Matilda Dimovska: UNDP is ready to continue supporting the Government of Uzbekistan in its efforts to guarantee human rights for every citizen

In connection with Address of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly UNDP Resident Representative Matilda Dimovska sent her comments to “Dunyo” Information Agency.

— Uzbekistan’s progress over recent years and its commitment to achieving the SDGs is highly commendable, - she noted. - The adoption of the national Sustainable Development Goals and targets in October 2018, and of national SDG indicators in March 2019 was an important step. Senior-level commitments to the SDGs have been noted by the UN, including the increasing role of the Parliament in the 2030 Agenda, with a new bicameral Parliamentary Commission on the SDGs led by the Senate Chair. Evidence of the considerable progress made was voluntarily presented to the High-Level Political Forum in July of this year, characteristic of Uzbekistan’s collaborative engagement with and commitment to Agenda 2030. UNDP has been proud to support the Government in achieving the SDGs and national-specific targets throughout.

UNDP has operated in Uzbekistan since 1993 and has witnessed how the country has evolved and matured during over this period. Since recent years, Uzbekistan has embarked on a decisive path towards reform and openness to the outside world. This posture has had a catalyst effect on the whole of Central Asia, resulting in increased cooperation and improved relations among countries in the region.

We commend the multisectoral whole-of-society approach in the Government’s response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have noted with appreciation the proactive and early approach to safeguarding well-being, incomes, livelihoods of the people and the long-term potential of the economy. The Government established an Anti-Crisis Fund and availed a massive anti-crisis package - a mixture of social assistance, health, infrastructure and entrepreneurial support - to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to mitigate the potentially devastating impact it may have on vulnerable populations, as well as the long-term potential of the economy and help sustain the reform agenda. We commend the interest of Uzbekistan to emerge better out of the crisis, and to promote low carbon business models, as well as a green and digital economy.

Within the overall framework of national development priorities, including the national economic reform roadmap and the national SDGs, UNDP aligned is efforts and resources to the Government’s evolving COVID-19 anti-crisis priorities, with a view to ensuring that all efforts contribute to the longer-term development agenda of Uzbekistan and attainment of national SDGs.

UNDP commends the President’s determination to prioritize poverty reduction in the development agenda of Uzbekistan, and the new push to improve the well-being of the citizens through a well-designed Poverty Reduction Strategy. Working closely with the UN and the broader development community, UNDP provides strategic advisory service to the Government in the two interrelated areas: COVID-19 response and formulation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. To inform the recovery approach and Poverty Reduction Strategy of Uzbekistan, UNDP is committed to supporting Uzbekistan to go beyond COVID-19 recovery and work together to prepare, respond, and build forward better, and design a future that looks beyond recovery, towards sustainable development and Agenda 2030.

I would also like to highlight the work towards ensuring gender equality in the country. Two fundamental laws adopted in 2019 became the foundation for our joint work, so that women in Uzbekistan have equal rights with men, and they are actively represented in all spheres of life, even those that are traditionally considered “not for women”.

Last but certainly not least, UNDP applauds efforts by the Government, judiciary, public and private sector, and civil society of Uzbekistan, in working to ensure human rights are enjoyed by all citizens. In recent years Uzbekistan has commendably strengthened its cooperation with the UN Human Rights Council and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and seen the global adoption of the Samarkand Resolution ‘Youth 2020: Global Solidarity, Sustainable Development and Human Rights’ at the UN General Assembly. UNDP is ready to continue supporting the Government of Uzbekistan in its efforts to guarantee human rights for every citizen.

/ “Dunyo” IA/.