CAT/C/UZB/CO/5
United Nations
Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
Distr.: General
14 January 2020
Original: English
Committee against Torture
Concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of
Uzbekistan*
1.
The Committee against Torture considered the fifth periodic report of Uzbekistan
(CAT/C/UZB/5) and the State party’s replies to its list of issues (CAT/C/UZB/Q/5/Add.1)
at its 1786th and 1789th meetings (see CAT/C/SR.1786 and 1789), held on 12 and 13
November 2019, and adopted the present concluding observations at its 1809th meeting
(CAT/C/SR.1809), held on 28 November 2019.
A.
Introduction
2.
The Committee welcomes the dialogue with the State party’s delegation and the oral
and written replies provided to the concerns raised by the Committee.
B.
Positive aspects
3.
The Committee welcomes the State party’s initiatives to revise its legislation in
areas of relevance to the Convention, including the adoption of:
(a)
The Anti-Corruption Act, in 2017;
(b)
The Act of 29 March 2017 adding article 415-1 to the code of criminal
procedure, stipulating that courts shall remedy failures in investigations of significant
breaches of criminal procedure law, in 2017;
(c)
The joint resolution by the Oliy Majlis (parliament) endorsing the action plan
on cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights, in 2017;
(d)
The amendments to the Oliy Majlis Human Rights Commissioner
(Ombudsman) Act (by Act No. ZRU-441 of 29 August 2017 and 14 March 2019) that
stipulate, inter alia, that persons deprived of liberty are entitled to make an unlimited
number of written complaints to the ombudsman, and that the ombudsman can conduct
preventive monitoring of all detention facilities, in 2017;
(e)
Act No. ZRU-497 of 11 October 2018 to strengthen the independence and
enhance the role of the legal profession and Bar Chamber, in 2018, and Presidential Decree
No. UP-5441, in 2018;
(f)
Act on the protection of women from harassment and violence, in 2019.
4.
The Committee also welcomes initiatives of the State party to amend its policies,
programmes and administrative measures to give effect to the Convention, including
presidential decrees on:
* Adopted by the Committee at its sixty-eighth session (11 November–6 December 2019).
GE.20-00468(E)