International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Press Release
FIDH welcomes the concluding
observations of the Human Rights Committee recalling the obligations of Uzbekistan regarding
the respect of human rights.
Paris - New York, April 2, 2010 - The Human
Rights Committee of the United Nations publicized on March 25, 2010 its concluding observations
relative to the third periodic
report of Uzbekistan on the application of the
International Covenant on civil and political rights.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) welcomes
the recommendations of the committee
regarding the appalling
situation of human rights in Uzbekistan and the fact
that it took into account the concerns expressed by
NGOs. This strong message
given to the Uzbek government now
needs to go hand in hand with an appropriate
pressure of the international community so as to ensure full compliance to the Covenant.
Some of the main preoccupations of the committee
are the issues of accountability
and impunity, especially regarding the practice of torture. The question of the Andijan Massacres of 2005 was also addressed
since the committee prompted the Uzbek authorities to
conduct “an independent investigation”
and ensure prosecution and punishment of those found guilty. At the same time,
the right to due process was
widely emphasized by the UN
body.
FIDH especially welcomes
the fact that the committee
urges Uzbekistan to “allow
representatives of international organizations and NGOs to enter and work in the
country and should guarantee
journalists and human rights defenders in Uzbekistan
the right to freedom of expression in the conduct of their activities”. Indeed, freedom of opinion, expression and association is
not ensured in Uzbekistan. Nine
members of one of FIDH’s member organisations,
Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU) are still in prison
in critical health conditions on the basis of fabricated
criminal cases. The
situation of HRSU is emblematic of the situation of
human rights defenders who face threats,
violence and risk of arbitrary
detention.
The question of child labor, put forward in a report published by Human Rights in Central Asia
in coordination with FIDH was
also acknowledged by the committee which urged the government to ensure that the new laws which were recently
voted are effectively applied. Finally, the issues of discrimination against women and on the basis of
sexual orientation were underscored by the committee as important points of concern.
FIDH urges the Uzbek government
to implement as soon as possible the recommendations of
the Committee, especially regarding the situation of human rights defenders,
impunity, and accountability.
FIDH will continue, with
the help of its leagues, to monitor the conformity
of the situation on the ground to the international covenant on civil and political
rights.
Gaël Grilhot : +33-1 43 55 90 19
--
Gaël Grilhot
Responsable du service de presse
– Press office Director
Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'Homme (FIDH)
International Federation for Human
Rights (FIDH)
+33-1 43 55 90 19 - +33-6 72 284 294
http://www.fidh. org – www.blogfidh. org