Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was approved as a document of the UN Human Rights Council and will be considered at the 54th session of the UNHRC, which began on 11 September 2023 and will last until 6 October 2023.

The report reflects the views expressed by States and other stakeholders on the target sectors, key areas or thematic human rights issues for the fifth phase of the World Program for Human Rights Education.

It is known that on 10 December 2004, the UN General Assembly announced the World Program for Human Rights Education. Its goal is to promote human rights education programs in all government agencies, non-governmental organizations and the business sector.

At the moment, the following three stages of this Program have been implemented:

the first stage: 2005-2009 – covered human rights education processes in schools;

second stage: 2010-2014 – dedicated to human rights education for the higher education system, as well as teacher-trainers and government officials;

third stage: 2015-2019 - media representatives underwent training in the field of human rights.

In turn, the fourth stage of the World Program for Human Rights Education is being implemented in 2020-2024. This phase aims to empower youth by providing human rights education.

The UN Human Rights Council Resolution of 6 October 2022 recognizes the positive initiatives of relevant stakeholders responsible for the implementation of the fourth phase of the World Program for Human Rights Education. Also on the agenda was the issue of formulating proposals for the fifth stage of the World Program for Human Rights Education.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was recommended to seek the views of all UN entities, states, civil society institutions and stakeholders on the same topic. In this regard, on 2 March 2023, the Office of the High Commissioner appealed to Member States to express their views and provide the necessary materials. In turn, on 1 May 2023, this was announced on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner.

As of 30 June 2023, OHCHR had received 50 submissions (including three joint submissions) from 53 respondents: 15 States, 3 intergovernmental organizations, 4 special procedures of the Human Rights Council, 8 national human rights institutions, 2 national implementation mechanisms, reporting submissions and follow-up, 17 civil society organizations (including two networks) and 4 individuals.

Based on these proposals, a report was prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Among the respondents who expressed their proposals in the report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights was singled out. As noted in paragraph 43 of the report, the National Center submitted proposals for the following target sectors of human rights within the framework of the fifth phase of the World Education Program:

• for children and young people - they can become powerful agents of change;

• regarding women and girls – it is necessary to expand opportunities for the realization of their rights to full participation in society;

• As for vulnerable sections of society, including refugees, migrants, people with disabilities, it is necessary to create appropriate conditions for them so that they can literally enjoy human rights education;

• regarding civil society and public organizations – it is necessary to increase their capacity in the field of human rights protection;

• in relation to enterprises and corporations, it is necessary to consistently encourage their moral and social responsibility aimed at respecting the rights of workers and consumers.

“In addition, the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan proposes that the fifth phase should focus on human rights education in the digital age, in particular through the use of technology to reach wider audiences and address the problems arising from disinformation and hate speech online ”, says the report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

For most of the points set out in the “Conclusions” part of the report of the Office of the High Commissioner, important recommendations were made based on proposals presented by the Uzbek side. In particular, the final paragraph 74 of the report notes that the priority target groups of the fifth phase of the World Program for Human Rights Education are young people, vulnerable groups in society and individuals, and the main priority areas are digital human rights, environmental rights and climate change In addition, special attention can be paid to gender equality.