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Press Release
24 May 2022
United Nations and the Government of Uzbekistan Launch Joint Programme on Rights of People with Disabilities
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Press Release
12 May 2022
Strengthening relations through cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
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Story
04 May 2022
Impact of chemicals on children’s health and development
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Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Uzbekistan
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Uzbekistan:
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30 June 2021
SDG week 2021: Key messages from UN speakers and experts
In total, 47 UN representatives participated with expert presentation and speeches in the 16-roundtable discussion on each National SDG during the SDG Week.
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16 June 2021
Technovation Girls Uzbekistan: Celebration Event 2021
Teams from all over Uzbekistan participated in the project exhibition and celebration event to award best project in different thematic areas.
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Publication
13 July 2021
Joint UN-Government Steering Committee and Partners' Meeting
This presentation highlights key results of development cooperation between the UN and Government for 2020, including on COVID-19 response and recovery; informs about planned results of the UN Country Team and endorse the Joint Workplans for 2021-2022; reviews and endorses the implementation architecture of the Cooperation Framework (Results Groups, Technical Groups); and reviews Multi-Year Funding framework of the Cooperation Framework, including funding gaps and priorities for resource mobilization.
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Press Release
09 July 2021
Advisory Committee on sustainable development of the Aral Sea Region gains momentum
The Third Meeting of the Advisory Committee on sustainable development of the Aral Sea Region in Uzbekistan was held on 8 July 2021 in a virtual format. The meeting was organized by the United Nations in Uzbekistan together with the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade (MIFT) of Uzbekistan with the participation of relevant ministries and departments, as well as representatives of international and public organizations and the private sector.
The Advisory Committee operates with the support of three Working Groups. In particular, the Visibility Working Group endorsed the Terms of Reference and adopted the Work Plan for 2021. Within its framework, participation, co-organization of international events such as participation to the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), are planned with the direct engagement of the Government, the UN, and relevant stakeholders.
Through the series of workshop sessions of the Working Group on Sustainable Investments from February to July 2021, collective thinking methodology was applied to identify six integrated issues such as land and scarce resources, demographic shifts, persistent cultural norms, changes in industry, education and workforce misalignment, and governance of infrastructure in the Aral Sea region. Thus, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan, in cooperation with partners, is constructing systems interventions or systemic responses to systemic challenges. As a result, the Group was able to develop high-impact proposals.
The Technical Group on Data and Assessments led by UNDP provides evidence and rationale for portfolio analysis and investments in the Aral Sea region. The team of international experts has been mapping the data available in different sources. The mapped data has been categorized in three groups: (i) available and accessible; (ii) available, but inaccessible; and (iii) unavailable and inaccessible. Data Repository is one of the key milestones of the Group so far.
The socio-economic portrait and 2030 forecast scenarios for Karakalpakstan have been presented by UNDP. Socio-economic trends for the last decades and 2030 forecast scenarios have been analyzed and shared with the participants. It was concluded that Karakalpakstan has benefitted from significant investments and resource transfers and made progress in catching up with the rest of Uzbekistan in terms of per-capita income, agricultural production, and access to basic services. Meanwhile, progress is evident relatively to a lesser extent in some other areas, such as employment growth, social protection systems, and poverty reduction.
The Government of Uzbekistan presented the draft of the Integrated Roadmap. The purpose of the Integrated Roadmap is the implementation of the UN Resolution, which will lead to the sustainable improvement of the living conditions and livelihoods of people in the Aral Sea region of Uzbekistan, as well as the restoration of an active ecosystem and enhancement of biodiversity in the surrounding areas. The integrated roadmap of program measures for the cohesive development of the Aral Sea region will:
Promote the development of consolidated and integrated policy on sustainable development in the Aral Sea region;
Assist in the development of strategies and practical measures to attract and develop environmental innovations and technologies; and
Support activities to attract and develop environmental innovations and technologies and capacity building efforts in this field.
Ms. Dimovska, UNDP Resident Representative, underscored that “The Integrated Roadmap is informed by the systems approach, and its implementation shall also be guided by such approach, which necessitates the engagement of a wide range of stakeholders within the Working Groups to bring transformative changes in support of the sustainable development of the Aral Sea region. UNDP stands ready to support the implementation process, as well.”
In his turn, Mr. Atsushi Suda, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Japanese Embassy in Uzbekistan, stated that Japan appreciates the draft of the Roadmap since it is more comprehensive and reflects clear expected outputs. Mr. Suda noted that Japan has contributed to the Resolutions aimed at environmental restoration for more than 25 years. About USD 10 million was injected into 26 grant assistance grassroots projects to improve health and tackle salinization in rural areas.
To summarize, Ms. Helena Fraser, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, and Co-chair of the Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund Steering (MPHSTF) Committee welcomed inputs on the Integrated Roadmap to be further endorsed by the Government. She said, ”The Roadmap is a first step to realizing the UN General Assembly Resolution on declaring the Aral Sea as a zone of innovations and technologies and also as the next step in our collective efforts to accelerate joint action on addressing Aral Sea issues and ensure sustainable, data-driven, and evidence-based impact”.
For information
The Advisory Committee on sustainable development of the Aral Sea region was launched on 1 December 2020 under the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan to serve as a single platform for accelerating sustainable development in the Aral Sea region. The Committee advises the Fund Steering Committee on comprehensive solutions, effective mechanisms, and approaches that translate financial commitments made by the national and international communities into sustainable development results.
More detailed information on the activities of the UN MPHSTF is available on the official website of the Fund http://www.aral.mptf.uz/
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Speech
08 June 2021
Statement attributable to Ms. Helena Fraser, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, On the occasion of ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by Uzbekistan
By ratifying the Convention, the government reiterates its commitment to human rights and the importance of promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in line with the principles of the Convention, as well as the principle of Leaving No One Behind.
Promoting the rights and inclusion of People with Disabilities in line with the Sustainable Development Goals has been a key long-standing priority for the UN Country Team in delivering together in Uzbekistan.
In recent years, the UN family in Uzbekistan has continuously provided technical and financial support both to promote the ratification of the Convention and to enhance inclusion of people with disabilities. The UN Country Team has collaborated substantially with the Government of Uzbekistan and Organizations of People with Disabilities in strengthening national legislation on People with Disabilities and bringing it in alignment with the Convention and related international norms and standards. We have also worked to build national capacity for practical implementation of the Convention at the country level and to raise public awareness to promote disability inclusion.
In line with a core principle of the 2030 Agenda to Leave No One Behind, the UN Country Team has also supported improved data availability through comprehensive situational assessments and surveys. Our focus on strengthening national statistics on disability has helped to establish a strong evidence base for informed policy-making and enhanced targeting of social assistance.
Through our flagship UN Joint Programme on Social Protection funded by the Joint SDG Fund, the UN Country Team has been supporting local initiatives led by people with disabilities and innovative human-rights based approaches to delivering integrated social protection and inclusive public services for persons with disabilities.
At the global level, the United Nations system has affirmed that the full and complete realization of human rights of all persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral, and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. The United Nations Country Team is committed to continue providing full support to further implementation of the UNCRPD in Uzbekistan. Moreover, in line with the UN system-wide Disability Inclusion Strategy, we aspire to continuously promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in all our activities, and we commit to take action for the better inclusion of persons with disabilities to make decisions for their own lives as active members of society towards a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable Uzbekistan.
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Story
05 May 2022
Impact of chemicals on children’s health and development
Some of them are familiar to almost everyone and used in consumer goods: fertilizers, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, nanomaterials, plastics, paints, heavy metals, including lead and mercury. Let’s take for example one of them, which is extremely dangerous, that is the lead contained in paint.
According to the estimates as of 2019 (for several chemicals and groups of substances with necessary data available), 2 million people die and 53 million lose life annually due to poisoning by the same. Another 9 million people die due to air, water, and soil pollution.
New data on the impact on health associated with hazardous exposure to chemicals are constantly emerging. For example, about the capacity of the chemicals to impact on the human body during the prenatal period and at the stage of early development with long-term negative health consequences and the risk of the development of chronic diseases from low doses of chemicals and about the combination of effects of several substances. The medical care provided with respect to the exposure to chemicals and health losses is estimated at $ 4.6 trillion per year, which is 6.2% out of global economic development. The European Union has assessed the cost of human health in relation to the exposure to chemicals disrupting the endocrine system functions (developmental deficits, reproductive problems by males and females, obesity and diabetes). Medical expenses amount to EUR 163 billion per year.
In May 2017, the Chemicals Road Map was adopted at the 70th session of the World Health Assembly. It has been developed for the Member States to apply it at all stages of development and to enhance the role of the health system in a strategic approach to the international chemicals management towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The Road map consists of four areas: risk reduction, knowledge and data, institutional capacity, and leadership and coordination, that is, specific actions where the health sector plays a leading or important supporting role in, with recognizing the need for multisectoral cooperation.
The World Health Organization has completed the work on a Guide for the Prevention and Treatment of Lead Poisoning and recommends using it in practical life, as well as to start withdrawal of lead-containing paints from circulation in accordance with the goals of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint. And therefore, to minimize the negative impact of chemicals on human health and the environment.
All those issues have been discussed at a workshop organized by the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan and the Representative Office of the World Health Organization in Tashkent. It was attended by the heads of laboratories from all regions of the country, including Mr. Botirjon Kurbanov, the Deputy Director of the Service on Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-being and Public Health. It was the first workshop on the impact of chemicals, and, in particular, lead paints, on the health and development of children. The Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan and the WHO will continue their efforts on studying the issue of the lead paints. The preliminary plan of follow-up actions has been developed, which includes training and research work.
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Story
20 February 2022
“Big wins start with small steps”: Inspiring girls in Uzbekistan to become tech leaders
The three young women recently participated in Technovation Girls Uzbekistan, the largest tech programme for girls and young women in the country where participants apply their skills to develop solutions to real-world problems through technology.
Hosted by Technovation Girls, a global tech education non-profit that empowers young women and girls to become tech entrepreneurs and leaders, and supported by UN agencies including IOM, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP, UNAIDS and other partner organizations in Uzbekistan, the programme has been empowering young women and girls in Uzbekistan since 2018.
Malika, Madina and Sarvinoz shared their thoughts on girls in tech, the importance of (parental) encouragement, and their long-term plans.
Malika, 17
Hello, I’m Malika! I am from Uchkuduk, a small town in Navoiy region in central Uzbekistan. I'm studying at a high school, in Tashkent, and preparing for my entrance exams to a tech university.
I really enjoy maths, physics, chemistry, biology, and English. I used to think that I would dedicate my life to medicine and become a doctor. But after Technovation Girls, I realized that my future lies within technology and engineering. And this has been driving me for the past three years.
My mom and dad are very encouraging; it is important for them that their kids discover their true calling. I am incredibly grateful to them for paying the tuition for my English courses and making sure I have the equipment I need for my tech projects, including a laptop and a cell phone.
During Technovation I learned how to develop startups, how to code, and most– importantly – how to work in a team and set goals. My team and I created iMigrant, a mobile app that helps migrants find the legal information, advice, and other useful local services that they need.
Although STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is a much sought after area of study, women and girls are still unrepresented in the field.
In the future, I’d like to open my own STEM centre for girls in Uzbekistan to encourage them go into the science and technology fields, and break the stereotypes that girls are not able to achieve success in engineering and IT.
Madina, 19
Hi all, I'm Madina from Namangan, a city in the beautiful Fergana Valley in eastern Uzbekistan. I am currently studying computer science and economics at Brandeis University in the United States.
Big wins start with small steps. My family were the only ones supporting my passion for computer science. So naturally I wasn’t expecting to fit within society’s stereotypical narratives about women in tech. But now I see that attitude toward women in tech is changing.
At Technovation, other girls and I developed an app that is helping to connect local non-profits and volunteers interested in tackling issues related to community development.
Participating in technology programmes taught me to be more focused and diligent. I [also] learned to create a mobile app from scratch and to develop a basic business plan. Most importantly, deep diving into the tech world has significantly changed the way I look at technological innovation.
With time I realized that there are a lot of people who are willing to support you, you just need to find them. And now, when there are more and more girls entering the IT and STEM fields, it’s important they feel inspired and empowered. And personally, I believe that Uzbekistan, as a country, is ready to support young aspiring girls in STEM, especially IT.
Sarvinoz, 18
Hi, I’m Sarvinoz. I was born into an ordinary family in Tashkent. Now I am a first-year computer science student at the Riga Business School in Latvia.
I am very grateful to my parents. Seeing my fiery eyes, my parents supported my choices. They never doubted that I would succeed.
I liked all subjects at school, but I especially enjoyed geography, mathematics, and literature. I enjoy Russian classics as well as modern Western authors. Currently I’m reading Stephen Covey’s book, "Speed of Trust.”
In 2020, I competed in Technovation Girls Uzbekistan for the first time. My team and I worked on an eco-project and developed an app-game to teach users about environment preservation and sustainability.
The basics of programming and business, among other skills I learned there, are now very useful to me at university. But the best part was the valuable and useful network I established. In 2021, I participated in Technovation once again, this time as a Student Ambassador.
I don't dream, I set goals. And one of them is to return to my homeland as a strong professional, and, by contributing to the development of society, bring Uzbekistan to a new level.
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Story
10 November 2021
Unemployment and Child Benefits Together Can Sustain Households in Need
Since 2020 the United Nations Joint Programme supports Uzbekistan to reform its social protection system in line with international security standards. Special emphasis is made on unemployment and child benefits as important source of income for families enable to earn or sustain adequate living standards.
Aziza used to trade in the market as an individual entrepreneur but had to stop her activity due to family circumstances. She lost her husband, the breadwinner in the family, and had to move to and live her parents with her 3 years old son in Tashkent. She did not have enough savings from her business to cover her expenses in the early days of maternity. The family faced a difficult financial situation.
The mahalla committee helped Aziza to secure child benefit as she raises a 3-year old son alone. Initially Aziza was receiving 194 000 soums (around USD 18) per month but according to the presidential decree from 11 August 2021 the amount of a benefit for low-income families with one child has been increased to 250 000 soums (USD 23.5). Of course, the amount of money is still modest as compared to the minimum consumer expenditures – 440 000 soums (USD 41) but they are not intended to cover all expenditures of a family but rather to support additional family spending due to childcare.
To help Aziza, her sister advised to approach assistant inspector of the Employment Promotion Centre (EPC) attached to the local mahalla and seek financial support. The assistant inspector helped Aziza to collect all the necessary documents and processed her application for unemployment protection. Each mahalla in Uzbekistan has such EPC assistant inspector who works at the community level directly with the population and monitors the employment situation.
Unemployment and child benefits helped us cover basic family needs. I even managed to save a small amount of money to buy for my son a toy car that he dreamed of, says Aziza.
According to the new version of the Law “On Employment”, unemployment benefit for an applicant without formal employment history amounts up to 75% of the minimum wage which is set at USD 65, while average wage amounts to USD 267. Aziza received the unemployment benefit for some time and then she got employed within her mahalla as a community worker.
Dilorom Tulaganova is an assistant inspector of the Employment Promotion Centre who works with the residents of Abu Bakr Shoshiy mahalla in historical part of Tashkent that unites 5200 people from 440 households.
According to Dilorom, most of the applicants are women. There are not that many male applicants because the nearby Chorsu bazaar (the central market of old Tashkent) provides enough employment opportunities for them. Besides formal employment, male residents are informally self-employed in trade, taxi, and catering services, as well as in small-scale home-based manufacturing, crafts etc.
Dilorom’s work does not consist of applications processing only; she constantly goes around mahalla talking to people to identify those who need her assistance and also to detect cases when unemployment benefits are misused.
We must distribute the budget for social protection very carefully so that it reaches those who need it most, says Dilorom.
In 2020, 89,651 unemployed persons received unemployment benefits or only 0.7% to the total number of employed. Unemployment benefit is delivered when EPC cannot offer a suitable job for an applicant. Dilorom says that four out of every five people who ask for assistance to find a job get employed.
Informal and self-employed workers are often the most vulnerable at the labour market and there is a need to extend the social protection coverage to this group.
Obid worked at a shoemaking factory in Tashkent, but had to quit due to poor health. He could not find a suitable job through the EPC. Mahalla helped him to set up a small shop and he is now a self-employed cobbler who does not make social insurance contributions. As a self-employed person, Obid is not entitled to unemployment protection and the amount of his pension will be lower once he retires.
I could not find a suitable job for myself at the employment facilitation centre. I chose to be self-employed, Obid says.
“Indeed, people like Obid are currently excluded from the social protection system. They cannot claim benefits because they earn livelihoods, but this income may not be sufficient to escape poverty and to make social insurance contributions to insure themselves against risks we all face during our lifetime, including the risk of unemployment,” says Jasmina Papa, Social Protection Specialist, ILO Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. “Most recent assessments in Uzbekistan propose options for protection in case of job loss and how to bring some workers in informal economy under social insurance umbrella. The new social protection strategy that the UN Joint Programme on Strengthening Social Protection in Uzbekistan works on together with the Government is proposing methods to strengthen the link between social protection and active labour market measures enabling access to sustainable and decent jobs.”
The National Social Protection Strategy sets out to extend the coverage with social protection to workers in informal economy . Today, 56.6% of the total employment in Uzbekistan accounts to the informal sector. Protecting this large portion of the working population in case of job loss will also contribute to the realization of other strategic ambitions like the Sustainable Development Goals, the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the National Employment Promotion Strategy till 2030 and will contribute to transition from informal to formal economy.
Options to expand the coverage with unemployment protection and how to bring some workers in informal economy under social insurance umbrella can be found in the most recent report.
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Story
10 March 2022
Greenhouses – a stable source of income for women in Uzbekistan during the pandemic
The family were registered in the “iron notebook” – a list of vulnerable groups compiled by the local authorities to provide them with targeted assistance. This is how the family then became a beneficiary of the FAO/GEF CACILM-2 project (“Integrated management of natural resources in drought-prone and saline agricultural production landscapes of Central Asia and Turkey”), which has been implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan since 2018. Within the framework of this project, 34 greenhouses were donated to rural residents living in the Bukhara and Kashkadarya regions. This aid has become part of the national socio-economic response to the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were all very happy when they came to our home to install a large, spacious greenhouse. They said it would serve as a new source of income for us all year round,” explains Khushvakt, adding, “I have not been involved in greenhouse farming myself, but I still noticed that the construction was made of a sufficiently high quality, with a reliable structure – made of durable material. They said that it retains heat well and is resistant to precipitation, moisture and temperature changes. After this, it was down to us as a family to get as much benefit as possible from the new greenhouse.”
As hardworking people, Khushvakt and her husband proactively set to work. Following the recommendations provided by FAO experts during a special training course for all greenhouse beneficiaries and via a working group established in Telegram messenger, the first requirement was to plant greens – spinach, coriander, dill. And when the first crop was ready, it was immediately successfully sold on the market. The beneficiaries then planted the second batch – cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions. Over time, profits began to increase, and fresh vegetables, grown with their own hands, appeared on their tables.
“The stable income from the greenhouse has allowed us to solve many problems. There is confidence in the future. My daughters need support to continue their education, and our eldest is now preparing to enter university. She dreams of becoming a doctor,” says Khushvakt.
Another beneficiary from the same region, Feruza Ergasheva, talks enthusiastically about the work the project has done. “We got the first harvest in the middle of March. Selling the greens grown in the greenhouse raised about 5 million soums (which is approximately equal to USD 500). This is a significant help in the household. We hope to grow more greens and bell peppers in September. The main thing is that a stable source of income has appeared. Every inch of our land is priceless, and everyone should work for their own welfare,” reflects Feruza, who now feels that she can put the dark days behind her.
In the past, the family had faced many difficulties. Feruza’s husband has a long-term illness, and Feruza left her job in the cotton mill to look after him. Of the three sons, the two eldest are abroad, and the youngest is still a student. In short, there is no one else around to look after the household. And then there were COVID-19 restrictions. It is no surprise that the news of the transfer of the greenhouse was received with great joy in the family. Today, having already mastered the greenhouse economy, after acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills, Feruza plans to generate even more profit from her greenhouse and supply fresh vegetables to the table all year round. As it turns out, the challenges did not hinder Feruza – they strengthened her resilience. Her eyes are filled with optimism, and her commitment to hard work leaves no room for doubt about the successful implementation of all her plans.
In general, the development of the greenhouse industry and the expansion of the vegetable range have contributed to an increase in domestic production of vegetables. This meets the needs of the country’s growing population for high-quality products during the off season. And for many, due to COVID-19 restrictions and related measures, greenhouses have become the optimal community-based solution for generating income.
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Story
20 April 2021
A career with interruptions: Laziza’s story
Though it might sound a common accomplishment, in real life working women experience unique barriers to reconcile their carriers and family life. Laziza’s story illustrates hurdles women face to access their rights to paid maternity leave: although employed with a formal labour contract she was not able to effectively access all rights. t thanks to her hard work/, she was able to overcome them and achieve her goals. Today she is one of the best HR specialists and an important employee of her company. However, obstacles in realisation of the right to maternity protection are often insurmountable for many. This is despite the fact that Uzbekistan ratified ILO Convention on Maternity Protection, 1952 (No 103), which enshrines the right of women employed in industrial undertakings, non-industrial, agricultural occupations and women wage earners at home, to maternity leave, medical and cash benefits. These benefits should be tailored to maintain the health of mother and child, as well as their living standards.
Job search
Close to graduation from her master’s studies, Laziza started applying to various vacancies and taking job interviews. Since she was newly married, many organizations refused to hire her, expecting that she would have to take maternity leave soon after. In one organisation, she went through all recruitment stages, and in the end, she was asked to sign a declaration, committing herself not to take a leave from work for five years due to pregnancy and maternity. She had to refuse.
“I could not make such a long-term commitment at that time, and this was the only reason for the rejection of that offer,” remembers Laziza.
First job and first child
After her studies, she started teaching a foreign language in a public school. She enjoyed teaching and working with children. A year into her job, she realised that soon she would become a mother. Joy and excitement filled her in anticipation of the firstborn. The whole family was rejoiced after accepting this news. However, unpleasant news awaited her at school. The school administration directly told Laziza that she could take (maternity) leave, but she would not receive any maternity benefits. So, her leave was officially registered, according to which she had a right to maternity cash benefit, but as she was informed earlier, she did not receive it. Having decided to defend her rights, Laziza entered into an unpleasant conflict with the school administration. In the end of the day, the employer agreed to hand over the money that they received as maternity benefit from the public budget but decided to conceal from Laziza to use it for themselves.
“After the maternity leave, I could not return to this school, although I loved my job. The attitude of the administration has deteriorated so much that it was uncomfortable for me to work in that environment,” says Laziza. “Maternity benefit is a significant help for a young family that is getting ready for childbirth and for covering expenses in the first months after the birth.”
“Common practice in the private sector”
After her second son's birth, Laziza decided to return to the labour market and started working in a private company as an office manager. During the recruitment process, the management warned her that in that company, as elsewhere in the private sector, there is no practice of paying maternity benefits. This did not discourage her from joining the company as she liked the work and the team. After working for a couple of years at that company, Laziza was about to become a mother for the third time. This time there she was prepared in advance that the company would not pay her maternity benefit. The company terminated the employment contract with Laziza but promised that the contract with her would be renewed as soon as she decided to return to work.
“According to the current legislation, private companies must pay maternity benefits from their own budget, and I understood that it is an additional financial burden for employers. Therefore, I did not demand payments from my company. Since I was already an experienced mother, I was ready to return to work after 6 months after my daughter’s birth. The team warmly welcomed my return,” recalls Laziza.
During her third maternal leave, Laziza received social benefit for childcare (intended for families living with low incomes), financed from the state budget and delivered by local self-government bodies/mahalla. This benefit intended for families living with low incomes helped cover the cost of daily necessities despite their small size.
Laziza's story is not unique. Many women in Uzbekistan face similar problems in their professional life. According to Laziza herself, many of her friends from the university were unable to start their careers because of discrimination based on possible pregnancy. Others had to quit their jobs when they became mothers. Few have managed to find a way to combine both career and motherhood. Lack of access to rights in case of maternity contributes to gender inequality at work, and income insecurity that is vital in for maternal and child health. Maternity protection in the workplace gives women a chance to fulfil their professional potential and contribute to their families and society as a whole.
Commentary from the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Uzbekistan:
The lawyer of the Federation of Trade Union confirms that Laziza’s story is very topical and understands how difficult combining personal and professional life for women could be. According to Article 233 of the Labour Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 1995, all women formally employed in public and private sectors are entitled to maternity leave of seventy calendar days before childbirth and fifty-six calendar days after it with payment of state social insurance benefits. Any practices from employers about non-granting the official leave and non-payment of benefits are illegal.
However, it should be noted that current procedures of maternity benefit provision violate the Labour Code. According to the charter on the provision of state social benefits dated 08.05.2002, in for-profit/private entities maternity benefits are paid from the own funds of enterprises.
Commentary from the National Gender Commission on Gender Equality under the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan:
The National Commission on Gender Equality has scrutinised the national legislation to check for the conformity of women's labour and entrepreneurial rights with social security standards. To prevent discrimination and unfair treatment like Laziza faced, the Commission is proposing amendments to Article 24 of the Law “On equal rights and opportunities for women and men”. ‘We think the state must guarantee rights to maternity and paternity leaves, and maternity benefits must be paid from the state budget. – stated the member of the Gender Equality Commission.
Improving the national legislation in line with international standards
The UN Joint Programme on Strengthening Social Protection in Uzbekistan supports the Government and social partners to increase their understanding of international social security standards for workers with family responsibilities, and their application into national legislation, policy and practice. Maternity protection and paternity leaves are integral parts of these standards. The first step towards realisation of the right to maternity protection in Uzbekistan would be to ensure effective access to women to health, maternity leave and cash benefits in line with provisions of Maternity Protection Convention, 1952 (No. 103). The National Gender Commission and the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance are already undertaking the next step – review of national legislation in line with up-to-date maternity protection standards, that is Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No.183). Up to date maternity protection standards provide for maternity benefits ensuring that women can maintain themselves and their child in health and at the suitable levels of living standards. These standards prohibit discrimination based on maternity: employers are not allowed to terminate the employment contract during pregnancy or maternity leave. Importantly, the scope of coverage with rights includes women in formal employment (both private and public sector) and women in non-standard forms of employment; while benefits are financed from worker’s and employer’s contributions as well as from general budget.
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Press Release
24 May 2022
United Nations and the Government of Uzbekistan Launch Joint Programme on Rights of People with Disabilities
Promoting the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals has been a key long-standing priority for the UN Country Team in delivering together in Uzbekistan.
In June 2021, Uzbekistan ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and reiterated its commitment to human rights and the importance of promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in line with the principles of the Convention, as well as the principle of Leaving No One Behind.
The newly launched programme will focus on following priority areas:
Strengthening disability mainstreaming within the implementing of country-level UN agencies’ activities to ensure that national development assessments, plans budgets, programmes and monitoring mechanism supported under the SDGs processes advance disability-inclusive development in Uzbekistan.
Consolidating the multi-stakeholder commitment to the achievement of CRPD-compliant SDGs through a robust legislative and policy framework, coordination structures, and meaningful participation of organizations with disabilities.
Development of accessible and inclusive person-centred and age-appropriate services in the community, aimed at supporting the autonomy and inclusion of children, women and men with disabilities in the society, and prevention of institutionalization, abuse and violence.
“Working directly with people with disabilities will build a sustainable, inclusive and transformative future where everyone can realize their potential and move to achieving the central promise of the 2030 Agenda: leaving no one behind,” highlighted Ms. Roli Asthana, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan.
“The Joint Programme lays an important foundation to address some immediate priorities for the domestication and the implementation of the CRPD,” said, Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan. “However, collective responsibility of all stakeholders to creating the requisite pre-conditions is required."
This joint programme worth $600.000 and will be implemented over the next two years.
The joint programme will be implemented in close coordination with the Government, particularly the Agency on Medical and Social Services under the Cabinet of Ministers, different ministries and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities.
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Press Release
18 May 2022
Strengthening relations through cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan
One of the important steps in integrating conflict sensitivity into the design and implementation of the project was the workshop on Conflict Sensitivity Proigramme Clinic held in Ferghana on 10-13 May, 2022.
The workshop brought together representatives of local administration of the border areas (Marhamat district of Andijan region, Yangikurgan and Kasansay districts of Namangan region), civil society and UN Agencies. The workshop was led by international experts – Phillip Priestley, Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer and Maria Norton, Conflict-sensitive Programming Consultant of the Office of Emergencies and Resilience from the FAO headquarter. The workshop provided platform to foster dialogue and cooperation among all parties involved to identify, analyze and integrate conflict sensitive strategies into the implementation of the project to lay the foundations for sustainable peace and development.
“Empowerment of rural people, mainly women and youth, introducing climate-smart agricultural practices in sustaining common resources as well as the establishment of common platforms and networks will enhance positive dialogue between communities on both sides of the border resulting in better confidence and trust between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan”, - Sherzod Umarov, Assistant FAO Representative in Uzbekistan stressed.
Kamolkhon Inomkhodjaev, UNFPA Assistant Representative in Uzbekistan, noted that “Women and youth are key drivers and stakeholders of the peacebuilding processes. Empowering and engaging them will be an important part of the project to promote good neighbourhood relations and effective socio-economic collaboration across the border.”
During the workshop participants discussed the main sustaining peace drivers in the areas of governance, economic and social life, environment, natural resource management and human security and discussed potential project impacts taking into account the opinion of the local communities. As a result, they worked out the concrete conflict-sensitive recommendations to be integrated into the project implementation.
“The conflict sensitivity workshop brought together local authorities, civil societies and UN staff to ensure that our project maximises peaceful outcomes in the targeted villages in the border regions. As this is a peacebuilding project, we want to engage communities and involve them in the project to improve ownership and develop shared prosperity and understanding across borders”, - Phillip Priestley, Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer of the Office of Emergencies and Resilience from the FAO HQ noted.
The inception workshop of the project is planned for early June 2022, which will be the starting point of joint efforts aimed at fostering social, cultural and economic cross-border cooperation for better future.
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Press Release
03 May 2022
The UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust for the Aral Sea Region in Uzbekistan showcases results to and appreciates the support of the EU
On 30 April, the EU Delegation visited one of the many project sites of the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust for the Aral Sea Region in Uzbekistan (MPHSTF). The UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan. Ms. Roli Asthana, and Government representatives accompanied the Ambassadors in their visit to the MPHSTF-funded UNDP/UNESCO Joint Programme Forestry Department of the Takhtakupir district. The project in these sites sought to address the urgent human insecurities in the Aral Sea region through promoting sustainable rural development.
The Head of the Takhtakupir State Forestry Department briefly underscored that the benefits of the forestry activities funded by the MPHSTF included enhancement of the technical capacity of Takhtakupir Forestry Department as well as increasing the volume of afforestation work in the dried bed of the Aral Sea. Enhanced technical capacity helped to lant saxaul and other species on 3000 hectares of land which is six times more than it was before project interventions. The afforestation resulted in more income for the workers of the Forestry Department. The professional skills of over 100 employees from 16 departments of the State Forestry were enhanced through the trainings on “innovative methods of afforestation.”
Ms. Roli Asthana, UN Resident Coordinator, said: “The Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund’s activities in Takhtakupir’s five communities are not only testaments of UN’s commitment to the people of the Aral Sea, but also a clear messaging to the world on the readiness of UN’s partners such as the European Union and the Government of Finland, together with the Governments of Uzbekistan, Norway, and the Republic of Korea, as well as the Alwaleed Philanthropies, to ensure that no one is left behind in Karakalpakstan amidst the ongoing crises brought by the Aral Sea catastrophe.”
The UN in Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade co-hosted an “Appreciation Dinner” for the EU Delegation. Mr. Badriddin Abidov, Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade, expressed hope for a much stronger and closer partnership with the European Union within the Trust Fund. Mr. Abidov further stated that “undoubtedly, the impacts made in the communities of Karakalpakstan - building the resilience of the local communities and the sustainable development of the Aral Sea region at large - would not have been possible without the support of partners such as the European Union.
For reference:
The MPHSTF, established under the auspices of the United Nations in late 2018, provides an integrated platform for national and international cooperation to address the ecological and socio-economic needs of communities living in the Aral Sea region, as well as to accelerate joint efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
On May 29, 2020, the Government of Finland and the UN MPTF Office in New York (Administrator of the Trust Fund) signed the Standard Administrative Arrangement on the contribution of EURO 1 million to the UN Multi-partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region (MPHSTF). On June 19, 2020, the Government of Finland has transferred EURO 1 million to the MPHSTF.
On February 2020, the Contribution Agreement was signed between the European Union and the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office on the contribution of EURO 5.2 million to the MPHSTF. On March 2020, the European Union has transferred USD 5.5 million to the MPHSTF.
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Press Release
25 April 2022
World immunization week: Long Life for All
This World Immunization Week (WIW), UNICEF in Uzbekistan has joined the global community to call for ‘Long Life for All’ and congratulated the government of Uzbekistan for building a robust immunization system that has served both children and adults with life-saving vaccinations.
Uzbekistan has managed to sustain the routine immunization level at 95 – 98 percent, despite massive COVID-19 interruptions. Beyond that the country’s national deployment plan was commended as a global model in delivering COVID19 vaccinations to its people.
“The last two years have shown the merits of investing in a resilient immunization supply and logistics chain in Uzbekistan,” said Munir Mammadzade UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan. “As we go through COVID 19, years of investing in warehouses and decentralized cold chain at district and primary health levels has paid off and combined to deliver life-saving vaccines for children and adults.”
UNICEF has partnered with the Government of Uzbekistan over the last 5 years to build a robust infrastructure to support national vaccination and immunization. Over the past few years, UNICEF commissioned 21 modern cold chain facilities, equipped them with cold rooms, freezers and refrigerators. Further, it procured vehicles for the transportation of vaccines and developed a vaccine logistic management information system. In total this was nearly USD$ 20 million.
This year WIW comes against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic. The year’s theme Long Life for All; Vaccines: In pursuit of a long life well lived”, recognizes the importance of vaccination for all more than ever. UNICEF has supported the government of Uzbekistan in fighting COVID-19 as the procurement, delivery and lead programme implementation agency. Since March 20221, UNICEF delivered about 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Uzbekistan through the COVAX Facility, the global mechanism for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. As of 21 April 2022, 76% of the illegible population was fully immunized.
However, UNICEF has warned that current successes can be fragile and implored on partners to reach the last mile and ensure those requiring vaccines would access and to ensure that communities remain galvanized to vaccinate.
“Public and political will is imperative to guard the gains made so far on immunization in Uzbekistan,” added Mr. Mammadzade. ”Communities need to maintain vigilance and uptake of services, while government and partners need to finance vaccination and ensure under-served communities are reached.”
World Immunization Week – celebrated every year in the last week of April – aims to highlight the collective action needed and to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. The goal of World Immunization Week is for more people – and their communities – to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.
For more information, please contact:
Umidjon Khudaykulov
Immunization Officer
Phone: +998 71 233 95 12
E-mail: ukhudaykulov@unicef.org
***
Nargiza Egamberdieva
Communication Officer
Phone: +998 71 233 95 12
E-mail: negamberdieva@unicef.org
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Press Release
27 April 2022
Uzbekistan Food Industry Association (UFIA) Joins the United Nations Global Compact and the UN in Uzbekistan’s Coalition of Business Champions for Sustainable Development
UFIA is the first non-business organization from Uzbekistan to join the UN Global Compact. Covering more than 2500 members, the Association plays an important role in ensuring the highest quality standards and sufficient level of food production in accordance with scientifically approved standards. At the same time, UFIA oversees the creation and maintenance of the basic food stocks needed in adverse conditions, supporting food security and development of the food industry in the region, which supports the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
“We are very excited to become part of the global platform and support sustainable development on both local and international levels. We consider the UN Global Compact as an opportunity to learn about the best world sustainable food business and production practices, which implementation will be then encouraged among our members,” said Mr. Bahodir Umirshaykhov, the chairman of Uzbekistan Food Industry Association.
The UN in Uzbekistan recognizes UFIA’s commitment to support sustainable development in the country. The UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Roli Asthana noted that “UFIA’s participation in the UN Global Compact is an important step to ensure the development of sustainable food production and resilient agricultural practices in the country. With more than 2500 members on board, UFIA can make the difference in the industry, supporting sustainable food systems in Uzbekistan.”
About UFIA
Uzbekistan Food Industry Association was established in 2020 and today covers more than 2,500 enterprises. UFIA actively supports its members and facilitates the implementation of the latest discoveries in the business process of enterprises operating in the field, establishing public oversight and information exchange with the government agencies to ensure food security, as well as conducting trainings to increase the knowledge and skills of the industry representatives.
About the UN Global Compact
The UN Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Launched in 2000, the United Nations Global Compact is both a policy platform and a practical framework for companies that are committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. It is the largest corporate sustainability initiative globally, with over 15,000 companies and 4,000 non-business participants based in over 160 countries and more than 70 Local Networks.
For more information on the UN in Uzbekistan:
Rusyan Jill Mamiit, Ph.D., Development Coordination Officer for Partnerships and Development Finance, United Nations in Uzbekistan, mamiit@un.org, +998 93 501 7838
For more information on the UN Global Compact:
Shokhrukh Pulatov, Country Manager for the United Nations Global Compact in Uzbekistan, pulatov@unglobalcompact.org, +998 94 420 64 20
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