Uzbekistan
Since Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev assumed power in September 2016 following the death of Islam Karimov, he has taken some steps to improve the country’s abysmal human rights record, such as releasing some political prisoners, relaxing certain restrictions on free expression, removing citizens from the security services’ notorious “black list,” and increasing accountability of government institutions to the citizenry. These moves, coupled with Tashkent’s efforts to improve ties with its Central Asian neighbors have contributed to a sense of hope in Uzbekistan about the possibility for change. Yet grave rights violations such as torture, politically-motivated prosecutions, and forced labor in the cotton fields remain common. Uzbek security services continue to bring fresh charges for speech offenses against journalists. It remains to be seen if Uzbekistan’s still authoritarian government will follow up the modest steps it has taken with institutional change and sustainable human rights improvements.

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Europe/Central AsiaWe are writing following the European Commission’s 30 November delegated regulation adding Uzbekistan to the list of GSP+ beneficiary countries. We believe that many of the salient shortcomings identified by the Commission perpetuate or continue to cause grave human rights violations and therefore could in fact constitute serious failures of Uzbekistan’s obligations to abide by core human rights treaties.
December 18, 2020
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Uzbekistan: Registration Barriers for Independent Groups
Outdated Rules Limit Freedom of Association
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Ensure Information Access, Curb Abuses, Protect Detainees
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News
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Uzbekistan: Registration Barriers for Independent Groups
Outdated Rules Limit Freedom of Association
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EU: Bring Human Rights to the Top of Central Asia Agenda
Rights, Rule of Law Key in Response to Region’s Crises
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Reality Check on Human Rights in Uzbekistan
Tashkent Needs Clear Goals for a Human Rights Council Term
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Uzbekistan: Drop Dubious Case Against Journalist
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World Bank Group Failing at Remedies for Project Abuses
Independent Review Recommends Funding to Address Harms
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Kyrgyzstan: Don’t Return Asylum Seeker to Uzbekistan
Independent Journalist Faces Torture if Returned