JOINT STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT The EU Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance (GSP+) assessment of the Republic of Uzbekistan covering the period 2020-2022 Accompanying the document Joint Report to the European Parliament and the Council on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences covering the period 2020-2022
Date: 2023-11-21
Institutions: Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, European Commission
Subjects: EU market, Uzbekistan, common commercial policy, development aid, generalised preferences, governance, human rights, international convention, sustainable development, tariff preference

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION HIGH REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNION FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY Brussels, 21.11.2023  SWD(2023) 361 final  JOINT STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT  The EU Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance (GSP+) assessment of the Republic of Uzbekistan covering the period 2020-2022 Accompanying the document Joint Report to the European Parliament and the Council on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences covering the period 2020-2022 {JOIN(2023) 34 final} - {SWD(2023) 359 final} - {SWD(2023) 360 final} - {SWD(2023) 362 final} - {SWD(2023) 363 final} - {SWD(2023) 364 final} - {SWD(2023) 365 final} - {SWD(2023) 366 final} - {SWD(2023) 367 final} - {SWD(2023) 368 final}  
 
 
REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN 

1  SUMMARY ASSESSMENT 

The Republic of Uzbekistan (Uzbekistan) is the newest GSP+ beneficiary. The significant 
opening and reform efforts since 2016 have had overall a positive effect on  compliance 
with international standards. The Uzbek authorities have positively engaged with GSP+ 
and  the  commitment  to  effectively  implement  the  relevant  international  conventions. 
Shortcomings, nonetheless, remain and worrying backtracking has been noted particularly 
in civil and political rights. These issues will have to be addressed to ensure Uzbekistan 
continues to comply with GSP+ requirements. 

1.1  Priorities and Monitoring 

Uzbekistan joined GSP+ in April 2021 (1), after formally applying for the scheme in June 
2020. The Commission’s examination of the application (2) found no evidence of serious 
failure to effectively implement the GSP+ related international conventions. Nonetheless, 
the review of monitoring body reports and pre-application dialogue at the time identified 
shortcomings in implementation, notably regarding freedom of association and assembly, 
freedom  of  expression,  anti-discrimination,  torture  and  ill-treatment,  gender-based 
violence, labour inspections, the full eradication of forced labour, and the then on-going 
revision of the Labour Code. These findings set the monitoring and engagement priorities 
for Uzbekistan’s first GSP+ monitoring cycle. The EU’s first GSP+ monitoring mission of 
March 2022 (3), back-to-back with the EU-Uzbekistan Human Rights Dialogue (4), noted 
additionally worrying developments curtailing freedom of expression and association, as 
well as LGBTIQ people’s rights.  

1.2  Human Rights 

In 2020-2022, the human rights situation in Uzbekistan was mixed. The government made 
some  progress  in  respecting  human  rights  in  several  areas  including  priorities  in  the 
National  Human  Rights  Strategy  of  June  2020  such  as  women’s  equality  and  tackling 
torture and ill-treatment in detention. The ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights 
of People with Disabilities in 2021 and the criminalisation of gender-based violence are 
significant  achievements.  However,  the  process  of  democratic  reforms,  which  had 
produced significant improvements in protection of human rights since 2016, has slowed 
down since President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s re-election in October 2021. 

There was some backsliding, especially regarding civil and political rights and freedom of 
expression. Several bloggers and journalists were harassed or jailed during 2021 and 2022 
on charges of defamation, libel, or insult of the President. Independent NGOs still find it 

(1)   http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2021/576/oj  

All links provided in this Staff Working Document were up to date as of 20 October 2023. 

(2)   https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/10102/2020/EN/SWD-2020-297-F1-EN-MAIN-PART-

1.PDF  

(3)   https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/uzbekistan/gsp-monitoring-mission-visited-

uzbekistan_en?s=233  

(4)   https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/uzbekistan-eu-uzbekistan-subcommittee-justice-and-home-affairs-

human-rights-and-related-issues_en  

Page | 1 

 
 
 
extremely difficult to register. LGBTIQ rights remain of concern as same sex relations are 
still  criminalised.  Concerns  remain  also  over  the  lack  of  legal  definition  of  domestic 
violence  and  the  absence  of  marital  rape  from  the  criminal  code.  Several  expected 
legislative acts, such as a new NGO Code and Criminal Code are still to be published and 
their first drafts were not fully in line with the country’s international commitments. Legal 
rehabilitation  for  released  political  prisoners  remains  outstanding.  Independent  and 
effective investigation of torture allegations, accountability of perpetrators, and support to 
victims remain to be strengthened. 

1.3  Labour Rights 

The  International  Labour  Organization  (ILO)  Third-Party  Monitoring  (TPM)  of  child 
labour and forced labour during the 2020 and 2021 cotton harvest in Uzbekistan confirmed 
that  the  Uzbek  cotton  sector  was  free  from  systematic  forced  and  child  labour (5). 
Uzbekistan will need to take forward this success and ensure consistent follow-up to not 
only end forced labour but also to support workers’ rights as the industry is poised to grow 
to meet increased demand.  

Other issues remain high priority, such as ensuring that sanctions involving compulsory 
labour are not applied as a punishment for the expression of political or ideological views 
or for participation in strikes (ILO Convention No. 105); applying appropriate procedures 
for registration of  trade  unions by amending the NGO Code (ILO  Convention  No. 87); 
guaranteeing  the  possibility  of  trade  union  pluralism,  including  the  establishment  of 
independent organisations outside the traditional trade union structure; ensuring that the 
Law on Trade Unions is compatible with Conventions No. 87 and No. 98; and recognising 
and regulating the right to strike (Convention No. 87). The full abolition of child labour, 
along  with  increasing  the  efficiency  of  labour  inspections  remain  to  be  pursued. 
Implementation of ILO Convention No. 111 regarding discrimination on the grounds of 
political opinion, colour, national extraction, religion, disability, or indirect discrimination, 
and ensuring clarity and transparency in relation to ILO Convention No. 100 on equal pay 
for men and women for work of equal value by undertaking a full analysis on the gender 
pay gap are further issues that need to be addressed. The revised Labour Code of 2022 (6) 
appears to address some of these gaps, notably with regards to ILO Conventions No. 100 
on Equal Remuneration, No. 111 on Discrimination (Employment and Occupation), and 
No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, and overall strengthens legal 
rights of workers and responsibilities of employers.  

1.4  Environment and Climate 

Uzbekistan’s government has increased its ambition in fighting climate change by updating 
its  nationally  determined  contribution  (NDC)  under  the  Paris  Agreement  on  Climate 
Change  and  committing  to  reduce  greenhouse  emissions  by  35%  by  2030  compared  to 
2010  levels,  conditional  on  support  from  the  international  community.  Uzbekistan  also 
joined  the  Methane  Pledge  in  2022 (7)  and  has  in  place  ambitious  action  plans  on 
biodiversity and large-scale reforestation projects in the Aral Sea region. 

(5)   https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_norm/---

ipec/documents/publication/wcms_846680.pdf  

(6)  The CEACR is yet to examine the revised Labour Code and its conformity with Conventions Nos. 87, 

98, 100, and 111. 

(7)   The Global Methane Pledge was launched at COP26 in November 2021 in Glasgow. Participants joining 
the Pledge agree to contribute to a collective effort to reduce global methane emissions at least 30% from 
2020 levels by 2030 (global target), which could eliminate over 0.2˚C warming by 2050. 

Page | 2 

 
 
1.5  Good Governance 

Several positive measures have been undertaken by the government since the change of 
Presidency in 2016. Anti-corruption efforts are on-going and important steps such as the 
establishment of an independent anti-corruption body in 2020 have been taken. However, 
challenges in implementation, including tackling corruption among high-ranking officials, 
remain.  

1.6  Status of Ratification and Reporting 

Uzbekistan  has  ratified  all  27  GSP+  relevant  international  conventions  and  has  no 
incompatible  reservations.  The  government  is  mostly  compliant  with  its  reporting 
obligations  under  the  conventions,  except  for  the  Convention  on  International  Trade  in 
Endangered  Species  of  Wild  Fauna  and  Flora  (CITES)  and  the  Basel  Convention  on 
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and Their Disposal, where several reports 
are outstanding (see Annex for details). The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic 
Pollutants  and the Cartagena Protocol  on Biosafety  were ratified  in  2019, before GSP+ 
application, and transitional reporting periods apply.  

2  LONG-TERM VIEW 

Uzbekistan is the newest GSP+ beneficiary, having joined the scheme in April 2021. Prior 
to submitting a formal application in June 2020, Uzbekistan ratified three remaining GSP+ 
relevant conventions: the Cartagena Protocol and the Stockholm Convention in 2019, and 
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2017. As 
part  of  the  pre-application  process,  Uzbekistan  engaged  in  detailed  discussions  on  the 
implementation of the 27 GSP+ relevant conventions, including through a fact-finding visit 
in February 2019, engagement in high level meetings such as Human Rights Dialogues, 
and technical discussions in 2020.  

Since 2016, Uzbekistan with President Mirziyoyev has embarked on a path of ambitious 
reforms,  transitioning  to  democracy  and  market  economy.  Uzbekistan  has  made  clear 
progress with respect to the implementation of the GSP+ related international conventions. 
The progress has generally been strongest regarding legislative adjustments and relevant 
policies  but  has  varied  with  respect  to  enforcement  and  implementation.  The  latest 
developments (see Section 3 and 5) threaten to undo some of these advancements. 

In  the  long-term,  positive  developments  regarding  the  implementation  of  the  UN 
Convention Against Torture were noted in the country (e.g., the closure of the Jaslyk prison 
and the amendment of the Ombudsman Act, extending the powers of the Ombudsman to 
conduct  preventing  monitoring  of  all  detention  facilities).  Uzbekistan  took  efforts  to 
advance  women’s  rights  and  adopted  legislation  on  equal  rights  and  opportunities, 
protection of women from violence, and an equal minimum age for marriage at 18 years 
old. 

Uzbekistan has made remarkable progress in the eradication of child and forced labour as 
seen in the 2020 and 2021 ILO TPM of the cotton harvest where systematic forced and 

Page | 3 

 
child labour did not occur (8). In 2019, Uzbekistan ratified ILO Convention No. 144 on 
Tripartite  Consultation  (International  Labour  Standards)  and  the  Republican  Tripartite 
Commission  on  Social  and  Labour  Issues  (RTC)  was  established  to  implement  its  key 
provisions. Moreover, in 2019 Uzbekistan ratified the 2014 Protocol to ILO Convention 
No. 29 on Forced Labour and a new (2020) law on trafficking in persons was adopted to 
improve  access  to  the  government’s  services  and  to  enhance  protection  for  victims  of 
trafficking, including children.  

In recent years, Uzbekistan has made good progress in the implementation of international 
agreements in the areas of biodiversity and climate change, with the ratification in 2019 of 
the Cartagena Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the ratification of the 
Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2018, and uptake of various national regulations 
and implementing measures to support achieving targets set. Financial support and active 
cooperation  from  various  international  bodies  has  helped  Uzbekistan  submit  several 
national reports on the implementation of these conventions and agreements.  

The drug control regime in Uzbekistan has been strengthened over time and does not raise 
major concerns. Regarding anti-corruption efforts, Uzbekistan has undertaken far-reaching 
reforms since 2016, which are reflected in numerous laws and decrees, and the government 
has shown a strong stance against corruption. Their implementation and enforcement are 
on-going. 

As a result of trade reforms and the rapid opening up of the country, external trade in goods 
has  surged  and  the  share  of  commodities  in  exports  has  declined (9).  Trade  in  services 
increased significantly in 2017-2019. Exports of commodities have diversified, and they 
continue to account for more than half of all exports. The exports destinations have been 
diversified  through  efforts  to  attract  foreign  direct  investment  mainly  in  processing  of 
natural resources and building local production capacity. Uzbekistan’s imports into the EU 
more  than  quadrupled  from  an  annual  average  of  €174  million  in  2017-2020  to  €720 
million in 2022 (Eurostat data). Unlike most other GSP countries, there was no contraction 
in exports to the EU during the pandemic year 2020, and the export increases of 139% in 
2021 and another 77% in 2022 were extraordinary. 

The most important barriers to Uzbekistan’s exports are domestic rather than international. 
As  a  landlocked  country,  Uzbekistan  faces  high  trading  costs,  compounded  by  poor  – 
although improving – logistics and uncertainties imposed by present trade regulations. One 
of  Uzbekistan’s  top  priorities  is  to  get  an  easier  access  to  the  open  sea  and  to  develop 
transport  connections  in  different  directions,  including  with  China,  South  Asia  through 
Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Europe. High costs linked to trade across borders can be 
lowered  through  the  implementation  of  the  World  Trade  Organization  (WTO)  Trade 
Facilitation Agreement.  

The government has recently made WTO accession one of its main priorities. Uzbekistan 
is among the few GSP beneficiaries not yet a member, and WTO accession could greatly 
advance  the  country’s  goal  to  integrate  into  the  global  trade  system.  The  EU  supports 
Uzbekistan’s aspiration to join WTO and to this end, since early 2020 has been funding 
and  implementing  with  the  International  Trade  Centre  (ITC)  a  €5  million  action 
“Facilitation  Uzbekistan  Accession  to  WTO”.  Uzbek  authorities  are  also  working  to 

(8)  In  March  2022,  the  ILO  has  welcomed  the  decision  by  Cotton  Campaign  (joined  among  other 
stakeholders by 331 international brands and retailers) to end its call for a global boycott of Uzbek cotton 
products which was imposed in 2011 because of the use of child and forced labour during the cotton 
harvest. https://www.ilo.org/europe/info/news/WCMS_839591/lang--en/index.htm  

(9)   World Bank Uzbekistan Country Economic Memorandum of July 2021. 

Page | 4 

 
 
improve  the  country’s  customs  administration  and  facilitate  enterprises’  connections  to 
global value chains, including through reducing the cost of ISO certification for SMEs. 

In late 2018, the EU and Uzbekistan started the negotiations of an Enhanced Partnership 
and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA). Formal initialling of the agreed text took place in 
July 2022 and signature is expected in 2024. It reflects a shared interest in strengthening 
bilateral relations and supporting ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan, including in trade. 

3  RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 

In  November  2021,  following  his  re-election  to  a  second  term,  President  Mirziyoyev 
reconfirmed  his  commitment  to  pursue  the  reforms  in  political,  economic,  and  social 
spheres opening up for a “New Uzbekistan”. He promised a more democratic, prosperous, 
fair, green, and inclusive growth. This vision is outlined in the country’s new Development 
Strategy 2022-2026 of February 2022. At the same time, the country has also moved to 
increase  presidential  power  and  decrease  that  of  parliament  and  the  Prime  Minister, 
including through constitutional changes, and there appears to be a worrying decrease of 
civil society space (see Section 5.1 for more details) (10). 

President  Mirziyoyev  is  looking  to  accelerate  the  roll-out  of  reforms  to  make  changes 
‘irreversible’, including through the new Constitution, adopted by referendum on 30 April 
2023.  The  amendments  to  the  Constitution  are  substantial  and  bring  positive  changes, 
including through the constitutionalisation of a number of human, social, and economic 
rights.  Among the most noticeable addition  to  the Constitution are the definition of the 
State as “secular and social”, the ban of death penalty (although the death penalty is already 
banned though ordinary legislation), the interdiction of censure, equality between man and 
woman, a strong focus on children and youth rights. The amendments also open the way 
to land privatisation. There are more controversial elements such as the extension of the 
President’s  mandate  to  seven  years,  a  legal  possibility  to  reset  counters  of  executive 
mandates, as well as a provision to limit freedoms and rights based on a vaguely defined 
“public morality”. In a move to seek further endorsement of the changes introduced in the 
new Constitution and for the President’s reform programme, early presidential elections 
were called on 9 July 2023. President Mirziyoyev was re-elected in a ballot qualified by 
the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic 
Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) as technically well prepared but lacking genuine 
political competition. Under the new Constitution the new mandate will be counted as the 
President’s first, opening the way to his standing for re-election once again in 2030 and 
serving as President until 2037. 

The  sound  macro-economic  situation  gives  Uzbekistan  a  margin  of  manoeuvre  to 
implement reforms, though more will be needed to reach the goal to halve poverty by 2026. 
Despite external shocks, the authorities continued structural reforms which have included 
liberalising  domestic  prices  and  reducing  crop  placement  requirements  for  cotton  and 
wheat; increasing transparency in public procurement through a public portal; doubling the 
size  of  the  social  safety  net;  improving  corporate  governance  by  appointing  more 

(10)  The European Parliament’s resolution of 4 October 2023 on Uzbekistan also reflects on the constraints 
and challenges facing Uzbekistan, as well as the challenging human rights situation in the country. 

Page | 5 

 
 
independent members to supervisory boards; selling mid-sized state enterprises and many 
smaller assets; and finalising laws on public debt and the labour market. 

After  a period of relative political  stability,  countries  in Central  Asia have encountered 
challenges in 2021 and 2022, including  as a result of the developments in Afghanistan. 
Uzbekistan  has  not  been  fully  immune,  with  large-scale  protests  and  reported 
disproportionate use of force by security services in early July 2022 in the autonomous 
Republic of Karakalpakstan. The protests were triggered by the proposal to remove from 
the Constitution Karakalpakstan’s long-standing right to secede from Uzbekistan and any 
mention of the autonomous Republic’s sovereignty. According to official reports, unrests 
left 22 people dead and 500 arrested. This proposal was withdrawn and does not feature in 
the newly adopted Constitution. 

Despite  the  COVID-19  pandemic  and  Russia’s  unprovoked  and  unjustified  war  of 
aggression against Ukraine, in 2020-2022 Uzbekistan’s economy has been demonstrating 
strong resilience and noted economic recovery. The pandemic caused a sharp slowdown 
in  2020,  particularly  in  trade,  tourism,  and  transportation.  Nonetheless,  real  economic 
growth remained positive at 1.9% (11). Further to a 7% GDP growth in 2021, supported by 
government’s stimulus measures, there has been limited impact on the country’s economy 
and, despite still existing risks, the GDP growth was 5.7% in 2022 and has been forecasted 
at 5.1% in 2023 (12). The government is working hard to handle the spill-over effects of 
the  war,  including  through  increasing  foreign  debt.  Uzbekistan’s  official  position  on 
Russia’s war against Ukraine is consistently neutral in view of country’s vulnerabilities 
vis-à-vis Russia based on a combination of economic and security factors. In 2021, Russia 
became Uzbekistan’s largest trading partner, with a trade value reaching almost €6 billion 
and 70% of Uzbek trade going  to  or through Russia. Russia amounts to 60% of Public 
Investment Programme in Uzbekistan. Around 4 million Uzbek workers find employment 
in Russia. 

EU–Uzbekistan Development Cooperation 

The bilateral allocation for Uzbekistan for 2021-2024 under Multiannual Indicative Program 
(MIP)  amounts  to  €76  million.  Bilateral  cooperation  in  that  period  focuses  on  three  priority 
areas:  (1)  effective  governance  and  digital  transformation,  (2)  inclusive,  digital,  and  green 
growth,  and  (3)  development  of  a  smart,  eco-friendly  agri-food  sector.  The  bilateral  Team 
Europe  Initiative  “Support  to  a  modern  and  sustainable  agri-food  sector  and  resilient 
livelihoods” builds synergies across all three priority areas.  

Under the regional MIP 2021-2027, the EU also continues to support Uzbekistan in key sectors 
such as private sector development, trade, entrepreneurship, border management, and rule of 
law. Additional thematic funds support civil society, human rights, skills development, COVID-
19 immunisation and health. Cross-cutting issues, including gender equality and the gender pay 
gap, support to vulnerable groups, human rights, and digitalisation, are considered across the 
programme.  

4  EU–UZBEKISTAN TRADE AND GSP+  

In 2022, the EU share in total Uzbekistan’s exports amounted to 3.8%, substantially more 
than the 1.2% in 2021 but still much lower than Russia, China, and Türkiye, the key export 
destinations together accounting for 38% of total export value (€14.6 billion in 2022, an 

(11)  World Bank, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=UZ 
(12)  World Bank, https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/uzbekistan/overview  

Page | 6 

 
 
increase of over 23% compared to 2021) (13). Other key export destinations have been in 
the Central Asia region: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Industrial 
goods, food products, and chemicals were the main exported products.  

After the EU granted Uzbekistan GSP+ status in April 2021, it replaced the less generous 
Standard GSP arrangement, and has allowed for around two thirds of product tariff lines 
to be exported duty free to the EU market. While it is too early to establish firm trends in 
the use of GSP+, there are already signals this has the potential to diversify the country’s 
export destinations and increase exports to the EU. While already relatively high, there is 
room for improvement in Uzbekistan’s GSP+ utilisation rates. 

There  are  several  opportunities  for  Uzbekistan’s  exporters  to  improve  the  use  of  their 
newly  acquired  tariff-free  access  to  the  EU  market  under  GSP+.  Anticipated  growth  in 
production of machinery, automotive, hi-tech goods, and medical equipment in the EU will 
increase demand for various electronic subcomponents and metal parts. Uzbekistan can 
further build on its success and expand production of electronic goods and subcomponents 
thanks to lower operating costs. Moreover, the EU’s shift to a green economy and the need 
to diversify supplies of metals and critical raw materials could further boost exports from 
Uzbekistan. However, the absence of sea access and the long physical distance to the main 
manufacturing hubs in the EU could be hurdles constraining some of the growth potential. 

Figures 1-4 describe Uzbekistan’s utilisation of the GSP+ in the context of the EU’s overall 
imports from Uzbekistan (14). 

Figures 1 and 2 show that between 2019 and 2022 the value of goods imported to the EU 
from  Uzbekistan  under  GSP (15)  has  more  than  quadrupled  (from  €94  million  to  €454 
million), in  line with  total  import increase (from €172  million  to  €720 million). Actual 
revenue loss to the EU budget due to eliminated import tariffs, meaning savings for EU 
importers who could share this benefit with Uzbek exporters, grew more than ten-fold in 
the same period (from €2.5 million to almost €28 million), substantially higher than the 
€6.7  million  projected  in  2020,  i.e.,  before  Uzbekistan’s  accession  to  GSP+.  The  total 
GSP+ utilisation rate (how much of the products eligible for GSP+ used the preferences) 
steadily increased to almost 93% in 2022.  

Figure 1: EU imports from Uzbekistan and GSP utilisation rate, 2019-2022 

Total imports, € million 

GSP+ eligible, € million 

GSP+ used, € million 

Share GSP+ in total, % 

GSP+ utilisation rate, % 

2019 

172.3 

106.7 

93.6 
61.9 
87.7 

2020 

174.4 

120.4 

108.5 
69.1 
90.1 

2021* 

384.1 

265.3 

240.1 
69.1 
90.5 

2022 

Trend % 

317.7 

359.2 

385.0 

719.7 

489.8 

454.0 
68.1 
92.7 

Top GSP import products were traditionally S-11a textiles and S-07a plastics (€129 million 
and €52 million preferential imports in 2022, respectively), but were overtaken in 2022 by 

(13)  ITC TradeMap data. 

(14)  Source for all statistics: Eurostat data as of September 2023. GSP statistics only cover goods imported 
into the EU market, i.e., goods released for free circulation in the EU. The GSP statistics do not cover 
other EU-imports, like goods imported for the customs inward processing procedure or re-imports after 
the customs outward processing procedure. Trade flows registered as “confidential” do not appear in the 
GSP+  usage  figures  and  regime  1  normal  trade;  but  do  appear  in  total  trade  figures  (regime  4). 
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/metadata/en/ext_go_agg_esms.htm#conf1537195068659  
(15)  GSP+ applied since 1 April 2021, prior to this date Uzbekistan benefitted from the Standard GSP. 

Page | 7 

 
 
  
  
 
 
a newly emerged sector, S-6b pharmaceuticals and other chemical products (€189 million 
imports  in  2022)  (Figure  3).  This  sector  also  benefitted  most  from  eliminated  tariffs, 
followed by textiles, and plastics (Figure 4).  

*GSP+ applied since 1 April 2021, prior to this date Uzbekistan benefitted from the Standard GSP. 

Figure 2: EU imports from Uzbekistan by trade regime (€ million) and utilisation rates (%), 2019-2022 

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

36

454

230

2022

13

94
66

2019

25

240

119

12

108
54

2021

2020
Other (MFN)
GSP+ preferential
GSP+ eligible not used

90,5

71,6

69,1

92,7

89,7

68,1

100

80

60

40

20

87,7

61,9

31,0

90,1

69,1

26,7

2019

2020

2021

2022

Share GSP+ in total
Utilisation rate
Share duty-free in total

*GSP+ applied since 1 April 2021, prior to this date Uzbekistan benefitted from the Standard GSP. 

Figure 3: Top Uzbek product groups benefitting 
from GSP+ tariff preferences, 2022, € million 

Figure 4: GSP+ tariff reduction gains per product 
group, 2022, € million 

96,4

96,5

94,2

98,8

93,2

65,0

6
,
5
9
1

6
,
8
8
1

6
,
3
3
1

0
,
9
2
1

9
,
4
5

7
,
1
5

8
,
6
2

5
,
6
2

6
,
4
3 5
,
4
2

6
,
2
2

5
,
5
3

120,0

100,0

80,0

60,0

40,0

20,0

250,0

200,0

150,0

100,0

50,0

0,0

Apparel & 
clothing
1,9

Others
4,3

Other 
chemicals
12,1

Plastics
3,4

Textiles
7,3

Eligible

Used

Utilisation rate (%)

5  COMPLIANCE WITH GSP+ OBLIGATIONS  

5.1  UN Human Rights Conventions (Conventions 1-7 (16))  

In 2020, Uzbekistan became a member of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and 
one year later Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to the UN was elected as one of the vice presidents 
of the UNHRC for 2022. 

At the same time President Mirziyoyev pledged to continue democratic reforms, including 
the creation of conditions “for a free functioning of the civil society” and improving human 

(16)  Following the list of GSP-relevant conventions in Annex VIII of the GSP Regulation.  

Page | 8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
rights  protection.  To  this  end,  the  National  Human  Rights  Strategy  (NHRS)  and  the 
Roadmap for its implementation were adopted on 22 June 2020. 

5.1.1 

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 
(CERD) 

In its Concluding Observations from 2020 (17), the CERD Committee noted some progress 
at the legislative, policy and institutional levels, in particular in 2017. 

The  Committee  also  pointed  out  main  challenges  in  implementation:  the  lack  of  a 
definition of racial discrimination on all prohibited grounds and the lack of legislation that 
prohibits all forms of racial discrimination, provides for penalties in case of violation, and 
establishes  remedies  and  redress  mechanisms.  The  Committee  expressed  concern  that 
Luli/Roma were confined to a low level of education, informal employment, temporary 
housing,  and  unaffordable  medical  services.  Many  remain  without  state  issued 
documentation, undermining their access to basic services. Next to that, the Committee 
found  that  Uzbek  legislation  was  not  fully  in  line  with  Article  4  of  the  Convention, 
specifically  regarding  provisions  on  freedom  of  expression  and  the  right  to  peaceful 
assembly  of  ethnic  groups  and  expressed  concern  about  the  absence  of  a  normative 
framework on the rights of ethnic minorities. 

5.1.2 

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) 

The Concluding Observations of the Human Rights Committee under the ICCPR, issued 
on 1 May 2020 (18), noted some positive legislative developments in particular in 2019, 
and pointed out serious challenges regarding Uzbekistan’s implementation of the ICCPR. 

Positive  developments  were  marked  by  the  Committee  regarding  the  release  of  some 
persons  detained  on  what  appeared  to  be  politically  motivated  charges,  but  concerns 
remained on the reported high number of such persons that  are still deprived of liberty. 
Former prisoners have not been legally rehabilitated as their unjust convictions have not 
been overturned. 

Concerns  were  also  expressed  with  respect  to  unjustified  restrictions  of  freedom  of 
expression,  because  of  the  criminalisation  of  defamation  and  insult  of  the  President  in 
2021, and of dissemination of false information, and because of the over-regulation of mass 
communication,  information  technologies,  and  the  use  of  the  Internet  allowed  under 
current legislation. This backtracking was introduced by amendments to the Law on Mass 
Media in 2021 which, on a more positive note, also ease registration requirements for mass 
media  outlets.  A  draft  Information  Code  was  published  in  December  2022  for  public 
consultation,  with 
legislation  on 
included  some  concerning  elements,  but  further 
Media/Information.  The  draft 
international  organisations,  are  planned.  In  2021, 
including  with 
consultations, 
Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code was modified to remove prison sentences for libel in the press, 
but  at  the  same  time  provisions  that  criminalise  online  public  insult  or  slander  of  the 
President were introduced. This led to the imprisonment of several bloggers in early 2022.  

to  unify  and  harmonise  all 

the  objective 

(17)  UN (2020) Concluding observations CERD/C/UZB/CO/10-12. 
(18)  UN (2020) Concluding observations CCPR/C/UZB/CO/5. 

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During the reporting period, the legislation has significantly restricted the right to freedom 
of peaceful assembly.  NGOs  without official  registration are barred  from organising or 
holding  public  meetings.  Prior  authorisation  for  holding  mass  events  is  required  15 
working  days  before  the  event.  Restrictions  on  the  right  to  freedom  of  association  also 
remained a concern of the Human Rights Committee due to lengthy and burdensome legal 
and administrative registration requirements for NGOs and political parties; an extensive 
list  of  reasons  for  the  denial  of  the  registration;  the  requirement  for  NGOs  to  obtain 
approval  from  the Ministry of Justice regarding travelling  abroad and receiving foreign 
funds; and the prohibition of NGOs from participating in “political activities”. A resolution 
of the Cabinet of Ministers from June 2022 strengthens governmental control over NGOs 
activities implementing foreign funding. 

EU–Uzbekistan Development Cooperation on Civil and Political Rights 

The  EU  supports  Uzbekistan  in  enhancing  protection  of  human  rights  mainly  through  the 
European  Instrument  for  Democracy  and  Human  Rights  (EIDHR)  and  Civil  Society 
Organisations and Local Authorities (CSO-LA) thematic instruments. Some on-going projects 
include: 

➢  Strengthening Civil Society to Advance Women’s Rights through Advocacy, Protection 

and Empowerment in Uzbekistan (ACTED) 
➢  Empowering independent teachers’ associations  
➢  Strengthening the role of civil society and building sustainable cooperation in promoting 

human rights and gender equality  

➢  ACTORS OF URBAN DIALOG: Growth of activism  
➢  #YoshStan: Raising Youth Voices in Local Decision-Making  
➢  Transparent and inclusive governance through innovation and collaboration between civil 

society and local authorities 

➢  Innovative Uzbekistan 

5.1.3 

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) 

The Concluding Observations of the ICESCR Committee of 31 March 2022 (19) indicate 
that Uzbekistan has taken several legislative, institutional, and policy measures to enhance 
the realisation of the rights  under the Covenant  since the previous periodic report from 
2014. 

Although not required under the current GSP Regulation, the ratification by Uzbekistan of 
the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in June 2021 was a 
major  achievement.  A  national  action  plan  is  pending  to  strengthen  the  inclusion  of 
disabled  persons  in  the  social  sphere,  promoting  more  inclusive  and  accessible 
communication,  and  facilitating  their  access  to  public  places,  including  medical  and 
educational facilities.  

Reports  of  discrimination,  harassment,  violence,  and  intimidation  against  LGBTIQ 
persons were recorded, which hindered their enjoyment of economic, social, and cultural 
rights. The criminalisation of consenting same-sex adult relationships reinforces existing 
prejudices, increases stigmatisation, legitimises discrimination, and can result in rendering 
LGBTIQ persons even more vulnerable to human rights abuses and violence. The lack of 
a comprehensive legal  and policy framework for refugees and asylum seekers hindered 
their access to basic services.  

(19)  UN (2022) Concluding observations E/C.12/UZB/CO/3. 

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Due to the growing number of urban development projects, forced evictions without prior 
consultation of the affected residents have been reported, despite the relevant provisions 
in  the national  legislation on property and land deprivation. International  organisations, 
including the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR), note that the 
legislation of Uzbekistan neither defines evictions nor sets out clear procedures for lawful 
evictions and adequate compensation.  

5.1.4  Convention  on  the  Elimination  of  All  Forms  of  Discrimination  Against  Women 

(CEDAW) 

In its Concluding Observations on the 6th periodic report of 1 March 2022 (20) regarding 
Uzbekistan’s implementation of the Convention, the CEDAW Committee noted progress 
made by the Uzbek authorities in establishing a progressive national legislative framework 
to protect women’s rights and promote gender equality. In 2019, the Law on Guarantees 
of  Equal  Rights  and  Opportunities  for  Women  and  Men  was  adopted;  however,  it  was 
found  not  fully  in  line  with  the  Convention,  notably  with  respect  to  the  definition  of 
discrimination which does not cover intersecting forms of discrimination. 

Persistent inequalities between women and men in employment, political, and public life 
continued  to  exist  and  were  also  highlighted  by  the  Human  Rights  Council  in  its 
Concluding Observations of 1 May 2020. In practice, women earn less than men and are 
disadvantaged  in  the  formal  sector.  Representation  of  women  in  decision-making  and 
leadership positions in the judiciary, the legislative, and the executive bodies remains low. 
Reports of forced and early marriages, de facto polygamy, and domestic violence against 
women remains a concern. Women continue to face barriers in access to justice and have 
limited knowledge about their rights. A high incidence of gender-based violence against 
women remains a concern despite the adoption of the Law on Protection of Women against 
Harassment and Violence in 2019.  

During the reporting period, the government made efforts to improve the institutional and 
policy framework aimed at accelerating the elimination of discrimination against women. 
To that end, a Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality until 2030 and the programme of 
comprehensive measures for the implementation of this Strategy in 2021-2022 (updated 
on  annual  basis)  were  adopted (21).  In  addition,  in  2020  the  new  Law  on  Combatting 
Trafficking  in  Persons was  adopted,  replacing the Law of 2008.  On 11  April 2023, the 
President  of  Uzbekistan  signed  amendments  to  the  legislation  on  the  protection  of  the 
rights of women that criminalise domestic violence and provide women and children with 
additional legal protection mechanisms – a significant positive step. 

5.1.5  Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or 

Punishment (CAT) 

In its Concluding Observations of 14 January 2020 (22), the CAT Committee noted several 
positive  developments  regarding  the  implementation  of  the  Convention.  The  Yaslyk 
prison – where acts  of torture  had been  documented –  was closed in  2019. In the same 
year,  the  Ombudsman  Act  was  amended  to  stipulate  that  those  deprived  of  liberty  are 

(20)  UN (2022) Concluding observations CEDAW/C/UZB/CO/6. 
(21)  According to the Resolution of the Senate of 28 May 2021 on the approval of this Strategy, the number 
of  women  in  the  national  parliament  has  reached  the  level  set  by  the  UN,  i.e.  32%  (2021),  and  put 
Uzbekistan on the 37th place among 190 parliaments in the world. In the same year the share of women 
in management positions amounted to 27%, in political parties  - 44%,  in higher education  - 40%, in 
entrepreneurship 
-  35%.  https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/114128/143281/F-
1296270958/UZB-114128.pdf  

(22)  UN (2020) Concluding observations CAT/C/UZB/CO/5. 

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entitled to make an unlimited number of written complaints to the Ombudsperson and that 
the  latter  can  conduct  preventative  monitoring  of  all  detention  facilities.  A  national 
preventative mechanism has been established in the form of the Ombudsman Plus. In 2021-
2022,  the  Ombudsperson  has  conducted  several  monitoring  missions  in  prisons, 
accompanied by independent civil society representatives. Uzbekistan has not yet ratified 
the Optional Protocol to the CAT (OPCAT), though ratification is said to be planned. The 
Law on Fundamental Legal Safeguards and the Law on the Personal Safety of Detained 
Persons were adopted in 2020. 

Main challenges pointed out by the CAT Committee included reports of torture and ill-
treatment in prisons, denial of adequate care, and ongoing practice of subjecting prisoners 
to forced labour; failure to undertake independent investigation into allegations of violence 
against  detainees  and  to  ensure  that  effective  complaints  mechanisms  are  accessible, 
especially  to  women  in  detention;  and  failure  to  ensure  the  effective  and  independent 
monitoring of places of detention. Civil society organisations have reported acts of torture 
and  ill-treatment  in  detention,  including  torture  with  respect  to  persons  detained  for 
political  reasons  or  on  treason  charges.  Also,  the  Committee  expressed  concerns  that 
prosecutors and judges tended to disregard investigations into allegations of torture. The 
definition of torture in the Criminal Code was found to be not in line with the provisions 
under the ICCPR.  

Human rights defenders faced arbitrary detention, surveillance, and harassment, which did 
not  allow  them  to  continue  their  work  on  human  rights  protection.  The  treatment  of 
children  in  detention  was  also  reported  as  a  matter  of  concern,  notably  regarding  the 
imposition  of  solitary  confinement  and  ill-treatment  during  investigation.  Finally,  the 
Committee  was  discontent  that  Uzbekistan  did  not  carry  out  an  impartial  and  effective 
investigation  into  the  events  of  May  2005  in  Andijan.  In  May  2022,  the  Law  on  the 
Compensation and Rehabilitation of the Victims of Torture and Ill-treatment was passed, 
which is a positive development. 

5.1.6  Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) 

In September 2022, the Committee on the Rights of the Child concluded its consideration 
of the 5th periodic report of Uzbekistan under the CRC (23).  

The Committee commended the State on its will to promote children’s rights. The CRC 
also  commended  the  establishment  of  the  Children’s  Ombudsman  (as  a  deputy  of  the 
parliamentary Ombudsman) in 2020 and of a special commission in Parliament to monitor 
the  implementation  of  Uzbekistan’s  international  commitments  to  human  rights.  The 
Ombudsman  and  the  Children’s  Ombudsman  conducted  visits  to  prisons  and  to  the 
children’s colony for minors. In 2022, around 484 minors were in prison in Uzbekistan, 
accounting for 13% of all convictions. State protection and legal assistance was provided 
to minors undergoing court proceedings. A new Criminal Code is being prepared which 
will include the regulation of detention facilities for minors.  

Between 2019 and 2022, a programme was adopted in cooperation with the UN Children’s 
Fund  on  the  deinstitutionalisation  of  homes  and  boarding  schools  -  19  out  of  22  such 
institutions  have been  closed. The children living  there returned to  their  families, close 
relatives,  or  moved  to  foster  homes.  Some  children  were  housed  in  family  children’s 
homes, developed so that children could integrate back into normal life in a family context. 

(23)  UN (2022) Concluding observations CRC/C/UZB/CO/5. 

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The Committee asked questions about the low share of benefits in the total social budget 
and on specialised juvenile courts (24). On the former, the government ensured that material 
benefits had been provided for children belonging to low-income families, while pensions 
and benefits had increased for persons with disabilities and persons with health issues, as 
well  as  families  who  had  lost  their  providers.  The  topic  of  juvenile  justice  was  very 
important,  and  this  would  be  a  priority  for  the  State  over  the  next  five  years.  In  the 
government’s view there was no need for specific juvenile courts, as according to statistics, 
only  2.5%  of  all  crimes  were  committed  by  minors.  Nevertheless,  the  principles  of  the 
juvenile legal system had been included in the domestic legislation and courts were able 
to hear from minors and specialist courses on juvenile justice were available to judges.  

The collection and analysis of data for sensitive issues such as violence against children, 
violence in the families, and street children has been extremely important to the CRC, and 
the  Committee  wants  to  look  at  it  in  the  next  reporting  circle.  The  government  has 
acknowledged  the lack of specific data on protection of children’s rights  and asked the 
CRC for support in establishing the criteria for disaggregated data which would be very 
important in determining the best interests of children. 

Conclusions and priorities 

Uzbekistan  has  made  important  progress  by  adopting  several  legislative  acts  on  the 
rights  of  women  and  in  action  against  gender-based  violence,  including  the 
criminalisation of domestic violence in 2023, in improvements in economic, social, and 
cultural rights, as well as in the institutional framework around the rights of children and 
deinstitutionalisation efforts. Freedom of expression has generally improved under the 
new  President  even  though  there  are  concerns  of  backtracking.  The  previously 
widespread practice of torture appears to be significantly reduced and further action such 
as introducing an appropriate definition of torture in the Criminal Code, ratification of 
OPCAT,  and  visit  of  the  UN  Special  Rapporteur  on  torture  are  prioritised  by  the 
authorities.  Moreover,  Uzbekistan  has  extended  an  open  invitation  to  all  UN  special 
rapporteurs. 

At the same time, there are worrying trends, notably regarding civil society space, and 
challenges remain. Decisive steps have to be taken to ensure Uzbekistan’s compliance 
with GSP+ requirements. The legislative reviews of the NGO Code and  the Criminal 
Code  need  to  fully  respect  Uzbekistan’s  international  obligations.  Appropriate 
amendments in the NGO Code should address key concerns linked to limitations of civil 
society  space  and  freedom  of  expression  and  association.  In  particular,  the  current 
difficulties with registration reported by independent NGOs can be eased by simplifying 
the registration procedure with time-bound and well justified responses. Reducing the 
reporting  requirements  to  those  strictly  necessary  would  allow  smaller  NGOs  to 
function. Similarly, the revision of the Criminal Code should take the opportunity to 
review  articles  on  insult  of  the  President  and  defamation  which  are  not  in  line  with 
international norms. Next to that, there should be consideration to remove the provisions 
regarding the criminalisation of same-sex relations from the Criminal Code, as well as 
outdated provisions on punishment with forced and compulsory labour. Implementing 
action against domestic violence such as adequate shelter and support provision across 
the country and on the recently ratified CRPD are also needed. 

(24)  https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/09/experts-committee-rights-child-commend-

uzbekistan-its-will-promote-childrens  

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5.2 

ILO Labour Rights Conventions (Conventions 8-15)  

A new Labour Code came into force in April 2023 (25). It represents a major improvement 
in comparison to the outdated 1995 Code. It appears to address several gaps notably with 
regards to ILO Conventions No. 100 on Equal Remuneration, No. 111 on Discrimination 
(Employment  and  Occupation),  and  No.  98  on  the  Right  to  Organise  and  Collective 
Bargaining,  and  overall  strengthens  legal  rights  of  workers  and  responsibilities  of 
employers.  However,  important  improvements  remain  to  be  made  in  allowing  for  the 
registration and establishment of independent trade unions that can operate according to 
the principle of freedom of association, in addressing more consistently direct and indirect 
discrimination  based  on  gender,  race  and  political  opinion  and  in  providing  additional 
guarantees to persons with disabilities.  

The  State  Labour  Inspectorate  was  re-established  in  2018,  with  the  powers  to  conduct 
inspections  on  all  matters  of  labour  rights  and  standards  and  Uzbekistan  ratified  ILO 
Convention No. 81 on Labour Inspections in 2019. Nonetheless, its mandate does not cover 
the  informal  economy  (around  27%  of  GDP (26))  and  the  number  of  inspectors,  while 
having increased, is still deemed relatively low, as outlined in the ILO Uzbekistan Decent 
Country Work programme 2021-2025.  

5.2.1  Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining (Conventions No. 87 and No. 

98) 

In 2020 and 2022 the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and 
Recommendations (CEACR) requested (27) Uzbekistan’s government to amend legislation 
to  ensure  that  the  public  authorities  were  not  allowed  to  interfere  in  the  internal 
administration of trade unions and their structures. Additional information indicates that 
the current Law on Public Associations requires at least 3,000 members to constitute a new 
national-level  trade  union  which  severely  limits  their  establishment (28).  In  2022,  the 
CEACR (29) recalled that the imposition of a trade union monopoly is inconsistent with the 
principle of free and voluntary collective bargaining and requested the government to take 
the necessary measures, including legislative measures, to guarantee the possibility of trade 
union  pluralism.  The  CEACR  in  2022  observed  that  the  new  Labour  Code  contains  a 
revised provision relating to its 2018 request to amend the Labour Code to make clear that 
only in the absence of trade unions at the enterprise, branch, or territory, can the right to 
bargain collectively be granted to other representatives elected by workers, but CEACR is 
yet to fully assess this. Further, it is noted that Article 8 of the Law on Non-state Non-
governmental organisations, and the related procedures for notification of planned events 
and  activities  and  for  coordination  with  the  registering  body  for  receipt  of  funds  from 
foreign sources, provide for significant interference in the affairs of trade unions, which 
seriously restricts freedom of association and the right to organise. 

CEACR also  sought to  clarify legislation regulating the right to  strike, as  there  was no 
explicit provision on the right to strike in the Labour Code and it was not referred to in the 
Law on Trade Unions, while under the Criminal Code and the Administrative Code, most 
strikes  were  expressly  prohibited  and  punishable.  In  2022,  CEACR  requested  the 

(25)  ILO CEACR is yet to examine the 2023 Labour Code. 
(26)  https://worldeconomics.com/Informal-Economy/  
(27)  https://www.ilo.org/normlex-permalink/comment/en/4321374  
(28)  It is a warning sign that the CEACR has in its report published in February 2023 listed Uzbekistan in 
relation  to  its  implementation  of  ILO  Convention  No.  87  among  its  “List  of  the  cases  in  which  the 
Committee has requested a full reply to its comments outside of the reporting cycle.” (CEACR report 
2023, p. 70). 

(29)  https://www.ilo.org/normlex-permalink/comment/en/4321426  

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government to amend the legislation (in consultation with social partners) to ensure full 
recognition of the right to strike.  

No cases are pending with the ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA). The 
Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan (FPU) has raised issues with the ILO concerning 
the above-mentioned matters and observations alleging acts of anti-union interference and 
discrimination,  including  dismissals,  in  the  agricultural  sector,  as  well  as  issues  of 
imprisonment  of  trade  union  activists,  which  were  raised  by  the  International  Union  of 
Food,  Agricultural,  Hotel,  Restaurant,  Catering,  Tobacco,  and  Allied  Workers’ 
Association (IUF). Both are pending government reply. 

5.2.2  Abolition of Forced Labour (Conventions No. 29 and No. 105) 

Uzbekistan  has  taken  measures  to  prevent  trafficking  in  persons  and  protect  victims  of 
trafficking. The 2008 Law on Trafficking in Persons was revised in 2020 to improve access 
to the government’s services and to enhance protection for victims of trafficking, including 
children, following the 2019 ratification of the 2014 Protocol to ILO Convention No. 29. 
The  work  to  combat  trafficking  in  persons  in  practice  has  continued.  During  the 
consideration  of  the  5th  periodic  report  under  the  CRC  in  September  2022,  the  Uzbek 
authorities informed that 140 people had been imprisoned due to trafficking and 218 people 
had been identified as victims. 

The Code of Administrative Offences and the Criminal Code punish certain offences such 
as  defamation  or  violation  of  the  procedure  for  organising  and  conducting  assemblies, 
meetings,  street  processions  or  demonstrations  with  sanctions  that  involve  compulsory 
labour,  which  may  be  used  in  practice  as  punishment  for  the  expression  of  political  or 
ideological views or participation in strikes. While no sanctions of compulsory labour were 
applied under these provisions of the Criminal Code in 2018-2019, the CEACR in 2020 (30) 
requested  the  Government  to  continue  to  provide  information  on  their  application  in 
practice, including copies of any court decisions defining or illustrating the scope of these 
sections, so as to enable the CEACR to ascertain whether they are applied in a manner 
compatible with ILO Convention No. 105. 

Until some ten years ago, the government of Uzbekistan had imposed a state system of 
forced  labour  for  cotton  production,  “massive,  systematic,  ubiquitous  and  truly 
nationwide”  which  involved  students,  military  personnel  and  servicemen,  doctors, 
teachers, employees of state enterprises, and other workers. This system has since been 
abolished  and  significant  progress  made  towards  the  full  abolition  of  child  and  forced 
labour in the cotton harvest. Since 2016,  a series of ILO reports (supported by the EU) 
Third Party Monitoring and Assessment of Measures to Reduce the Risk of Child Labour 
and Forced Labour during the cotton harvests (TPM report) have indicated a steady decline 
in the use of child and forced labour in the cotton harvest and improving conditions.  In 
March 2020, the production targets and quota system in the cotton sector were abolished 
by Presidential Decree. This paved the way for the complete eradication of forced labour 
practice. The 2021 TPM report concluded that Uzbek cotton was free from systemic child 
and forced labour (31). All remaining restrictions on international trade of Uzbek cotton 
were  lifted  during  2022.  Starting  2022,  Uzbekistan  is  responsible  for  establishing  state 
monitoring  of  the  cotton  harvest.  Preliminary  results  of  the  2022  harvest  campaign 

(30)  https://www.ilo.org/normlex-permalink/comment/en/4054899  
(31)  Third-party monitoring of child labour and forced labour during the 2020 cotton harvest in Uzbekistan / 
International  Labour  Organization,  Fundamental  Principles  and  Rights  at  Work  Branch 
(FUNDAMENTALS), Geneva: ILO, 2022.   

Page | 15 

 
 
emphasise that, despite acknowledged positive trends, risks remain in the cotton industry 
with regards to the respect of human rights.  

Work and cooperation with ILO continue on the full eradication of forced labour, including 
in  the  construction  sector (32).  Uzbekistan  further  ratified  the  Safety  and  Health  in 
Construction Convention No. 167 in 2022. 

5.2.3  Minimum Age for Work and Worst Forms of Child Labour (Conventions No. 138 

and No. 182) 

There are no outstanding comments related to ILO Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age, 
following the CEACR conclusions of 2019. As regards ILO Convention No. 182 on the 
Worst Forms of Child Labour, in 2019 Uzbekistan’s government informed the CEACR 
that it was implementing projects to fight against human trafficking, labour exploitation 
and illegal migration and to improve access to pre-school education in collaboration with 
the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the World Bank. 
These Conventions are scheduled for reporting again in 2023.  

CEACR requested the government to continue to ensure the elimination of forced labour 
and  hazardous  work  of  children  under  age  18  in  cotton  production,  including  through 
awareness raising and monitoring of child labour during the cotton harvest. A survey of 
child and forced labour in the silk sector was conducted together with the ILO in 2021. 
Uzbekistan  has  also  been  working  with  the  ILO  regarding  the  monitoring  of  working 
conditions including forced labour in the construction sector. The findings were presented 
to the Uzbek authorities in November 2022 and the report disseminated by the Ministry of 
Employment in the beginning of 2023.  

While the minimum age complies with ILO Convention No. 138, according to the Uzbek 
government, there were further tripartite discussions on the meaning of “light work” for 
those  aged  14  and  15  years  old.  The  list  of  hazardous  jobs  for  which  employment  of 
persons under the age of 18 is prohibited was last updated in 2009. While the National 
Commission on Trafficking Persons and Forced Labour was created by the President of 
Uzbekistan in 2019, there is currently no strategy and/or action plan to combat child labour. 

5.2.4  Equal Remuneration and Elimination of Discrimination (Conventions No. 100 and 

No. 111) 

In 2022, CEACR (33)  noted with  satisfaction that section 244 of the new  Labour Code, 
which was adopted in March 2022 and will enter into force on 30 April 2023, explicitly 
refers to “ensuring equal pay for men and women for work of equal value”. Nonetheless, 
CEACR in  2021 (34)  had  pointed out  that while Article 6 of the Labour Code prohibits 
direct  discrimination  based  on  a  range  of  circumstances  it  does  not  refer  explicitly  to 
discrimination on grounds of political opinion, colour and national extraction, or indirect 
discrimination  in  line  with  the  principles  of  Convention  No.  111  on  Discrimination 
(Employment and Occupation). The new Labour Code does not appear to fully address this 
gap, as issues remain with regards to including political opinion as a prohibited ground for 
discrimination,  as  well  as  with  respect  to  the  definition  and  prohibition  of  sexual 
harassment against both men and women. 

The  2019  Law  on  Guarantees  of  Equal  Rights  and  Opportunities  for  Women  and  Men 
provides for cooperation of public authorities with the private sector to promote gender 

(32)  https://mehnat.uz/uploads/news_content/files/2023/02/06/3IUU6tKWOH1.pdf 
(33)  https://www.ilo.org/normlex-permalink/comment/en/4315158  
(34)  https://www.ilo.org/normlex-permalink/comment/en/4122390  

Page | 16 

 
 
equality  in  the  labour  market,  and  states  that  gender-based  discrimination  including 
discrimination  based  on  family  responsibilities,  is  prohibited.  Low  enrolment  of  young 
women in higher education (6.5-10% over the past 20 years) worsens their situation on the 
labour market in Uzbekistan: despite significant improvements, women’s unemployment 
rate is 7.7% in 2020, whereas for men it accounts for 4% (35).  

The  Committee  of  Experts  asked  the  government  to  increase  its  efforts  to  promote  the 
employment  of  persons  with  disabilities,  including  through  quotas.  According  to  UN 
data (36),  7.1%  of  persons  with  disabilities  aged  16-59  were  officially  employed  in 
Uzbekistan in 2019 and the employment rate of women and men with disabilities were 4.4 
and 8.9% respectively. Improvements have been made in the legal framework for persons 
with  disabilities,  e.g.  through  adoption  of  amendments  to  the  Labour  Code  in  2022  to 
provide additional guarantees to persons with disabilities including job creation, special 
training programmes, the employer’s obligation to accept employment agency referrals. 
Moreover,  employment  quotas  were  adopted  in  the  Law  on  the  Rights  of  Persons  with 
Disabilities which came into force on 16 January 2021.  

Conclusions and priorities 

Major  efforts  in  adapting  the  national  legislation  to  international  standards  are  being 
made  including  through  the  2022  amendment  of  the  Labour  Code.  Gaps  related  to 
freedom of association, forced labour, and equality still remain, in particular regarding 
the explicit prohibition of discrimination on the basis of political opinion. 

Discrepancies between the Law on Public Associations of 1991 (amended in May 2022) 
and the Law on Trade Unions of 2019 should be eliminated to ensure effective freedom 
of association, in particular to reduce to the strictest minimum the number of workers 
necessary to form a trade union and abolish unjustified requirements of oversight and 
control over trade unions. The revision of the Criminal Code is an opportunity to remove 
outdated  forms  of  criminal  penalty  which  include  forced  or  compulsory  labour, 
including for participation in peaceful strikes.  

Monitoring  and  oversight  activities  also  need  to  be  improved.  Overall,  the  scope  of 
action of the State Labour Inspectorate should include all economic entities. The number 
of  inspectors  need  to  be  significantly  increased  and  limitations  on  the  functions  and 
powers of labour inspectors removed, in line with ILO Convention No. 81 on Labour 
Inspection.  Ensuring  continued,  unhindered,  and  unannounced  access  of 
the 
Ombudsperson to all places of detention could contribute to effectively end the use of 
forced  prison  labour.  A  robust  monitoring  system  with  the  full  participation  of  civil 
society will also be important to avoid return of forced and child labour to the cotton 
harvest. The establishment of effective and sustainable national monitoring will need 
independent trade unions and NGOs, media, and journalists, including those monitoring 
the  cotton  harvest  and  textile  production,  as  well  as  the  ability  to  self-organise  and 
operate freely.  

A full analysis of the gender pay gap would improve clarity and transparency in relation 
to ILO Convention No. 100 related to equal remuneration for work of equal value. In 
addition, the adoption of a national strategy to effectively implement the abolition of 
child labour by 2025 (SDG8), including based on the information gathered through a 

(35)  https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.TOTL.FE.NE.ZS?locations=UZ 
(36)  UN  Uzbekistan  (2019).  Situation  Analysis  on  Children  and  Adults  with  Disabilities  in  Uzbekistan 

https://www.unicef.org/uzbekistan/en/reports/situation-analysis-children-and-adults-disabilities-
uzbekistan. 

Page | 17 

 
 
child labour survey covering all sectors, including the informal economy, would be a 
welcome development. 

5.3  UN  Conventions  on  Environmental  Protection  and  Climate  Change 

(Conventions 16-23) 

5.3.1  Convention  on  International  Trade  in  Endangered  Species  of  Wild  Flora  and 

Fauna (CITES) 

In  October  2021,  Uzbekistan  submitted  its  further  revised  legislation,  in  line  with  the 
CITES requirements, following exchanges with the CITES Secretariat and feedback on the 
legislation  initially  revised  in  2018 (37).  This  should  contribute  to  obtaining  Category 1 
status. Currently, the Secretariat placed Uzbekistan’s national legislation in Category 2, 
indicating  it  was  believed  to  meet  part  but  not  all  the  four  requirements  for  effective 
implementation of CITES.  

Uzbekistan  has  submitted  its  2021  annual  report  on  implementation  of  CITES  on  28 
November 2022, but its annual illegal trade report for the year 2021 (due date 31 October 
2022) has not yet been submitted. Uzbekistan’s so far latest biennial implementation report 
on  2018-2019,  submitted  in  2020,  includes  a  mention  of  significant  seizures  of  CITES 
specimens. The 6th National Report on the Conservation of Biological Diversity states that 
it  is  “next  to  impossible  to  specify  actual  scope  of  illegal  hunting”  but  also  identifies 
poaching as one of the main reasons for the reduction in the number of rare species and 
threatened mammals. This is confirmed by reports from NGOs, for example identifying 
that uncontrolled illegal hunting on the critically endangered Saiga Antilope has led to a 
steep fall in Saiga numbers. 

5.3.2  Waste  Conventions:  Basel  Convention  on  the  Control  of  Transboundary 
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal and Stockholm Convention 
on Persistent Organic Pollutants 

Following the approval  of the Waste Management Strategy in April 2019 and the 2021 
resolution  “On  measures  to  further  improve  the  order  of  import  into  the  Republic  of 
Uzbekistan  and  export  from  its  territory  of  environmentally  hazardous  products  and 
waste”, a significant number of new laws has been adopted, and the State Committee on 
Ecology  and  Environment  Protection’s  (SCEEP)  responsibilities  for  monitoring  and 
reporting were strengthened. However, this focuses on control of municipal solid waste. 
While  the  President’s  administration  has  defined  as  one  of  its  priorities  to  ensure 
ecologically  safe  use  of  toxic  chemical  and  radioactive  materials,  to  date  no  updated 
legislation has been adopted on these nor on other hazardous waste. 

EU–Uzbekistan Development Cooperation on Waste Management 

Currently  the  EU  and  Uzbekistan’s  authorities  are  preparing  a  programme  on  Sound 
Management  of  Hazardous  Chemicals  Technical  Assistance.  It  will  focus  on  enhancing  the 
effectiveness of mechanisms and tools for the management of hazardous chemicals, wastes and 
reduction  of  use  of  dangerous  pesticides  in  agriculture,  including  agriculture  practices  and 
awareness for reducing the use of pesticides. Results of these activities should lead to Uzbekistan 
becoming a State Party to the remaining waste conventions (Rotterdam, Minamata); improved 
institutional  capacity  for  sound  chemicals  management;  better  data  on  hazardous  wastes 
allowing  development  of  a  national  waste  management  strategy;  permitted  hazardous  waste 
treatment facilities; scale up of sustainable practices in the agricultural sector leading to reduced 

(37)  https://cites.org/eng/parties/country-profiles/uz/compliance-status  

Page | 18 

 
 
 
risks to farmers and consumers from the use of pesticides and to food production relying on less 
toxic  pesticides;  and  increased  institutional  and  public  awareness  of  the  risks  from  the 
uninformed use of hazardous chemicals. 

In  March  2022,  the  government  of  Uzbekistan  submitted  the  report  on  transboundary 
movements  of  hazardous  waste  in  reference  to  national  emissions  of  2019.  The  report 
illustrates  the  poor  implementation  status  of  the  Basel  Convention.  It  mentions  that 
Uzbekistan  has  no  restrictions  on  exports  or  on  imports  of  hazardous  waste  for  final 
disposal or recovery, nor for the transit of waste through the country. Hazardous waste is 
defined in  the Law on  Waste of 2002 (amended in  2019), and data is  reported, but  the 
classification is not in line with the requirements of the Basel Convention.  

In  June  2019,  Uzbekistan  ratified  the  Stockholm  Convention  on  Persistent  Organic 
Pollutants (POPs) and it entered into force in September 2019. The country submitted its 
first national report in October 2022. Under Articles 5 and 7 of the Convention, Uzbekistan 
adopted a National Action Plan, including implementation measures in November 2021 
and  submitted  it  to  the  POPs  Secretariat  in  March  2022.  The  submission  of  updated 
national  POPs  inventories  will  be  a  welcome  next  step.  Addressing  POPs  is  becoming 
increasingly important for Uzbekistan, given that it is rich in mineral resources (such as 
lithium, cobalt, and graphite) and metals, for which there is a growing demand from the 
clean  energy  transition  related  sectors.  As  in  many  other  parts  of  the  world,  the  use  of 
chemicals  for  mining  such  minerals  and  metals  has  caused  serious  environmental 
problems.  Increased  monitoring  and  control,  as  regulated  under  the  Stockholm 
Convention, could help address and avoid further environmental risks. 

5.3.3  Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 

Significant  developments  have  taken  place  in  recent  years  in  Uzbekistan  in  terms  of 
biodiversity protection. In 2018, the country issued its sixth national report (6NR) under 
CBD and in June 2019 adopted its second National Biodiversity Strategy 2019-2028 (38) 
and Action Plan (NBSAP); the previous one was from 1998.  

In its 6NR Uzbekistan’s authorities recognised that the fast economic growth in the country 
had been achieved by intensive use of natural resources. They have set the conservation of 
biodiversity  as  one  of  the  priorities  of  the  state  environmental  policy,  while  ensuring 
sustainable development. The report also recognised that developments had been slower 
than targeted, identifying the lack of scientific information about the state and significance 
of biodiversity, problems in systematic monitoring, and lack of capacity among the major 
barriers were to be addressed.  

A national red list was developed by the SCEEP in 2019 and had been officially submitted 
to  the  International  Union  for  Conservation  of  Nature  (IUCN) (39),  which  Uzbekistan 
formally joined in 2021. Most biodiversity monitoring is conducted in Protected Natural 
Areas (PNAs), particularly those with legal status and dedicated personnel.  

Uzbekistan  ratified  the  Cartagena  Protocol  on  Biosafety  in  October  2019.  Given  the 
relatively  recent  ratification,  Uzbekistan  has  not  yet  issued  a  national  report  on  the 
implementation  of  its  safe  handling,  transport,  and  use  of  living  modified  organisms 

(38)  https://leap.unep.org/countries/uz/national-legislation/strategy-biodiversity-conservation-republic-

uzbekistan-period  

(39)  One of the key requirements of the CBD is to report which species are at risk of extinction. The Red List 
of the International Union for Conservation of Nature is widely recognised as the most objective and 
authoritative listing of these threatened species. 

Page | 19 

 
 
 
(LMOs). It has also not yet submitted any information to the Biosafety Clearing House 
that facilitates the exchange of information. 

5.3.4  Conventions on Climate Change and Protection of the Ozone Layer (40) 

In recent years, Uzbekistan has made good progress in climate change reporting, although 
implementation  challenges 
first  Nationally  Determined 
remain.  The  country’s 
Contribution  (NDC)  under  the  Paris  Agreement  was  submitted  in  November  2018  and 
updated in October 2021 (41). The updated version has considerably more substance and a 
more ambitious target, committing to reduce national Green House Gas (GHG) intensity 
in 2030 compared to 2010 levels by 35% instead of 10%. The country’s 1st Biennial Update 
Report (BUR) published in 2021 again provides substantially more detail. Uzbekistan’s 
latest national communication (NC3) dates from 21 February 2017, and the country has 
not yet submitted its fourth national communication, although the requirement is to report 
every four years. The First Biennial Update Report was only submitted on 5 July 2021, 
although the reporting deadline was in 2014. 

According to the updated NDC, the energy sector was responsible for more than 75% of 
total  national  GHG  emissions  in  2017,  followed  by  18%  from  agricultural  activities. 
Consequently,  reduction  of  emissions  from  the  energy  sector  is  a  strong  focus  of  the 
country’s  mitigation  efforts.  The  Strategy  of  October  2019  for  the  Transition  of  the 
Republic of Uzbekistan to a Green Economy 2019-2030 (42) sets specific targets for 2030, 
including the first NDC GHG intensity reduction target (-10%), a twofold increase in the 
energy efficiency index, and an increase of renewable energy to a minimum of 25%  of 
total electricity production.  

In  terms  of  climate  change  impacts  and  adaptation,  the  main  risks  for  Uzbekistan  are 
deficiency of water resources, growth in land desertification and degradation, increase in 
occurrence  of  droughts  and  other  dangerous  phenomena,  leading  to  instability  of 
agricultural production and threatening the country’s food security. The Water Resource 
Management  and  Irrigation  Development  Strategy  of  Uzbekistan  2021-2023  of  March 
2021 is being implemented, aiming to triple the use of water-saving irrigation technologies. 

Regarding ozone depleting substances (ODS), the SCEEP was assigned to implement the 
Montreal  Protocol,  including  issuing  import  and  export  permits  for  ODSs  and  ODS-
containing  products,  while  the  Customs  Committee  is  designated  to  monitor  relevant 
imports and exports. Resolution 17 plans all imports to be fully banned by 2030, which is 
fully in line with the agreements under the Montreal Protocol. 

Conclusions and priorities 

In  recent  years,  Uzbekistan  has  made  good  progress  in  protecting  biodiversity  and 
fighting  climate  change.  The  focus  should  now  be  on  the  implementation  of  various 
commitments, such as the updated NDC and targets set in the Strategy for the Transition 
of the Republic of Uzbekistan to a Green Economy 2019-2030. 

The  implementation  of  the  Montreal  Protocol  is  well  on  track,  and  consumption  of 
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs) has been strongly  reduced, even though  the Kigali 

(40)  United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on  Climate  Change,  Kyoto  Protocol  to  the  United  Nations 
Framework  Convention  on  Climate  Change,  and  Montreal  Protocol  on  Substances  that  Deplete  the 
Ozone Layer. 

(41)  NDC Registry, https://www4.unfccc.int/sites/NDCStaging/Pages/All.aspx  
(42)  https://leap.unep.org/countries/uz/national-legislation/strategy-transition-republic-uzbekistan-green-

economy-period-2019  

Page | 20 

 
 
Amendment  has  not  yet  been  ratified.  The  implementation  of  CITES  and  the  Basel 
Convention is lagging behind. The Stockholm Convention was ratified in June 2019; 
improving data collection should support its implementation in the country. 

5.4  UN Conventions on Good Governance (Conventions 24-27)  

5.4.1 

International Drug Control Conventions (43) 

Uzbekistan  is  largely  compliant  with  the  three  international  drug  control  conventions. 
According to the monitoring body, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), in 
recent  years  Uzbekistan  has  complied  with  all  the  reporting  requirements  under  these 
conventions.  In March 2019, the INCB undertook its first  (and so  far, only) mission to 
Uzbekistan and observed that “Uzbekistan has gradually strengthened its efforts in drug 
control and the clearly stated commitment to effective implementation.” 

EU–Uzbekistan Development Cooperation on Drug Policy 

The EU–Central Asia Drug Action Program (CADAP) ensures the implementation of the EU–
Central Asia Plan on Drugs. Within this framework Central Asian countries started to adopt EU 
methods and instruments in drug policy and substance abuse.  

The  overall  objective  of  the  new  phase  of  CADAP7  (February  2021  to  August  2024)  is  to 
contribute to the reduction of drug use and support Central Asian governments’ drug policies, 
and  more  specifically  to  improve  access  to  quality  drug  demand  reduction  interventions.  In 
cooperation  with  World  Health  Organization  (WHO)  and  UN  Office  on  Drugs  and  Crime 
(UNODC),  CADAP  supports  the  Central  Asian  states  with  technical  assistance  for  the 
implementation  of  the  International  Standards  of  Treatment  of  Drug  Use  Disorders.  The 
relevance of CADAP has also increased with the emerging use of new psychoactive substances. 
The  programme  provides  the  tools  to  tackle  the  problem,  facilitating  national  and  regional 
cooperation among all 5 Central Asia countries. 

Reducing the supply of drugs has become more challenging as illicit drug markets have 
become  more  complex,  particularly  with  the  emergence  of  synthetic  drugs.  The  non-
medical use of pharmaceutical drugs has also increased rapidly. Accurate data relating to 
drug use is limited. It is suspected that the number of people affected by drug use is far 
higher than estimated and INCB has noted an increase of registered drug users in 2020 
compared to 2019. The Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Use Disorders was 
approved  on  27  October  2020  and  regulations  on  procedures  for  interaction  among 
healthcare, law enforcement, and labour authorities in providing treatment services to drug 
users are under preparation. National drug strategies include activities aimed at drug use 
prevention, treatment, and HIV prevention amongst drug users.  

5.4.2  UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) 

Uzbekistan has been reviewed under one review cycle of UNCAC. The first review (2016) 
indicated good practices such as the establishment of an inter-agency working group, the 
establishment of acting as an intermediary in bribery as a separate offence in the Criminal 
Code, and the approach taken to mutual legal assistance. It also identified a list of areas for 
improvement including extensions to the definition of offences, full implementation of the 
UNCAC articles on bribery in the private sector, obstruction of justice, seizures, witness 

(43)  UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), 
and UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988). 

Page | 21 

 
 
 
 
and  whistle-blower  protection,  and  bank  secrecy.  The  second  UNCAC  implementation 
review was planned in 2020 but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Uzbekistan  has,  in  general,  a  satisfactory  legal  framework  on  anti-corruption.  Relevant 
provisions  spread  over  the  legislation  have  been  complemented  by  the  Law  on  Anti-
corruption  of  June  2021,  complemented  by  several  presidential  decrees.  The  Law 
establishes  detailed  measures  on  corruption  prevention  as  well  as  detection  and 
suppression of corruption offences, and the mandates for the various entities involved in 
the fight against corruption. The newly established (in June 2020) Anti-Corruption Agency 
of Uzbekistan (ACA) appears a credible agency, but it has no legislative affirmation and 
weak enforcement powers. Certain anti-corruption prevention work has been carried out 
through reforms in the Ministry of Justice, including centralised public service centres and 
online services. Amendments to the Constitution are being discussed and would also lead 
to changes in the legal regime for anti-corruption measures: it would vest the Parliament 
with the power to consider the annual national report on combating corruption, introduce 
a  procedure  for  the  selection  of  the  head  of  the  ACA,  further  enhance  openness  and 
transparency, and define civil society actors playing a role in the fight against corruption. 
Legislation tackling specifically corruption of high-ranking officials is still not in place. 

Uzbekistan has made significant progress in civil service employment with respect to its 
transparency,  accessibility,  and  funding.  However,  nepotism  remains  widespread  and 
regulations relating to conflict of interests are rarely enforced. Efforts have been made to 
ensure competitive and open procedures in public procurement, and these reforms appear 
to  be  among  the  most  effective  in  the  country.  Nevertheless,  the  authorities  provide 
exceptions  from  the  general  procurement  rules,  which  create  corruption  risks.  Another 
point of concern is the safe return of assets gained through corruption. The management 
of stolen funds, once repatriated, must be subject to transparent oversight.  

Since 2012 the Corruption Perception Index for Uzbekistan has been slowly but steadily 
improving and in 2022 reached the score 31/100 (it improved by 3 points in comparison to 
2021) and the country was listed on 126th place in the group of 180 countries (44). 

Conclusions and priorities 

Uzbekistan generally complies with its international obligations related to drug control; 
the  government  is  encouraged  to  pursue  balanced  supply  and  demand  measures  and 
address drug-related harm. Further efforts in practice, including on the implementation 
of the 2020 Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Drug Use Disorders are welcome.  

There  are  improvements  in  compliance  with  international  standards  related  to  anti-
corruption.  Significant  challenges  in  effective  implementation  remain,  notably  with 
regards to high-level corruption. Efforts are needed in four main directions: legislation, 
prevention,  prosecution,  and  awareness.  The  legal  framework  needs  improvement  to 
create  a  solid  anticorruption  and  integrity  system  while  preventive  anticorruption 
institutions  at  national,  regional,  district,  and  local  levels  need  to  be  empowered.  In 
addition,  strengthened  investigation  and  prosecution  capacities  and  anti-money 
laundering mechanisms of the law enforcement and criminal justice institutions would 
have a positive impact on fighting corruption, while public awareness and the promotion 
of zero-tolerance towards corruption should continue to be developed. 

(44)  A country’s score is the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0-100, where 0 means 
highly corrupt and 100 means very clean. A country’s rank is its position relative to the other countries 
in the index. Ranks can change merely if the number of countries included in the index changes. The 
rank is therefore not as important as the score in terms of indicating the level of corruption in that country. 
https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2022/index/uzb  

Page | 22 

 
 
6  ANNEX: UZBEKISTAN – TREATY RATIFICATION AND REPORTING  

Convention 

Ratification status 
Reservations 

Compliance with reporting obligations 
to monitoring bodies 

Human rights conventions 
1. Convention on the 
Prevention and Punishment of 
the Crime of Genocide 
2. International Convention on 
the Elimination of All Forms of 
Racial Discrimination 
3. International Covenant on 
Civil and Political Rights 

4. International Covenant on 
Economic Social and Cultural 
Rights 
5. Convention on the 
Elimination of All Forms of 
Discrimination Against Women 
6. Convention Against Torture 
and other Cruel, Inhuman or 
Degrading Treatment or 
Punishment 
7. Convention on the Rights of 
the Child 

Labour conventions (45) 
8. Convention concerning 
Forced or Compulsory Labour, 
No. 29 

9. Convention concerning 
Freedom of Association and 
Protection of the Right to 
Organise, No. 87 

10. Convention concerning the 
Application of the Principles of 
the Right to Organise and to 
Bargain Collectively, No. 98 
11. Convention concerning 
Equal Remuneration of Men 
and Women Workers for Work 
of Equal Value, No. 100 
12.  Convention  concerning  the 
Abolition of Forced Labour, No. 
105 

13. Convention concerning 
Discrimination in Respect of 
Employment and Occupation, 
No. 111 
14. Convention concerning 
Minimum Age for Admission 
to Employment, No. 138 

Acceded: 09.09.1999 
No reservations 

No reporting obligations 

Acceded: 28.09.1995 
No reservations 

Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Last report submitted on: 03.11.2022. 

Acceded: 28.09.1995 
No reservations 

Acceded: 28.09.1995 
No reservations 

Acceded: 19.07.1995 
No reservations 

Acceded: 28.09.1995 
No reservations 

Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Last report submitted on: 10.01.2019. 
•  Next report due in 2026. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Last report submitted on: 19.06.2019. 
•  Next report due on: 31.03.2027. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Last report submitted on: 29.11.2019. 
•  Next report due in: February 2026. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Last report submitted on: 16.01.2018. 
•  Next report due on: 6.12.2023. 

Acceded: 29.06.1994 
No reservations 

Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Last report submitted on: 3.04.2019. 
•  Next report due on: 28.07.2027. 

Ratified: 13.07.1992 
(2014 Protocol to the 
Convention ratified on 
16.09.2019) 
Ratified: 12.12.2016 

Ratified: 13.07.1992 

Ratified: 13.07.1992 

Ratified: 15.12.1997 

Ratified: 13.07.1992 

Ratified: 06.03.2009 
Minimum age specified: 15 
years 

Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments in 2019. 
•  Last report received in 2019. 
•  Next report due in 2023. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments in 2022. 
•  Last report received in 2022. 
•  Next report due in 2023 (out of cycle, 

following 2022 request). 

Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments in 2022. 
•  Last report received in 2022. 
•  Next report due in 2025. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments in 2022. 
•  Last report received in 2021. 
•  Next report due in 2024. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments in 2020. 
•  Last report received in 2020. 
•  Next report due in 2023. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments in 2022. 
•  Last report received in 2021. 
•  Next report due in 2024. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments in 2019. 
•  Last report received in 2019. 
•  Next report due in 2023. 

(45)  Reservations  do  not  apply  in  the  ILO  system,  so  there  is  no  relevance  to  providing  information  on 

reservations under each of these conventions. 

Page | 23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Convention 

15. Convention concerning the 
Prohibition and Immediate 
Action for the Elimination of 
the Worst Forms of Child 
Labour, No. 182 
Environmental conventions 
16. Convention on International 
Trade in Endangered Species of 
Wild Fauna and Flora 

Ratification status 
Reservations 
Ratified: 24.06.2008 

Compliance with reporting obligations 
to monitoring bodies 

Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest CEACR comments in 2019. 
•  Last report received in 2019. 
•  Next report due in 2023. 

Acceded: 10.07.1997 
No reservations 

Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Last (2021) Annual Report submitted 

on 28.11.2022. 

•  ARs for 2016-2020 also submitted. 
•  Next (2022) Annual Report due 

31.10.2023. 

•  Annual Illegal Trade report 2021 due 

31.10.2022 has not yet been submitted. 
Prior reports for 2016-2020 have been 
submitted (46). 

•  Biennial or Implementation Reports 
lagging behind. Last (2018-19) IR 
submitted on 06.11.2020. Prior IRs for 
2013-2014, 2010-2011 and 2009-2010 
submitted. IR on 2018-2020 was due 
05.03.2021 (47). 

Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Annual data for 2021 and prior years 

has been submitted.  

•  An ODS licensing system has been 
established but an HFC licensing 
system is not in place. 

Compliant with reporting obligation 
•  Latest (2021) National Report (NR) 

submitted on 25.04.2023. 

•  Previous NRs for 2013-2020 submitted 

with delays.  

•  Next NR (2022) due 31.12.2023. 
Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  Latest National Report (6NR) 

submitted in 2018. 

•  Revised National Biodiversity Strategy 
and Action Plan (NBSAP2) submitted 
on 11.06.2019.  

Partially compliant with reporting 
obligations  
•  First NDC submitted 09.11.2018. 
•  Updated NDC submitted 30.10.2021. 
•  Latest NC (NC3) submitted 21.02.2017 
(NC1 in 1999, NC2 in 2008). NC4 not 
submitted on time (NCs due every 4 
years). 

•  Biennial Update Report (BUR) 

submitted 05.07.2021 (earlier BURs not 
submitted). 

•  National Inventory Reports submitted 

on same dates as NC2 and NC3. 
No reporting obligation due yet 
•  Date of becoming a Party was 

23.01.2020. Latest reporting deadline 
for Parties was 01.10.2019. 

•  Next national report due in 2023. 

17. Montreal Protocol on 
Substances that Deplete the 
Ozone Layer 

Acceded: 18.05.1993 
No reservations 

18. Basel Convention on the 
Control of Transboundary 
Movements of Hazardous 
Wastes and their Disposal 

Acceded: 07.02.1996 
No reservations 

19. Convention on Biological 
Diversity 

Acceded: 19.07.1995 
No reservations 

20. The United Nations 
Framework Convention on 
Climate Change  

Acceded: 20.06.1993 
No reservations 

21. Cartagena Protocol on 
Biosafety 

Acceded: 25.10.2019 
No reservations 

(46)  Reporting mandatory, but not subject to compliance procedure. 
(47)  Idem. 

Page | 24 

 
 
 
 
Convention 

22. Stockholm Convention on 
Persistent Organic Pollutants 

Ratification status 
Reservations 
Acceded: 28.06.2019 
No reservations 

Ratified: 12.10.1999 
No reservations 

Acceded: 24.08.1995 
No reservations 
Acceded: 12.07.1995 
No reservations 
Acceded: 24.08.1995 
No reservations 

23. Kyoto Protocol to the 
United Nations Framework 
Convention on Climate Change 
Good governance conventions   
24. United Nations Single 
Convention on Narcotic Drugs 
25. United Nations Convention 
on Psychotropic Substances 
26. United Nations Convention 
against Illicit Traffic in 
Narcotic Drugs and 
Psychotropic Substances 
27. United Nations Convention 
against Corruption 

Acceded: 29.07.2008 
Reservation to Article 66 of 
the Convention 

Compliance with reporting obligations 
to monitoring bodies 

Partially compliant with reporting 
obligation 
•  First National Report submitted in 

October 2022. 

•  National Action plan, including 

implementation measures submitted in 
October 2021. 

•  Updates to address COP4 and COP5 
amendments submitted 15.03.2022. 
•  Other updates addressing COPs 6-8 due 

26.09.2021 not submitted. 

•  Update to address COP9 not yet due. 
No reporting obligations 

Compliant with reporting obligations 
•  All reports and statistics (incl. 

voluntary ones) provided since 2019. 

Review by INCB 
•  INCB mission took place in March 

2019. 

•  No indication of non-compliance in 

INCB reports. 

No reporting obligations 
•  Notifications made. 
Review by UNODC & peer review 
•  Latest executive summary published in 

2016 (not full report). 

•  2nd cycle review ongoing (status 

unclear). 

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