Uzbekistan: OMCT position paper to the European Parliament

The EU should closely monitor the evolution of the HR situation in Uzbekistan via its different tools (co- operation committees and Council, EU Guidelines, TACIS co-operation) and pay particular attention on the following issues:

- The situation of human rights defenders that are facing increasing repression from Uzbek authorities;

- The widespread practice of torture and lack of improvement since the visit of the UN special rapporteur, except some purely declarative steps;

- The misfunctionning of the judicial system as a whole, including lack of access to justice and fair trial, lack of independence of judges, the use of evidence obtained under torture, etc.;

- The violation of the main fundamental freedoms such as freedom of association, expression, opinion and belief preventing the development of an organised independent civil society and of a democratic secular opposition;

15 months later, it is unfortunately clear that the HR situation has not improved in the country, to the contrary: