 752 persons were convicted for human trafficking (including 290 for trafficking in women); in 2011, the figures were 608 (302); in 2013, they were 598 (268); and in 2013, they were 635 (298).

116. It should be noted that, on 7 October 2013, a law was passed providing additional guarantees to human trafficking victims in terms of placement in jobs counted towards the established minimum number of jobs, and all territorial administrations and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection have “hotlines” on which one can obtain free legal advice for protection of the rights and interests of persons who have been subjected to forced or slave labour (there were more than 420 such calls over nine months of 2013).

117. Since the Republic Rehabilitation Centre opened its doors in 2009, a total of 1,148 individuals (827 men, 321 women) have undergone rehabilitation there, 1,027 of whom found jobs, 680 through employment and social protection centres; 347 work in the private sector; 18 were sent for occupational training; 26 work in child care; 24 are retired, and 6 are dependents of their parents. In 2013, a sports complex for human trafficking victims was built at the Centre.

118. A draft resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the creation of a fund for providing assistance to crime victims has been prepared, aimed at practical implementation of the requirements of article 44 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which establishes that everyone is guaranteed legal protection of his rights and freedoms, as well as of Section Five of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which stipulates compensation for property damage caused by a crime.

119. Particular attention is being devoted to broad awareness-raising and educational activity in preventing human trafficking.

120. In matters of trafficking in persons, particularly women, upwards of 260,000 awareness-raising efforts have been conducted, more than 15,000 in the mass media. A total of 2,738 banners have been placed in public gathering places, and upwards of 422,000 posters and 5.3 million booklets have been distributed among the public.

121. To prevent human trafficking, the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan in 2012, together with law enforcement authorities, the Makhallya Fund, other

non-governmental non-commercial organizations, local State authorities and representatives of the mass media held more than 5,130 meetings with students and the public, conducted 1,720 television and radio broadcasts, prepared more than 4,600 articles and distributed more than 1,100 copies of visual aids and about

122. Procuratorial authorities conducted 86,110 events, published 3,823 articles and arranged 5,476 broadcasts. Internal affairs authorities prepared 837 information items on human trafficking for the mass media (126 for television, 498 for radio and 213 for newspapers and magazines).

123. The implementation of paragraphs 38 and 39 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations shows that, based on data provided by the UNDP Regional Representative Office in Uzbekistan, the number of mandate refugees in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan to date is around 185, that mandate refugees are not subjected to detention or deportation for not having a visa or registration and that, at UNDP initiative, they are being gradually resettled in third countries.

124. The Republic of Uzbekistan has no special law or other legal and regulatory act regarding refugees seeking asylum. The rights and duties of foreign nationals are secured in the 21 November 1996 Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 408 on the Rules for the Entry, Exit, Stay and Transit of Foreign Nationals and Stateless Persons in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and other State authorities have more than once considered the question of ratifying the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Optional Protocol, studies of which have shown that Uzbekistan’s accession to those instruments would be premature, given that the country could encounter serious economic problems as a result of its geographic location, the volatile political situation in neighbouring States and potentially massive flows of refugees.

Article 7. Measures to eliminate discrimination against women in political and public life

125. Guided by paragraph 23 of the General Comments and paragraphs 28 and 29 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, Uzbekistan is implementing measures aimed at providing broad support for the participation of women in the public and political life of the country by means of expanding the informational and educational activities among women, particularly in rural areas.

126. In 2011, the Central Electoral Commission, together with the UNDP Representative Office in Uzbekistan, conducted polling on the participation of women in the electoral process, which showed that if, based the 1999 election results, women constituted 7.2 per cent of the country’s Parliament, they made up almost 18 per cent of all deputies of the Oliy Majlis based on the 2004 results. Based on the 2009 election results, 33 of 150 individuals (22 per cent) elected as deputies to the Legislative Chamber were women; 15 members of the Senate are women (15.3 per cent). Throughout all levels of the deputy corps (Oliy Majlis, Zhogorku Kenesh, and oblast, rayon, and municipal Kengashes), women constitute around 18 per cent. The largest numbers of women in representative State bodies are found in Andijan Oblast (23.8 per cent), Khorezm Oblast (23.3 per cent), and the city of Tashkent (21.7 per cent).

127. Among 517 registered candidates for the post of deputy in the Legislative Chamber, women constituted 31.9 per cent, as follows: 31.9 per cent from Adolat Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, 32 per cent from Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, 33.3 per cent from Movement of Entrepreneurs and Business People — Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, and 30 per cent from the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan.

128. Women also take an active part in the work of electoral commissions. They account for 19 per cent of those working in the Central Electoral Commission. During parliamentary elections of 2009, women constituted 20.5 per cent of the staff members of 135 okrug election commissions, and numbered 32,659, or 42.5 per cent, in the district electoral commissions.

129. Today, representatives of the Women’s Committee serve as deputy khokims in 14 oblast, 168 rayon and 26 municipal khokimiyats, which bears witness to their participation in executive authority.

130. The Public Opinion Centre has conducted a sociological study that shows that participation of women has now grown in almost every sphere of the life of the State, but especially in the economic sphere, small business, and entrepreneurship (more than 90 per cent of respondents). More than 80 per cent of those polled noted a growth in participation of women in the social sphere: education, health care and social security, as well as in culture and athletics.

131. More than half of the respondents pointed to an increase in participation of women in the work of the Oliy Majlis, political parties and Republic Government; in ministries and departments; in the work of khokimiyats of oblasts, cities and rayons; and in citizen self-government bodies. The larger role of women in the family, in rearing children, and in contribution to the family budget was noted by more than 50 per cent of the respondents.

132. The results of the poll showed an absolute majority of women (88.7 per cent) held in high regard the level of social and sociopolitical activity of the female population in their own city, rayon, makhallya or organization in which they work. The main obstacles preventing poll participants from working in the sociopolitical sphere in their place of residence or work are as follows: not enough time because of the household workload (28 per cent); the presence of young children (18 per cent); health problems (12 per cent); age (10 per cent); lack of husband’s consent (10 per cent); low level of education (6 per cent).

133. The programmes, charters, and pre-election platforms of political parties of Uzbekistan give special attention to tasks that involve helping increase sociopolitical activities of women, ensuring equality of women and men in the family and its economic independence, and protecting the health of women.

134. Accordingly, as of 2013, the number of women members of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (NDPU) was 158,756, 42 per cent of the total number of members. That figure stood at 40 per cent in 2010. The number of women members of elected bodies of the NDPU is 3,019, or 35 per cent; 39 women serve as leaders in rayon and municipal organizations of the NDPU, and 3,986 women are directors. The number of deputies from that party in the Zhogorku Kenesh of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and in the oblast and Tashkent City kengashes of people’s deputies is 285, of which 42 (14.7 per cent) are women, whose number constitutes 17.2 per cent of the number of men. The number of deputies of rayon and municipal kengashes of people’s deputies is 2,285, of which 416 (18.2 per cent) are women, whose number constitutes 22.2 per cent of the number of men.

135. Training in the system of political and civil awareness is being conducted in four stages for purposes of developing organization skills and proficiency; developing decision-making skills for women leaders, women candidates to deputy posts, and women directors; and enhancing political activity of NDPU women. Some 1,500 women and girls have taken part in more than 10 local training classes and almost 180,000 women have been involved in 6,640 events of local kengashes.

136. Programmes of the Liberal Democratic Party and other parties also devote attention to enhancing the role of women in the sociopolitical life of the country and in entrepreneurial activities. In 2010-2013, the “women’s wing” of the Milliy Tiklanish Party implemented large projects to build political leadership among women and enhance their legal and political culture; it conducted more than 3,000 events, round tables, training seminars and competitions. A “Women Leaders Club” and a “Women Scientists Club” have functioned in the “women’s wing” of the party since 2008. There are 451 women scientists who are members of the party, 134 of them doctors of science and 317, candidates of science. Actions by the party were covered by the mass media 573 times in 2010, 835 times in 2011, 918 times in 2012, and 1,762 times in 2013.

137. The Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan is doing methodical work to strengthen the status of women in the sociopolitical and socioeconomic spheres. In 2011, as well as March-April 2012, the Academy of State Administration, together with the Women’s Committee, developed the programme for a special course on preparing women leaders. Annually, 194 women who are chairs of women’s committees, deputy khokims of tumans (rayons) or cities, the Republic of Karakalpakstan, oblasts or the city of Tashkent are trained in the courses. Women Directors Clubs, which number more than 1,000, have been created in the city of Tashkent and in every district of the city on the initiative of the Women’s Committee.

138. The Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education has adopted a number of documents to strengthen the status of women in the sociopolitical and socioeconomic life of society and has created the Coordination Council of Women’s Committees of Higher Institutions of Learning, which tallies work done among girls and women on a quarterly basis.

139. Women are well represented in judicial bodies. According to data of the Supreme Court, 136 women worked in the system of general jurisdiction courts in 2010, 50 in criminal courts, 86 in civil courts. A total of 114 women worked in the system of general jurisdiction courts in 2011, 46 in criminal courts, 68 in civil courts. In 2012, the total figure dropped to 86, 32 in criminal courts, 54 in civil courts. In 2013, the figures fell farther to a total of 75, with 25 women in criminal courts, and 50 in civil courts. In 2010, a total of 26 women held leadership positions in the court system; in 2011, the figure was 22; in 2012, it was 12; and in 2013 it stood at 15.

140. A considerable number of women work in law enforcement: in 2010, there were 2,216, with 314 holding leadership posts; in 2011, the figures were 2,580 and 325, respectively; in 2012, the figures stood at 2,783 and 341, respectively; in 2013, they were 2,838 and 332. A total of 291 women are due to receive a promotion. A total of 84 women hold operational posts in procuratorial bodies, as well as in the Department for Tax and Currency Crimes and the Legalization of Illicit Income in the Office of the Procurator-General, and 23 hold leadership positions.

141. Based on paragraphs 17 and 18 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, suitable conditions have been created for the development of women’s non-governmental organizations, which are an important component of the national system for protecting the rights of women.

142. Women’s non-governmental non-commercial organizations, which now number 539, are working to upgrade qualifications and provide professional training and retraining of women. More than 44 per cent of those trained in

non-governmental non-commercial organizations have acquired a profession or upgraded their qualifications with the help of women’s organizations.

143. In 2013, a public fund created by the Oliy Majlis to support non-governmental non-commercial organizations and other civil society institutions appropriated more than 3.28 billion sum in State grants, or 46.9 per cent of the total funds. A total of 1.32 billion sum was allocated to 12 organizations for 18 projects to implement State commissioning of social services. A total of 2.4 billion sum in State subsidies was used to finance the projects of five NGOs ― NANNOUz, NIMFOGO, National Association of Electronic Mass Media (NAESMI), the Public Foundation to Support and Develop Independent Print Media and Information Agencies, and the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan.

144. A study of the rights of women’s non-governmental non-commercial organizations showed that procuratorial bodies have established no instances of deprivation of freedom or harassment of women’s rights advocates in connection with performance of their activities.

145. More than 8,000 of the most competent and active women with practical work experience in spiritual and moral education take part in activities of citizen self-government bodies. Since 2011, women retirees working as consultants on questions of religious education and spiritual and moral upbringing in citizen self-government bodies have received a wage, as well as 100 per cent of their pensions.

146. Based on the results of elections for the posts of citizens’ meeting chairman (aqsaqal) and chairman advisers, 13.4 per cent in 2013 were women. Women elected as chairs constituted 9.9 per cent in 2006, 11.5 per cent in 2008, and 12.7 per cent in 2012.

147. In makhallyas, awareness-raising work is regularly done among women to enhance their sociopolitical activities. For example, in Andijan Oblast alone, meetings have been held in which 1,035 women have taken part; in Fergana Oblast, 27 seminars and 86 meetings have been conducted in which 1,248 women participated; in Kashka-Darya Oblast, “Women and the Law” and “Religion and Women” meetings have attracted 4,888 women.

148. The Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan is a large public organization combining more than 5.9 million trade union members, 48.9 per cent of whom are women. The Federation of Trade Unions Council in 2010 and 2012, together with the Ijtimoii Fikr Centre, conducted a sociological study entitled “Role of Trade Unions in Protecting the Labour Rights of Women”. In 2013, trade union authorities examined 2,473 written and 2,529 oral claims from women; a positive outcome was reached in 3,574 (1,576 of which claims were satisfied), and clarification was given in 1,428. Around 78 per cent of all claims from women involved matters of labour relations, including application of labour law in 15.7 per cent, misconduct of employers in 2.5 per cent, and collection of wages or equivalent payments in 3.3 per cent. “Hotlines” created in 14 territorial associations of trade union organizations and 11 central councils of trade unions make it possible to respond promptly to claims from women. Hotlines in 2013 handled 1,252 claims.

Article 8. Measures to ensure participation of women in international cooperation

149. Under article 46 of the Constitution, women and men have equal rights. In that connection, women have rights and opportunities to represent their State at the international level and to participate in the work of international organizations under equal conditions with men.

150. As of 1 January 2014, some 3 per cent of working ambassadors are women, as are 8.2 per cent of other employees of Uzbekistan’s missions abroad.

151. Women make up 12.5 per cent of the employees in representative offices of Uzbekistan in international organizations. At present, women serve in the diplomatic service in France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Italy, Israel, Latvia, Turkey, the PRC, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Turkmenistan.

152. With an eye to strengthening cooperation and setting up new relations, the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan has made a regular practice of organizing meetings with international delegations. In 2013, meetings were held with a department director of the Savings Banks Foundation of Germany, the director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation for Central Asia, the ABR Research Mission for preparing a project to support small business in Uzbekistan and the survey mission of the ABR for RETA 7563 “Promoting Gender-Inclusive Growth in Countries of Central and Western Asia”, the acting technical specialist for gender matters of the Bureau for Countries of Asia and the Mediterranean Sea of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the senior minister of State for foreign and commonwealth affairs of the United Kingdom.

153. Measures are being taken to increase the number of girls studying at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy. The total number students in the Department of International Law in 2013-2014 is 324, of which 91 are girls; those numbers were 306 and 90, respectively, for 2012-2013; 317 and 99 for 2011-2012; and 320 and 98 for 2010-2011.

154. In the Department of International Relations, the total number of students in 2013-2014 is 272, of which 71 are girls. Those numbers were 264 and 68 for 2012-2013; 258 and 61 for 2011-2012; and 260 and 95 for 2010-2011.

155. In the Department of International Economic Relations, the total number of students in 2013-2014 is 492, of which 118 are girls. Those numbers were 484 and 116 for 2012-2013; 491 and 113 for 2011-2012; and 492 and 112 for 2010-2011.

156. The number of women working at the University at present is 288; 33 hold leadership positions. Of the latter, 12 head subdepartments, and 11, divisions.

Article 9. Granting women and men equal rights in acquiring, changing, or regaining citizenship

157. Under article 12 of the Law on Republic of Uzbekistan Citizenship, citizenship is acquired by women and men in the same ways: by birth; as a result of conferment of citizenship; on grounds stipulated by treaties to which the Republic of Uzbekistan is a party; and on other grounds stipulated by the Law on Republic of Uzbekistan Citizenship.

158. Article 19 of the law specifies grounds common to women and men for the termination of Republic of Uzbekistan citizenship: as a result of renunciation of Republic of Uzbekistan citizenship and as a result of loss of Republic of Uzbekistan citizenship.

159. In no way does domicile registration in the Republic of Uzbekistan encroach on a citizen’s right to freedom of movement or choice of residence in the territory of the Republic, with the exception of locales closed to visiting (such as the frontier zone), to which entry is permitted on the basis of certain documents (passes). Domicile registration is useful in recording population migration, and its data are employed in the national economy and the social sphere; it is used to prevent and fight crime and to find individuals who are hiding from the courts or investigation or who have not paid support or are debtors in suits filed by legal entities or individuals.

160. The 14 September 2011 Law on the List of Categories of Individual Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan Entitled to Permanent Domicile Registration in the City of Tashkent and Tashkent Oblast, as well as the 16 February 2012 Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on Measures to Implement the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the List of Categories of Individual Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan Entitled to Permanent Domicile Registration in the City of Tashkent and Tashkent Oblast, determines individuals who may be permanently registered to reside in the city of Tashkent or in Tashkent Oblast.

161. According to the 1 May 2012 Instructions on the Rules for Permanent Registration of Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Reside in the City of Tashkent or in Tashkent Oblast, permanent domicile registration is performed by internal affairs authorities and involves establishing the fact of permanent residence of a citizen in a given place within the city of Tashkent or Tashkent Oblast for purposes of ensuring public safety and preventing violations of the law, as well as recording population migration.

162. Procuratorial authorities systematically conduct oversight activities aimed at preventing violations of the rights of citizens to register their domicile.

163. In accordance with provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (signed in Chicago in 1944) and the resolutions of the Montreal Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), on the basis of the 23 June 2009 and 5 January 2011 decrees of the President on measures to further improve the passport system in the Republic of Uzbekistan, work is under way to provide the public with biometric passports that include electronic data storage devices, and approval has been gained for the regulations on the Republic of Uzbekistan passport system and on the biometric travel document for the stateless person in the Republic of Uzbekistan. To date, upwards of 3 million Republic of Uzbekistan citizens have biometric passports and travel documents for stateless persons.

164. Within the framework of the implementation of paragraphs 30 and 31 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, the literacy rate among men and women aged 15-45 or older, is 99.5 per cent. The country has fulfilled Goal 2 of the MDGs in terms of raising the quality of primary and general secondary education.

(9 years) and special secondary vocational education (3 years), which cover both young and adolescent boys and young and adolescent girls. General secondary education involves exactly the same programmes for boys and girls, with the exception of programmes for vocational training and physical education. Among the graduates of primary school in the 2013/2014 school year, females accounted for 48.5 per cent, and among those graduating from secondary schools, they accounted for 48.7 per cent.

166. In 2013, the average wage for teachers in a general education institution was 867,300 sum, 441,700 sum, and 693,400 sum, respectively. In 2004, the average monthly increments to the base pay for primary schoolteachers were 5 per cent; they have now risen to 20 per cent. Also, the increments as a percentage of the minimum wage increased to 100 per cent from 50 per cent for classroom teaching and to

50 per cent from 30 per cent for grading exercise books and written assignments.

167. Women account for 89.5 per cent of the instructors at the primary school level and 64.4 per cent at the secondary school level.

168. In the Ministry of Public Education system, women account for 14.4 per cent of the directors of rayon (city) departments of methodological support and administration of public-education institutions and 34.4 per cent of secondary-school principals.

169. At present, 9,739 girls clubs and upwards of 18,000 circles are active in the schools, and of the 1.8 million students involved in sports (40.5 per cent), 703,298 of them (39.1 per cent) are girls. In 2010-2013, 46 republic-wide competitions were conducted among students, and of the 4,266 students who participated, 2,668 were girls; 7,803 sporting events were held throughout the country, 5,453 of which were in rural areas, and of the 1,523,539 students who participated, 695,468 were girls.

170. For children whose parents must work, schools have organized extended day groups in which the children remain in school after classes, are fed, do their homework assignments under supervision of teachers, and have recreation. In 2013, extended day groups were set up in 360 schools that covered 56,528,000 students in grades 1-9, of which 27,168 were girls.

171. The country has 4,950 preschool educational institutions attended by 581,539 children aged 2-7, which constitutes 23.3 per cent of all the children of that age group. By region, the percentage of coverage of children 3-7 years old ranges from 11.6 per cent in Surkhan-Darya Oblast to 56.8 per cent in the city of Tashkent. The Republic of Karakalpakstan has 310 preschool institutions; the city of Tashkent, 445; Andijan Oblast, 454; Bukhara Oblast, 345; Djizak Oblast, 169; Kashka-Darya Oblast, 331; Navoi Oblast, 114; Namangan Oblast, 469; Samarkand Oblast, 553; Syr-Darya Oblast, 155; Surkhan-Darya Oblast, 289; Tashkent Oblast, 423; Fergana Oblast, 643; and Khorezm Oblast, 250. A total of 52,205 schoolteachers work in the preschool education system, and 100 per cent of them are women.

172. On the basis of the 28 February 2011 Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on Measures to Further Improve the System of Non-Formal Education, 211 Barkamol Avlod children’s centres have been created in which 4,358 groups are taught from an array of 36 subjects in areas of creativity and the arts, local history, and ecology. A total of 103,973 children are involved in the work of the groups. The fee for teaching done at the centres is paid by parents monthly: 10 per cent of the minimum monthly wage in oblast centres and the cities of Nukus and Tashkent, and 5 per cent in the other rayons (cities) of the Republic.

173. The Labour Code specifies the minimum age at which a child may be hired for work and raised the age to 15 from 14, i.e., in order to prepare youth for labour, it is permissible to hire a student at a general education school, a special secondary school, or a vocational training school to perform light work, during non-study time, that does not injure his or her health or moral development or disturb the education process, if the student has reached the age of 15 and has written consent from a parent or caregiver or guardian; administrative liability is stipulated for individuals, including parents, for the use of the labour of a minor on jobs that could imperil his or her health, safety, or morality, and the liability of employers has been stepped up for violation of labour and labour-protection laws regarding minors.

174. A Government resolution approved the Regulation on the Rules for On-the-Job Training of Vocational College Students at Enterprises, Institutions, or Organizations, which defines mechanisms and conditions for the on-the-job training.

175. In December 2008, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Council of the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan approved the Rules for Hiring Children under 16, which spells out, in detail, the labour relations between employer and workers aged 15, including requirements for mandatory completion of general secondary or special secondary school or vocational education.

176. A joint resolution of the ministries of labour and social protection and health approved the list of jobs that have adverse labour conditions and on which the use of the labour of individuals younger than 18 is prohibited; they include the manual harvesting of cotton in agriculture.

177. A 25 March 2011 decision of the Cabinet of Ministers created the Interdepartmental Working Group for preparing and submitting information on compliance with ILO conventions ratified by Uzbekistan.

178. To prevent unlawful use of child labour, measures are being adopted to ensure effective oversight by enterprises, organizations, and individuals of forced child labour and their compliance with norms and conditions prescribed by law for the labour of minors. In all, based on the results of procuratorial inspections in 2011, more than 2,600 acts of procuratorial oversight were introduced, disciplinary action was brought against 1,034 officials, and administrative liability penalties were imposed on 447 officials. In 2012, more than 2,800 acts of procuratorial oversight were introduced, disciplinary action was brought against 1,073 officials, administrative liability penalties were imposed on 456 officials, and 21 officials were held liable for damages.

179. To implement paragraph 31 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, the Ministry of Public Education, on 30 March 2012, pursuant to the 26 March 2012 Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on Additional Measures to Implement in 2012 and 2013 International Labour (ILO) Convention 29 concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour and ILO Convention 182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for Eliminating the Worst Forms of Child Labour, both of which were ratified by the Republic of Uzbekistan, approved a complex of measures to explain to parents of minor children the harm and negative consequences of children being involved in the worst forms of child labour and to intensify monitoring school attendance and also adopted the 27 June 2012 Resolution on Intensifying the Monitoring of School Attendance, Increasing Personal Responsibility of School Principals, and Amplifying Public Pressure on Parents of Students Who Miss Classes without Good Cause.

180. On 31 August 2012, the Cabinet of Ministers created the Republic headquarters for coordinating activities and providing procedural assistance to local working groups for purposes of completely precluding the use of children for various kinds of heavy labour. On 11 December 2012, the Ministry of Public Education and Ministry of Justice concluded the Memorandum on Cooperation in the Field of Raising Legal Consciousness and Improving Legal Culture in Society.

181. In 2012 and 2013, more than 9,000 events were held on rights and safeguards in the field of the labour of minors, and 605 of them were covered in the mass media: 129 TV broadcasts, 201 radio broadcasts, 240 newspaper and magazine articles, and 35 articles on the Web. A total of 2,137 lectures were organized, as were 4,674 discussions, 52 seminars, and 6 workshops on the topic “Guarantees of the Rights of the Child”. A total of 174 posters were handed out to participants, as were 6,732 booklets on the rights of children in the sphere of labour. The National Centre for Human Rights prepared the handbook Monitoring the Rights of the Child in the Sphere of Labour.

182. The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan is taking every possible measure to suppress the use of child labour in agriculture, particularly in cotton picking.

183. The results of independent monitoring conducted by UNICEF in 2012 noted that 4.5 million students of general education schools were not recruited in work that involved picking cotton.

184. The enormous amount of work done in September and October 2012 did not find a single confirmed case of schoolchildren forced to pick cotton.

185. In accordance with decisions adopted at the 102nd session of ILC for discussion and development of specific mechanisms of broad cooperation with ILO, at the initiative of ILO, as well as its trilateral partners in Uzbekistan ― the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Council of the Federation of Trade Unions, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry ― a round table was conducted in the city of Tashkent on 17 and 18 July 2013 on the topic “Prospects of Technical Cooperation in the Implementation of the International Commitments of Uzbekistan within ILO”. More than 60 specialists took part in the work of the round table, including representatives of the ILO secretariat and of the offices of the United Nations, UNICEF and the EC in Uzbekistan.

186. Special support has been provided to children from poor families, annually, since 1 September 2002, and a free set of winter clothing is given students of upper and lower grades. In the 2011/12 school year alone, 622,701 children received winter clothing, as did 563,191 children in the 2013/14 school year, and such assistance was also provided to 10,930 children with disabilities in the 2011/12 school year and 19,300 such children in the 2013/14 school year.

187. Teaching in schools is done in seven languages (Uzbek, Karakalpak, Russian, Kazakh, Tajik, Kyrgyz, and Turkmen) and in all those languages, textbooks are issued to the students on a rental basis.

188. In terms of fulfilment of Goal 2 of the MDGs, the Republic has 1,554 special secondary and vocational training institutions attended by 1,639,459 students, 789,654 of whom are girls: 47,456 study in academic lyceums, and 743,198 study in vocational colleges. The system has some 117,600 instructors, 57,501 of whom are women and 933 are doctors of science or candidates of science. To date, the system offers 87 fields of training for 232 occupations and 587 specialties. Special secondary education coverage grew to 99.5 per cent in 2012 from 31.2 per cent in 2002.

189. There is a difference in the ratio of girls and boys in terms of types of special secondary and vocational training institutions. For example, 108,300 students have attended academic lyceums, with 40.5 per cent of them girls and 59.5 per cent boys; accordingly, of the 1,514,800 in vocational colleges, 49.1 per cent have been girls, and 50.9 per cent, boys. The choice of specialties by young women and young men is affected not only by economic factors and family traditions, but also by the location of the learning institutions and the specializations available in them.

190. For purposes of regulating the provision in educational institutions of additional, fee-based educational services that are not among the budget-funded main activities of those institutions, a 20 December 2010 joint resolution of the Ministry of Public Education and Higher and Secondary Special Education approved the “Rules for Providing Additional, Fee-Based Services in Educational Institutions”.

191. Of immediate interest for Uzbekistan is the fulfilment of MDG Goal 3, “Achievement of gender balance in higher education by 2015”, since the system of higher education is undergoing changes. For purposes of maintaining an interconnection, the number of places in institutions of higher learning (VUZes) is correlated to the job market, which affects access of young women to the system of higher education. In 72 VUZes, there are upwards of 12,284 women professors/

instructors, 7 of whom are academicians; 277 are doctors of science, 207, professors, and more than 2,000, candidates of science. More than 101,000 young women are enrolled in VUZes, and of them 34,425 are on a budget basis, and 67,145, on a contract basis; more than 115 young women have been awarded government grants, and 196, the Zulfiya State Prize.

192. Some 274,500 students were enrolled in institutions of higher learning in the 2010/2011 school year: 38.5 per cent were females, and 61.5 per cent, males. Some 58,600 students in 2010/2011 were enrolled in baccalaureate programmes: 36.2 per cent were young women, and 63.8 per cent, young men. A total of 5,536 were accepted into master’s programmes: 34.3 per cent were females, and 65.7 per cent, males.

193. Choice of specialties in learning institutions differs between men and women. As a rule, female students give preference to sectors such as education (72.6 per cent), health care, physical fitness, and sports (10.6 per cent), and industry and construction (6.7 per cent). Among those enrolled in sectors of transportation and communications, industry and construction, agriculture, economics and law, more than 83.7 per cent are men, and less than 16.3 per cent women.

Article 11. Measures to eliminate discrimination against women in employment

194. Annually, around 1 million new jobs open up in Uzbekistan, and upwards of 40 per cent of them are intended for women.

195. Improvement of the law bettering small business and entrepreneurship, as well as improvement of the quality of services available to entrepreneurs, and the adoption of laws on guarantees of freedom of enterprise and on the family enterprise and of the Republic of Uzbekistan presidential decree on measures to make further radical improvements of the business environment and to provide greater freedom of enterprise have created good potential for developing entrepreneurship among women and youth throughout the country.

196. The policy of the Government of Uzbekistan in that area is consistent with the strategy and principles of ILO, as well as the United Nations MDGs.

197. Over the period 2000-2012, the share accounted for by women in the structure of employment grew to 45.4 per cent from 44 per cent, and the number of women employed in small business and private enterprise rose substantially: in 2012, some 40.4 per cent of small enterprises and 13.7 per cent of micro firms were headed by women.

198. For purposes of ensuring employment and reducing unemployment, particularly among youth and women and in rural areas of the Republic, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, together with the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and khokimiyats of oblasts and the city of Tashkent, is developing annual programmes approved by the houses of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan to create jobs and ensure employment.

199. Within the framework of the implementation of paragraphs 32 and 33 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, the country has set up systematic monitoring and a monthly review of progress achieved in implementation of programmes to create jobs and ensure employment by sector, oblast, and rayon. According to data of the working commissions in the khokimiyats, under the approved programme in 2012, some 973,500 jobs were created, representing 100.6 per cent of approved forecast parameters. Of the total number of jobs created, 602,400, or 62 per cent, were created in rural areas; 534,100 involved job placement for youth, primarily graduates of educational institutions; and 458,500 involved employment of women.

200. In 2013, some 980,200 jobs were created, which represents 100.8 per cent of the approved forecast parameters Of that number, 603,300 were created in rural areas; 535,100 involved job placement for youth, primarily graduates of educational institutions; and 466,400 involved the employment of women.

201. Reserving a number of jobs for vulnerable groups is helping to ensure full employment for single mothers with children under the age of 14, the disabled, and women released from penal institutions. For example, in 2013, jobs were reserved for 130,000 persons from vulnerable groups. Jobs approved under the quota cannot be cut unless prior consent is obtained from local labour authorities.

202. Sociological surveys conducted by the Public Opinion Centre have revealed increased confidence among women in the stability of their status on the labour market. Accordingly, 43.4 per cent of women surveyed are not afraid of losing their job and are not concerned that they could be dismissed by the administration of their organization. At the same time, 47.2 per cent of women surveyed reckon that they could end up without a job because the employer goes for the competitive, highly skilled worker and gives preference to performance measures, and the woman, by dint of her natural and functional qualities as a mother and keeper of the household, is automatically at a disadvantage on the labour market from the outset.

203. The survey showed that the majority of women (70.9 per cent) have the desire and aspiration to improve in professional and educational terms. More than 70 per cent of the respondents in the Bukhara, Djizak, Navoi, Syr-Darya and Fergana oblasts are willing to improve themselves and raise their proficiency and qualifications.

204. Political parties are making a definite contribution to the implementation of State policy in the sphere of employment. The Central Council of NDPU has regularized the practice of conducting forums to ensure employment among women and to get them involved in family enterprises and work at home. Around

200 women and girls now hold certificates that entitle them to concessional loans for start-up capital and setting up home-based work and family enterprises. The volume of concessional loans issued to them amounts to some 2.5 billion sum. Women have used loan funds to set up their own businesses, and some 500 new jobs have been created.

205. Within the framework of implementation of a Milliy Tiklanish Party programme, more than 1,500 events have been conducted for developing small business and private enterprise among women; exhibits have been organized under the banner “National Handicrafts ― A Guarantee of the Continuity of National Treasures”, and more than 82,000 women have taken part in them.

206. For purposes of ensuring employment among women, in more than 1,200 makhallyas in 200 regions and cities of the republic, actions have been taken that have resulted in some 2,000 women and girls becoming involved in home-based work, and jobs have been found for more than 4,500 women and girls.

207. Trade unions have used their resources to create new jobs and in 2010-2013, 2,870 new jobs were created and 6.2 billion sum spent on their creation, including 3.3 billion sum from trade union funds and 2.9 billion sum from sponsor organizations. In 2010-2012, 25 per cent of the new jobs were created for women, and in 2013, about 45 per cent. At present, on the rolls at 5,000 enterprises are 45,000 home-based workers, 70 per cent of whom are women.

208. In Uzbekistan, there is no gender-based discrimination in labour remuneration, and chapter IX in the Labour Code is devoted to regulation of those matters. Under article 153 of the Labour Code, remuneration is set by agreement between employer and employee. Remuneration cannot be below the minimum established by law and cannot be limited by any maximum.

209. The following are used in establishing remuneration rates: the Unified Rate Schedule for labour remuneration, which was approved by a Government resolution contains 22 categories and is binding upon the State sector; the updated, Government approved labour remuneration systems for medical workers and workers in public education and certain other sectors funded by the State budget; sector rate schedules approved by agreement with trade unions; and local labour remuneration acts adopted at enterprises by agreement with trade union committees or other representative bodies of workers.

210. In practice, serving as the basis for determination of remuneration is the minimum monthly wage, which is set twice a year by presidential decree as the minimum social guarantee in place throughout Uzbekistan.

211. Since 1 January 2012, in accordance with the 30 December 2011 presidential decree, wage category 1 was set as the initial category for the entire Republic, with simultaneous abolition of category 0. It was also specified that in all organizations in the Republic, labour remuneration was to be set no lower than category 1 of the Unified Rate Schedule. That made it possible to raise the minimum wage of the lowest paid workers by a factor of 2.476.

212. Within the framework of the implementation of paragraph 51 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, the question of the accession of the Republic to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (1990) was studied jointly with interested ministries and departments, which concluded that it was premature to accede to the Convention before the adoption of the Law on Migration, which was submitted for consideration by the Cabinet of Ministers.

213. Measures are being taken in Uzbekistan to improve the system for protecting women’s health, raising the quality of services provided, and promoting a healthy lifestyle among the populace. To achieve gender equality in health care, the first things that were done involved providing equal conditions in urban and rural areas for the receipt of skilled primary medical care and creating a modern, effective free primary care service consisting of a network of rural medical centres and rayon/city polyclinics.

214. At present 4,214 outpatient and polyclinic facilities function in the Republic providing medical care to the public, including children; antenatal care to pregnant women and reproductive services to women of fertile age. For skilled obstetrical, gynaecological, and perinatal care, the republic has the Republic Perinatal Centre, nine oblast perinatal centres and one municipal perinatal centre, 40 obstetrics complexes, and 280 obstetrics departments in clinics of medical VUZes and rayon (city) medical associations. It has the Republic Centre for the Reproductive Health of the Public and its 13 regional branches. In birthing facilities, there are 2,018 individual delivery rooms; predelivery rooms have been phased out. Postnatal wards have been converted into rooming-in wards for mother and child.

215. The Republic Screening Centre and regional screening centres, outfitted with modern diagnostic and laboratory equipment, have been created within the framework of the State programme “Screening Mother and Child”. As a result of the measures being conducted, the rate for the birth of children with congenital anomalies has fallen by 14 per cent below that of the year 2000. In all, the health-care system has some 5,600 obstetrician-gynaecologists, 1,405 neonatologists, 15,230 midwives, 8,812 paediatricians, and 31,000 nurses involved in providing mother and child services.

216. State programmes for protecting mother and child health are implemented in close cooperation with WHO, UNICEF and the European Union, UNFPA and UNDP, with active participation of non-governmental organizations of the Republic, such as the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan, the Makhallya Fund, the Soglom Avlod Uchun Foundation, funds for the support of social initiatives, the Sen Yolg’iz Emassan Fund and the Republic Centre for Social Adaptation of Children.

217. As a result of the implementation of State programmes, the maternal mortality rate in 2012 (20.2) was less than one third that in 1991 (65.3). The infant mortality rate in 2012 (10.2) was one third that in 1991 (34.3). The average number of live births per woman for the Republic is 0.07 per cent.

218. At the international symposium “National Model of Maternal and Child Health Protection in Uzbekistan: ‘Healthy Mother ― Healthy Child’”, held in November 2011, in Tashkent, with the participation of WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, the National Model of Maternal and Child Health Protection in Uzbekistan: Healthy Mother ― Healthy Child was recognized as an effective strategy for Uzbekistan to reach global development goals in the achievement of the MDGs associated with health protection. The materials of the Tashkent international symposium became an official United Nations document at the sixty-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly.

219. In 1991, only 13 per cent of women of childbearing age used contraceptives at all times; that figure, according to MICS, was 64.8 per cent in 2006; in 2012, some 60 per cent of women used contraceptives. According to data presented by the Institute of Social Research in 2013, with the support of UNFPA, the level of contraceptive use by women in the city of Tashkent and in the Tashkent, Namangan, Navoi, and Surkhan-Darya oblasts was 71.1 per cent: 65.9 per cent used intrauterine devices; 17.8 per cent, low-dose oral contraceptives; 8.3 per cent, injectable contraceptives; 7.1 per cent, voluntary surgical sterilization; 0.9 per cent, other methods.

220. In 2008-2012, UNFPA was the main donor of contraceptives, covering 80 per cent of the national need for contraceptives. More than 10,000 medical workers have undergone training involving reproductive health.

221. The accessibility of contraceptives and increased awareness of methods for preventing unwanted pregnancy have contributed to the fact that abortions have ceased to be a form of birth control, and artificial abortions have been legalized and are performed in medical facilities for women in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. In recent years, the abortion rate has dropped to 5 per 1,000 from 39.9. The indications for an abortion are as follows: the woman’s desire to terminate pregnancy; duration of pregnancy of up to 63 days (nine weeks) of amenorrhea; and confirmed intrauterine pregnancy. A woman may obtain services to terminate pregnancy free of charge. For the last five years, there have been no cases of maternal death from abortion or its complications. Women with an incomplete abortion are provided with the entire spectrum of treatment measures needed for such.

222. Within the framework of the implementation of paragraphs 34 and 35 of the Committee’s Concluding Observations and Recommendations, the country is taking measures to fight HIV infection and its spread among women.

223. On 28 December 2012, the “Strategic Programme to Counter the Spread of HIV Infection in the Republic of Uzbekistan for the Years 2013-2017” was approved. The programme set the tasks for the prevention of HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among women who belong to a vulnerable group, given increased exposure to such infections. The fight against HIV infection was bolstered by the adoption of the 23 September 2013 Law on Countering the Spread of Disease Caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV Infection).

224. The Ministry of Health has drafted an integrated plan for timely identification of pregnancy and prevention of the transmission of HIV infection from mother to child. Pregnant women in the Republic are tested on a voluntary basis, and, with an eye to preventing the transmission of HIV from mother to child, all HIV-infected pregnant women, beginning with weeks 24, 28, and 32 and during birth, are administered a specific antiviral preventive. For children born of HIV-infected women, infant formula purchased for 21,103,000 sum is being distributed, with financial support of the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. According to data of the Ministry of Health, HIV morbidity among women per 100,000 women for 2012 and 2013 was as follows: 12.0 for 2012, and 12.6 for 2013.

225. Work to improve nutrition for women is implemented on the basis of programmes that support and promote breastfeeding, provide vitamin preparations to women of fertile age and children 5 years old and under, fortify flour, and iodize salt. This has made it possible to improve the growth and development of children, lower child morbidity and mortality, and reduce by a factor of 2 anaemia among women of fertile age.

226. To enhance a culture of health in the family, improve women’s health, and promote the birth and rearing of healthy children, curricula now contain the courses “Health Lessons” for grades 1-4 and “Basics for a Healthy Generation” for grades

5-9. Awareness-raising work is being conducted among girls with regard to protection against AIDS and infectious diseases, prevention of untimely pregnancy, preparation for family life, and promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Four-hour courses on teaching fundamentals of reproductive health and improving the culture of health have been introduced at institutes for advanced training and skill upgrades for teachers.

227. Non-governmental non-commercial organizations are taking an active role in research and informational work on protecting women’s health and giving them practical assistance in obtaining medical care.

228. Upwards of 20,000 residents of remote population centres of the Republic, receive assistance in obtaining checkups with modern methods of functional diagnostics through the Sociomedical Centre of the Soglom Avlod Uchun Fund. More than 3.5 million people (mainly women and young children and teenagers) have received such services. More than 600,000 families have received advisory assistance. In all, 893,480 individuals ― 453,339 of whom are women (37,698 of whom are of fertile age and 113,799 teenage girls) ― received medical, social, and legal assistance in the period of 2010-2013.

12 September 2013 in eight regions of the Republic involving prevention of HIV/AIDS and promoting tolerance in society for vulnerable groups. In 2013, the Makhallya Fund held more than 40,000 activities devoted to the prevention of maternal and infant deaths and birth of children with disabilities. The makhallyas conducted more than 62,000 educational events that drew more than 2,400,000 people, among them 24,696 youths getting married; more than 131,000 young families had checkups. A total of 75,184 activities devoted to implementing the programme “Healthy Mother ― Healthy Child” were organized and reached more than 3 million people. Strengthening reproductive health was the focus of more than 70 television broadcasts, 44 radio broadcasts, and 120 printed pieces.

230. As a result of work throughout the country, death among children under one year of age has been reduced by 142 (to 3,978 over a span of nine months in 2013, from 4,120 over the same period in 2012). An increase in average lifespan has also been noted. In 2000 it was 70.8 years for both sexes in Uzbekistan; in 2011, it was 72.9.

Article 13. Measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the economic and social spheres

231. In the country, attention is being devoted to social support of women, the creation of the conditions necessary for young families to achieve economic independence, and expansion of access of rural women to credit, loans, and land plots in order to set up a business enterprise.

232. In implementation of paragraphs 40 and 41 of the Concluding Observations and Recommendations of the Committee, Uzbekistan is devoting attention to improving the status of vulnerable groups of women.

233. Women are paid the following benefits from the State budget fund: maternity benefits to women employed in budget organizations, which in 2013 amounted to 168.8 billion sum; a lump sum maternity grant, which in 2013 amounted to

71.9 billion sum; monthly child care benefits paid until the child reaches two years of age, which in 2013 amounted to 679.2 billion sum.

234. Under the 12 December 2012 Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on Measures to Further Improve Rules for the Assignment and Payment of Social Benefits, monthly benefits have been paid to families with minor children since

1 December 2013 in the following amounts: to a family with one minor child, a benefit amounting to 50 per cent of the minimum monthly wage; to families with two such children, a benefit amounting to 80 per cent of the minimum wage; and to families with three or more minor children, a benefit amounting to 100 per cent of the monthly minimum wage.

235. Mothers who have children disabled since birth and who raised those children to the age of eight have a right to begin receiving a pension five years before the standard retirement age (which is 55), and women who have at least 20 years on the job have a right to retire at age 54.

236. Chapter XIV of the Labour Code stipulates additional guarantees for women, among them a shorter workday for working mothers who have children under the age of three, with full pay.

237. Particular attention is being devoted in Uzbekistan to the development of entrepreneurship among women. The volume of loans granted for the development of women’s business is growing from year to year, and according to Central Bank data, some 264.9 billion sum were loaned to women entrepreneurs in 2010, which was 30 per cent more than that loaned in 2009; the figure rose to 335,500 billion sum in 2011 and to 697.8 billion sum in 2012.

26.1 billion sum to women who wished to engage in business, which was 41.8 per cent more than in 2009. Some 17,000 jobs were created with those resources throughout the Republic. In 2011, 34 billion sum were disbursed in loans and created 17,740 new jobs; in 2012, 42,987 billion sum were disbursed in loans and created 18,664,000 new jobs. In 2013, to provide financial assistance to families in the Year of Well Being and Prosperity, Mikrokreditbank made loans amounting to 56.8 billion sum and created 20,185,000 new jobs.

239. As of 1 January 2013, the country has more than 154,642,000 small enterprises, and 62,425 small enterprises are headed by women (40.4 per cent). Today, there are more than 547,825,000 micro firms, 75,169 headed by women entrepreneurs (13.7 per cent).

240. In a sociological survey conducted among rural women, every other survey participant (52 per cent) had experience in applying for social or financial aid. Respondents requesting social aid had turned mainly to makhallya committees for their place of residence (58.4 per cent), as well as to banks for concessional loans (13.9 per cent) and to khokimiyats (9.6 per cent). Almost every other respondent noted that her problem had been resolved.

241. In 2013, with the funding sources available, some 4.5 trillion sum were loaned out for the support of business entities, of which more than 843 billion sum were micro loans, 28.3 billion sum were concessional loans to finance projects of graduates of vocational colleges, and 365 billion sum were loans to women entrepreneurs.

242. Non-governmental non-commercial organizations and citizen self-government bodies are taking an active part in providing social aid to women and teaching them fundamentals of business.

2 million sum to 9,073 disabled persons and retirees and some 284 million sum to needy families. Children from poor families were given 500 million sum for sports attire. In the run-up to the holidays Navruz, Nezavisimost (Independence), and Kurban Khait, disabled persons, retirees, and poor families were given 656 million sum; 153 million sum were given to poor families for housing repair.

244. The Women’s Committee, together with the Central Bank, the joint stock commercial bank Mikrokreditbank, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, held more than 195 seminars throughout the country on the provision of advisory and financial assistance to women entrepreneurs; taught and trained 28 trainers in

18 areas; conducted seminars in various areas on the fundamentals of business; and trained more than 720 women throughout the country.

245. In all regions, master classes were conducted for beginning businesspersons who wished to take part in the programme “Grants for the Development of a Family Enterprise”. That programme reached more than 2,100 women (150 women in each region). Within the framework of the project entitled “Broad Implementation of the Economic Rights of the Women of Uzbekistan”, carried out by the Women’s Committee in conjunction with UN-Women and the open joint stock commercial bank Mikrokreditbank, training seminars on how to start a personal business were organized in 2013 for 863 women in the Kanlykul, Karshi, Tashlak, Farish, Mirzaabad, and Yukorichirchik rayons.

246. The country is working to encourage women and girls to become involved in physical fitness and sports. The number of women and girls involved in sports is more than 1.9 million, of which 680,400 take part on a regular basis and enter competitions. In general education schools, vocational colleges, institutions of higher learning, sports clubs and societies, 8,725 women work as physical education teachers, trainers, and instructors for various sports.

247. An important area of Uzbekistan’s State policy is to establish the equality of men and women who live in rural areas and to conduct reforms aimed at improving the status of the rural populace in all spheres of the life of the society.

248. Based on paragraph 37 of the Concluding Observations and Recommendations of the Committee, women working in agriculture are entitled to all the concessions, conditions, and special programmes available to the women of Uzbekistan. In addition, they may fully and equally avail themselves of the concessions and preferences available to agricultural goods producers, namely: since 1 January 1999, nine taxes have been replaced with a unified land tax for farms; farms are exempt from payment of the unified land tax for two years after the farm is started; land under orchards or vineyards is exempt until they bear fruit, and newly created mulberry orchards are exempt for three years after they are started; farms are exempt from payment of the unified land tax on newly cultivated plots for five years after they are placed in production; farms growing cotton and grain for State needs are provided with 3 per cent concessional loans; farms acquiring equipment on a lease basis pay an initial price of 15 per cent of the cost of the equipment, and the rest is paid within seven years (10 years for farms in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm Oblast); operating expenses of water-management organizations are covered by State budget; measures to improve the ameliorative conditions of land and irrigation costs are paid for with monies from a specially created fund; the repayment of loan resources from international and foreign organizations for ameliorative and irrigation measures is guaranteed by the State.

249. As of 1 January 2013, 69,800 farms (including more than 18,000 diversified farms) were registered in the Republic on around 5 million hectares of land. Women head 6,200 of the farms (about 9 per cent).

250. Within the framework of the project “Advancement of the Economic Rights of Women in Uzbekistan”, implemented in cooperation with UN-Women, assistance is provided to teach rural women fundamentals of business, in six pilot rayons of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and in the Fergana, Kashka-Darya, Djizak, Syr-Darya, and Tashkent oblasts.

251. The creation of Information and Consulting Groups with the assistance of the Savings Banks Foundation of Germany in 13 regions and the granting of loans have helped more than 515 women in remote rural rayons and makhallyas to find decent work for themselves, and the Karakalpak Division of the Centre for the Support of Civil Initiatives, from September 2012 to March 2013, implemented the project “Leadership of Rural Women”, as a result of which, 40 rural women were taught business skills. The implementation of the project “Strengthening the Potential and Stability of Non-Governmental Non-Commercial Organizations of Karakalpakstan and Providing Assistance to the Development of New Women’s and Youth

Non-Governmental Non-Commercial Organizations in Rural Rayons of the Republic of Karakalpakstan” got under way in August 2013. As a result of the project,

40 employees of non-governmental non-commercial organizations of Karakalpakstan were trained in matters involving increasing potential and stability and fund-raising, and 20 women leaders and youth activists of local self-governing bodies of Karakalpakstan were instructed on aspects of the creation, registration and stable operations of non-governmental non-commercial organizations.

252. In 2013, problems in providing employment for women, especially women in rural areas, were addressed, and 142,476 women in need of work were identified. Lists of the women were provided by territorial khokimiyats and women’s committees, and work is under way to find jobs for them. In 2013, in Andijan Oblast, 179,395 able bodied women were identified, 41,027 of whom indicated their desire to work, and work was found for 26,448 homemakers. At present, the Republic’s trade unions are participating in legalization of labour relations of farm workers. As a result of that, employment history booklets have been started for 839,281 farm workers.

253. The 22 July 2010 Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 156 on Additional Measures to Strengthen Reproductive Health of Mothers and Children in Rural Rayons of the Republic specified measures in 2010-2015 for free provision to all pregnant women living in rural areas of special complexes of multivitamins that contain, among other things, folic acid (more than 400,000 annually) (MAMA multivitamin, Vitrum-prenatal). With technical and financial assistance from UNFPA, a script and footage has been produced of two videos for television on the importance of taking vitamin and mineral complexes for prevention of congenital pathology, for active growth of the foetus, and for preparation of the pregnant mother to give birth.

254. Since 2010, the Week for Health Improvement of Women of Fertile Age, Children, and Teenage Girls is held every month, during which, for purposes of counselling and revitalizing women and children, practical assistance is given in all regions, and especially in remote and hard to reach rayons, by 1,400 highly skilled specialists and professors from the country’s leading specialty centres, research institutes, and medical institutions of higher learning.

255. The broad involvement of rural women in athletics, improvement of the work of local sports leagues and conduct of expert medical checkups are an important part of the activities of the Women’s Committee. Together with the Makhallya Fund, it has organized the “Papa, Mama, and I ― A Sports Family” competition in which 115,500 families have participated. In 2013, 189,000 girls were given, free of charge, sports uniforms and accessories to encourage their involvement in athletics and sports and to strengthen their health.

256. In 2013, 1,033 farmers and 609 representatives of small business and private enterprise revitalized themselves at trade union health resorts. A total of 344 women from needy families and 2,699 mothers with their children enjoyed services of the resorts free of charge, and 112 young families were given discounted passes; the trade unions spent 140.4 million sum for those purposes.

257. Enshrined in national law is the principle of the equality of men and women before the law. Equal civil capacity of women and men is guaranteed by articles 29-36 of the Family Code, which establishes the marriage property agreement.

258. Spouses are entitled to define in a prenuptial agreement their rights and duties in terms of mutual support, responsibility for family expenses, participation in each other’s income, entry into property agreements with others, and joint participation in business activities and to define the property that will be assigned to each spouse in the event that the marriage is dissolved, as well as to include in the prenuptial agreement provisions pertaining to property relations of the spouses.

259. At the request of one of the spouses, the prenuptial agreement may be amended or terminated by decision of a court on the grounds and in the manner prescribed by the Civil Code. The effect of the prenuptial agreement terminates when the marriage is terminated, except in circumstances such as those that are specified for the period after the termination of the marriage.

260. The prenuptial agreement may be declared by a court to be wholly or partially invalid on grounds specified by the Civil Code.

261. Spouses are entitled to enter into any lawful contractual property relations between themselves. Spousal agreements that are aimed at impairing the rights of one or the other spouse are not valid.

262. Under article 23 of the Family Code, property acquired by the spouses during the marriage, as well as property acquired before registration of the marriage with the common funds of the future spouses, is their joint property, unless the law or prenuptial agreement specify otherwise. Income earned by each of the spouses from work performed, entrepreneurial activity or intellectual activity, as well as pensions, allowances or other monetary payments received which do not have a special purpose (including material assistance, amounts paid in compensation for loss of working ability as a result of mutilation or other damage to health) are considered to be property acquired by the spouses during the marriage (community property). Moveable and immoveable items, securities, shares, contributions, or shares in capital deposited with credit institutions or other commercial organizations, if acquired with the community income of the spouses, or any other property acquired by the spouses during the marriage, regardless of in whose name it was acquired or in whose name or by which of the spouses the financial resources were deposited, are also considered to be community property.

263. The rights of spouses to own, make use of, or dispose of property that is the joint property of members of large and small (dekhkan) farms are defined by the laws on large and dekhkan farms. The division of property on large and dekhkan farms is performed according to rules stipulated in articles 223 and 225 of the Civil Code.

264. A transaction concluded by one of the spouses involving the disposition of community property may be nullified by a court on grounds of lack of consent by the other spouse only at the request of that spouse and only in cases in which it is proved that the other party to the transaction knew or should have known of the lack of consent of the other spouse to the transaction.

265. A spouse who wishes to perform a transaction involving the disposal of immovable community property that is in his or her name must obtain notarized consent from the other spouse. A spouse whose notarized consent for a transaction was not obtained is entitled, for a year after the date he or she learned or should have learned of the transaction, to petition a court to declare the transaction null and void.

266. Article 25 of the Family Code has established that property belonging to a spouse before the marriage, as well as property received by one spouse during the marriage as a gift, by inheritance or through a transaction not involving payment, is the property of that spouse.

267. In the event of a dispute, the court divides community property of the spouses and determines the share of each spouse.

Article 16. Measures to eliminate discrimination against women in matters relating to marriage and family relations

268. Uzbekistan supports paragraph 21 of the General Comments and paragraphs 42 and 43 of the Concluding Observations and Recommendations of the Committee and is taking measures to ensure the equal rights of men and women in the sphere of family and marriage relations and fighting early and child marriages and polygamy.

269. Article 13 of the Family Code has established that marriages are to be performed in civil registry offices. A marriage entered into in a religious ceremony has no legal significance.

270. Under article 15 of the Family Code, marriageable age is set at 18 for men and 17 for women. If there are good reasons, in exceptional cases (pregnancy, childbirth, or adjudication of a minor to be fully competent, or emancipated), the khokim of the rayon or city for the place of State registration of the marriage can, at the request of the persons wishing to marry, lower the marriageable age, but not by more than one year.

271. For purposes of preventing early marriages, the 30 April 2013 law has inserted added text regarding liability for violation of the law on marriageable age into the Code of Administrative Liability and the Criminal Code.

272. Under article 47-3 of the Code of Administrative Liability, entry into de facto marital relations with a person who has not attained marriageable age is subject to a fine in an amount equal to 5-10 times the minimum monthly wage; parents or caregivers who give a person in marriage who has not attained marriageable age are subject to a fine in an amount equal to 7-15 times the minimum monthly wage; a person who officiates a religious ceremony for marriage involving a person who has not attained marriageable age is subject to a fine in an amount equal to 10-20 times the minimum monthly wage (art. 47-3).

273. Added to the Criminal Code is article 125-1, “Violation of the law on marriageable age”, under which, for persons who have committed the above violations and on whom administrative punishment has been imposed, a repeat violation of that law results in criminal liability and tougher punishment.

274. Article 126 of the Criminal Code specifies criminal liability for bigamy, that is, cohabitation with two or more women on the basis of a common household. Ministry of Internal Affairs data reveal the number of persons who have committed the crimes specified in article 126 of the Criminal Code (bigamy): 15 in 2010, 13 in 2011, 17 in 2012, and 23 in 2013.

275. According to Supreme Court data, the courts in 2010 sentenced 5 individuals for polygamy and 12 for bride abduction; in 2011, those figures were 4 and 17, respectively; in 2012, they were 10 and 15; and in 2013, they were 7 and 19.

276. The Criminal Code specifies criminal liability for forcing a woman to enter into marriage or to continue living together in marriage or for abducting a woman against her will to enter into marriage, as well as for preventing a woman from entering into a marriage. In the period of 2010-2013, no persons were found to have committed crimes covered by article 136 of the Criminal Code (forcing a woman to enter into a marriage or preventing a woman from entering into marriage) or article 125-1 of the Criminal Code (violating the law on marriageable age).

277. Under article 27 of the Family Code, two married persons who have given written consent for implantation of an embryo in another woman for purposes of her carrying the baby to term may be recorded as parents of the child solely with the consent of the woman who gave birth to the child (the surrogate mother).

278. If two married persons who have given their written consent for the use of artificial insemination or to embryo implantation have a child by those methods, they are recorded as the parents in the Registry of Births.

279. In recent years, considerable attention has been devoted to preventing early, child marriages. On 16 December 2011, the Committee on Labour and Social Issues of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan conducted a round table on the topic “The Prevention of Early, Child Marriages and Consanguineous Marriages ― Guarantee of a Healthy Lifestyle”, which generated recommendations aimed at strengthening awareness-raising regarding the protection of the reproductive health of women among persons getting married and youth, as well as information campaigns addressing prevention of early, child marriages and clarification of provisions of the Family Code and other legislative acts involving liability for violation of the law on marriageable age.

280. The Ministry of Justice and its regional offices have taken steps to prevent early, child marriages and forced marriages. More than 5,000 awareness-raising campaigns have been conducted with regard to the consequences of early marriages and consanguineous marriages, and as a result, 1,692 early marriages and 1,352 consanguineous marriages were prevented.

281. Civil Registry Office authorities in 2012 and 2013, in lyceums and colleges of the Republic, held 4,179 “Schools for Young Families” classes, attended by more than 200,000 students. Those lessons explained the negative consequences of early marriages and consanguineous marriages.

282. A total of 8,891 “Parents’ University” classes were created in the makhallyas for awareness-raising with parents to increase legal literacy with regard to the eradication of early, child, and consanguineous marriages. In 2013, the Makhallya Fund, together with the Women’s Committee, the Kamolot Public Youth Movement and law enforcement authorities in the makhallyas, conducted 13,000 events on the topics “The Negative Effects of Early Marriages”, “The Role of Women in Society”, “Women and the Political Process” and “Women, Society and Politics”, which attracted more than 950,000 participants, among them women and youth. The makhallyas created more than 7,000 public groups for organizing cultural education, conducted more than 20,000 awareness-raising educational events, and reached nearly 800,000 people, particularly youth.

283. The Women’s Committee adopted the Programme of Integrated Measures to Further Strengthen the Institution of the Family, Improve the Culture of Marital Relations and Prevent Early Marriages for 2012 and 2013 and conducted more than 9,270 events; Civil Registry Office authorities conducted 2,490 public campaigns. A total of 2,783 activities involving “School for Young Families” classes were held, and drew 209,859 participants. The mass media covered 1,622 events: 458 on television, 389 on radio and 775 in the press.

284. Throughout the Republic, more than 2,425 meetings, 9,584 round tables and 721 events devoted to improving the legal culture and discussing the negative effects of early marriage were held among teenagers and young girls. In 2011, a total of 12,548 activities were held to encourage students to continue their studies. That figure rose to 16,854 in 2012 and more than 17,000 in 2013. Thanks to the measures taken, the figure for students skipping classes this year, particularly girls, dropped by 75 per cent.

285. As a result of those measures, the registration of more than 1,000 early marriages and 799 consanguineous marriages were prevented, and 14,368 marriages involving individuals who had been living together outside of marriage and with minor children were registered.

Periodic reports of Uzbekistan on implementation of international human rights treaties (2008-2013)

1. Fourth Periodic Report on Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, reviewed 18 January-

2. Third Periodic Report on Implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, reviewed 11-12 March 2010.

3. Sixth-Seventh Periodic Report on Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, reviewed 2-27 August 2010.

4. First National Report of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights within the framework of the Universal Periodic Review, reviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2009 and approved in March 2010.

5. Third-Fourth Periodic Report on Implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, sent to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in January 2010 and reviewed in April 2013.

6. Third Periodic Report on Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in June 2010, to be reviewed in May 2014.

7. Initial Report on Implementation of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, sent to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in January 2011 and reviewed in April 2013.

8. Initial Report on Implementation of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, sent to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in February 2011 and reviewed in April 2013.

9. Fourth Periodic Report on Implementation of the Provisions of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, sent to the Committee against Torture in December 2011 and reviewed in November 2013.

10. Eighth-Ninth Periodic Report on Implementation of the Provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, sent to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in October 2012 and reviewed in February 2014.

11. Second National Report of Uzbekistan on Human Rights within the framework of the Universal Periodic Review, sent to the United Nation Human Rights Council in January 2012 and reviewed in 2013.

12. Fourth Periodic Report on Implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, sent to the Human Rights Committee in March 2013.

	*Total*	Consisting of:
	*Total*	Women	Men

Republic of Uzbekistan	29 993.5	15 018.7	14 974.8
Republic of Karakalpakstan	1 711.8	856.5	855.3
Oblast:
Andijan	2 756.4	1 389.4	1 367.0
Bukhara	1 729.7	861.6	868.1
Djizak	1 205.0	603.9	601.1
Kashka-Darya	2 831.3	1 424.1	1 407.2
Navoi	888.4	450.2	438.2
Namangan	2 458.7	1 244.2	1 214.5
Samarkand	3 380.9	1 691.1	1 689.8
Surkhan-Darya	2 260.6	1 137.1	1 123.5
Syr-Darya	750.6	377.1	373.5
Tashkent	2 695.7	1 343.7	1 352.0
Fergana	3 329.7	1 671.8	1 657.9
Khorezm	1 653.8	824.4	829.4

Distribution of directors of legal entities by economic sector, broken down by gender, as of end of 2012

	Total	Consisting of:
	Total	Women	Men

Total for the economy	100.0	27.1	72.9
Consisting of:
Industry	100.0	14.2	85.8
Agriculture and forestry	100.0	5.6	94.4
Transportation and communications	100.0	14.7	85.3
Construction	100.0	14.4	85,6
Commerce, public catering, sales, procurement	100.0	20.9	79.1
Housing and non-production types of public service	100.0	12.4	87.6
Health care, physical fitness and sports, welfare	100.0	37.3	62.7
Education	100.0	43.6	56.4
Culture and the arts	100.0	35.6	64.4
Science and science services	100.0	24.6	75.4
Finance, credit, insurance	100.0	16.6	83.4
Staff of State administrative and economic management bodies	100.0	17.9	82.1
Others	100.0	14.6	85.4

Period	Promotion of the law in mass media	Oral promotion of the law		Written promotion of the law		Visual promotion of the law
Number of measures	Number of attendees	Number of measures	Number of collections of articles	Number	Posters	Booklets

2010	239	1 199	32 285	34	140	119	57	62
2011	323	1 039	39 546	21	133	56	45	11
2012	456	1 027	60 005	4	110	47	29	18
2013	575	759	54 654	20	5	37	32	5

Region	2010	2011	2012	2013 (11 mos.)

City of Tashkent	137	139	121	80
Tashkent Oblast	36	46	68	67
Syr-Darya Oblast	25	17	22	21
Djizak Oblast	38	26	19	31
Samarkand Oblast	49	37	23	32
Navoi Oblast	14	12	18	21
Bukhara Oblast	65	54	61	32
Fergana Oblast	57	29	35	32
Namangan Oblast	92	50	50	42
Andijan Oblast	26	51	60	45
Kashka-Darya Oblast	96	52	52	38
Surkhan-Darya Oblast	32	20	13	15
Khorezm Oblast	15	29	11	21
Republic of Karakalpakstan	21	13	9	12
Directorate of Internal Affairs for Transportation	15	22	12	35
Total for Republic	718	597	574	524

Region	2010								Total
Region	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Total

City of Tashkent	28	68	19	93	22	60	14	57	361
Tashkent Oblast	61	8	76	7	87	10	57	33	339
Syr-Darya Oblast	22	12	12	11	12	8	20	13	110
Djizak Oblast	28	31	8	14	16	22	16	28	163
Samarkand Oblast	40	24	8	17	12	9	12	39	161
Navoi Oblast	15	9	3	3	8	20	9	22	89
Bukhara Oblast	30	34	23	43	28	35	17	36	246
Fergana Oblast	28	45	17	30	13	34	8	34	209
Namangan Oblast	89	22	42	10	33	27	38	22	283
Andijan Oblast	30	35	25	42	33	62	18	29	274
Kashka-Darya Oblast	70	7	53	3	68	7	38	15	261
Surkhan-Darya Oblast	28	22	16	12	22	17	7	14	138
Khorezm Oblast	7	5	9	13	6	10	1	12	63
Republic of Karakalpakstan	14	4	9	5	5	9	7	3	56
Directorate of Internal Affairs for Transportation	2	14	2	20	1	8	9	13	69
Ministry of Internal Affairs for Republic of Uzbekistan	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	5
Total for Republic of Uzbekistan									2 827

Region	2010								Total
Region	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Total

City of Tashkent	29	76	27	92	28	100	28	79	290
Tashkent Oblast	241	69	224	73	149	73	83	33	249
Syr-Darya Oblast	57	25	34	15	41	4	49	16	77
Djizak Oblast	95	23	70	16	43	23	69	14	119
Samarkand Oblast	68	47	27	27	50	24	34	27	110
Navoi Oblast	60	11	31	13	45	21	15	29	58
Bukhara Oblast	98	29	58	61	96	32	35	24	193
Fergana Oblast	54	34	61	31	75	55	15	28	167
Namangan Oblast	475	43	197	25	117	27	154	29	223
Andijan Oblast	64	41	86	43	123	16	132	27	227
Kashka-Darya Oblast	286	13	139	12	171	6	69	9	218
Surkhan-Darya Oblast	84	11	94	11	159	19	7	16	117
Khorezm Oblast	149	14	55	17	84	29	27	25	50
Republic of Karakalpakstan	66	9	34	7	9	8	34	8	46
Directorate of Internal Affairs for Transportation	0	24	2	36	3	22	4	52	47
Ministry of Internal Affairs for Republic of Uzbekistan	0	30	0	0	0	0	0	0	30
Total for Republic of Uzbekistan									2 221

Visits to women’s penal colony by deputies, senators, Ombudsman, women’s non-governmental non-commercial organizations and international organizations in 2010-2013

	Visitor	2010	2011	2012	2013

1.	Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Oliy Majlis	–	2	1	1
2.	Representatives of Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan	3	3	–	–
3.	Representatives of khokimiyat of Tashkent Oblast	–	1	–	–
4.	Representatives of Ministry of Justice of Republic of Uzbekistan	1	–	–	1
5.	Representatives of OSCE Coordinator in Uzbekistan	–	1	–	–
6.	Representatives of European Union project “Assistance for Judicial and Legal Reforms in Uzbekistan”	–	–	1	–
7.	Representatives of the German Association of Public Universities	1	1	–	–
8.	K. Adenauer Foundation	–	1	1	1
9.	Representatives of the United States Embassy	–	–	1	–
10.	Representatives of the Kazakhstan Embassy	–	1	–	–
11.	Groups of delegates from ICRC	5	3	2	–

Working Group for preparation of the Fifth National Report of the Republic of Uzbekistan on implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

1. Professor A. Saidov — Director, National Centre for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, doctor of legal sciences

2. A. Ismailov — Director, National Centre for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, doctor of legal sciences

3. F. Bakayeva — Head, Department of Analysis and Research in the Sphere of Human Rights, candidate of legal sciences

4. K. Arslanova — Principal Consultant, Department of Analysis and Research in the Sphere of Human Rights

5. Sh. Amirov — Senior Specialist, Department of Analysis and Research in the Sphere of Human Rights

20. Research Centre for the Democratization and Liberalization of Case Law and for Ensuring the Independence of the Court System, under the Supreme Court

22. Institute for Monitoring Prevailing Legislation, reporting to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

30. Academy of State Administration, reporting to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Non-governmental non-commercial organizations participating in preparation of the Fifth National Report

4 National Association of Non-Governmental Non-Commercial Organizations of Uzbekistan

5 Public Fund to Support Non-Governmental Non Commercial Organizations and Other Civil Society Institutions in the Oliy Majlis

11 Public Foundation to Support and Develop Independent Print Media and Information Agencies in Uzbekistan

AKB	Joint-stock commercial bank
HIV/AIDS	Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
WHO	World Health Organization
IUD	Intrauterine device
VUZ	Institution of higher learning
GK	Civil Code
GUIN	Main Penal Corrections Department
DKhS	Voluntary surgical sterilization
EU	European Union
ZAGS	Civil Registry Office
IA	Information agency
IK	Injectable contraceptive
STI	Sexually transmitted infection
KZhU	Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan
PRC	People’s Republic of China
MVD	Ministry of Internal Affairs
ILO	International Labour Organization
NANNOUz	National Association of Non-Governmental Non-Commercial Organizations of Uzbekistan
NAESMI	National Association of Electronic Mass Media
NDPU	People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan
NII	Research Institute
NIMFOGO	Independent Institute for Monitoring the Formation of a Civil Society
NNO	Non-Governmental Non-Commercial Organizations
NPA	National plan of action
НПО	Non-governmental organizations
OSCE	Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
Ombudsman	Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Oliy Majlis
ODM	Public youth movement
OK	Oral contraceptive
UN	United Nations
UNDP	United Nations Development Programme
SK	Family Code
SMI	Mass media
CIS	Commonwealth of Independent States
UNHRC	United Nations Human Rights Council
USA	United States of America
TV	Television
UVD	Internal Affairs directorate
UK	Criminal Code
UPR	Universal Periodic Review
TsIK	Central Electoral Commission
TsPDI	Centre for Support of Civil Initiatives
MDGs	Millennium Development Goals
UNICEF	United Nations Children’s Fund
UNFPA	United Nations Population Fund

	Paragraphs	Page
Introduction	1–27	2
Implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women	28–285	8–45
Article 1. Definition of the concept of discrimination against women	28–32	8–9
Article 2. Implementation of State policy in the prohibition of discrimination against women	33–63	9–14
Article 3. Measures taken by the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan to enhance the role of women in society	64–80	14–17
Article 4. Special measures aimed at accelerating de facto equality between men and women	81–87	17
Article 5. Measures aimed at eradicating prejudice against women	88–108	18–21
Article 6. Measures aimed at suppressing all types of traffic in women and exploitation of prostitution of women	109–124	21–23
Article 7. Measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life	125–148	23–27
Article 8. Measures to ensure the participation of women in international cooperation	149–156	27–28
Article 9. Granting women and men equal rights in acquiring, changing, or regaining citizenship	157–163	28–29
Article 10. Measures to eliminate discrimination against women in education	164–193	29–33
Article 11. Measures to eliminate discrimination against women in employment	194–212	33–35
Article 12. Measures to eliminate discrimination against women in health care	213–230	35–38
Article 13. Measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the economic and social spheres	231–246	38–40
Article 14. Measures to eliminate discrimination against rural women	247–256	40–42
Article 15. Equality of women and men before the law	257–267	42–43
Article 16. Measures to eliminate discrimination against women in matters relating to marriage and family relations	268–285	43–45
Annexes
1. Periodic reports of Uzbekistan on implementation of international human rights treaties (2008-2013)		46
2. Resident population of Uzbekistan as of 1 January 2013		47
3. Distribution of directors of legal entities by economic sector, broken down by gender, as of end of 2012		48
4. Awareness-raising of the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding women’s rights		49
5. Criminal cases initiated, 2010-2013		50
6. Persons arraigned on criminal charges, 2010-2013, by gender		51
7. Persons victimized, 2010-2013, by gender		52
8. Visits to women’s penal colony by deputies, senators, Ombudsman, women’s non-governmental non-commercial organizations and international organizations in 2010-2013		53
9. Working group for preparation of the Fifth National Report of the Republic of Uzbekistan on implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women		54
10. State bodies participating in preparation of the Fifth National Report		55
11. Non-governmental non-commercial organizations participating in preparation of the Fifth National Report		57
12. List of abbreviations		58

	Category of complaint	2010	2011	2012	2013

1.	Assistance in the confirmation of identity and the re-issuance of documents	79	40	136	15
2.	Assistance in return	134	134	185	13
3.	Rehabilitation assistance	92	106	127	73
4.	Consultations	1 076	1 270	1 287	927

United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women - State Party Reports

Uzbekistan - Fifth periodic report of States parties due in 2014 [2014] UNCEDAWSPR 3; CEDAW/C/UZB/5 (10 April 2014)