Dear Forum members!

Ladies and gentlemen!

It gives me great pleasure to welcome all participants and guests of the Asian Forum on Human Rights to the ancient city of Samarkand and to congratulate on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

I am sincerely grateful to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres, for his support for the initiative to hold this Forum, which is taking place for the first time in our region.

I am grateful for the participation of high representatives of the United Nations, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Organization for Migration, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, other partner organizations, national human rights institutions of Asian countries, as well as prominent foreign statesmen and public figures.

The relevance of the Forum is dictated by the need to consolidate efforts in strengthening the role and importance of this fundamental document.

As noted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Michel Bachelet, "We can achieve more sustainable peace, security and development only if we move towards greater justice and equality." I fully agree with this key principle.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted 70 years ago, has opened up new opportunities for promoting the principles of democracy and humanism throughout the world.

Unfortunately, today we are all witnessing an increase in complex, mixed trends that are hindering this positive process.

First of all, we are talking about armed conflicts, growing mistrust and growing contradictions, inter-ethnic and inter-religious differences, other global challenges and threats to sustainable development, including in the space from South-East Asia to the Middle East.

We strongly believe that the future of the Asian region, with a total population of more than 4.5 billion people, depends to a large extent on the readiness to meet the objectives set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as on the establishment of an effective regional mechanism for the protection of human rights.

Dear Forum members!

Today, in Uzbekistan, at the new stage of national development, we are guided by the main principle: "not the people should serve the state bodies, but the state bodies should serve the people." This was the basis for the implementation of the Development Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2021.

We have significantly expanded the powers of the Parliament, strengthened the institutions of public control, and are actively developing civil society. The judicial system and law enforcement agencies are being radically reformed. Much work is being done to strengthen the institution of the family and the spiritual and moral foundations of society, all conditions are being created for the education of a harmoniously developed generation in the spirit of respect for national and universal values.

Close partnership with international human rights structures is expanding, and constructive dialogue has been established with non-governmental human rights organizations.

We intend to continue our way on this path. Our main priorities are comprehensive assistance in self-realization, protection of fundamental human rights and legitimate interests. Peace, stability and well-being depend on it.

I am sure that the Samarkand Declaration adopted at the end of the Forum will contribute to strengthening international cooperation in the field of human rights, bringing this noble work to a new, even higher level.

The proposals and initiatives put forward by the participants at the conference, as well as their conclusions, will be taken into account in the formulation of national human rights programmes and strategies.

I wish all participants and guests of the Forum fruitful work and a pleasant stay in our country.

 

Shavkat Mirziyoyev

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

 

Source:https://uzreport.news/society/shavkat-mirziyoyev-we-will-continue-our-partnership-with-human-rights-organizations