The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan supported an international conference on "Human Rights in the Context of Digital Transformation: Contemporary Approaches", held on 20-21 August. The event was initiated by the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman) in cooperation with the OSCE PCUz, the UNDP, and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
The conference brought together Ombudsmen, representatives of national human rights institutions, international organizations, and experts from more than 25 countries, as well as representatives of state institutions and civil society. Participants discussed how digital transformation can create new opportunities as well as pose risks to human rights. The programme focused on three key areas: women's rights and gender equality in the digital world; protection of youth rights and online safety; and the rights of persons with disabilities and equal access to digital services. Participants discussed online violence and harassment, cyberbullying, personal data protection, digital literacy and the accessibility of government services via digital means.
Opening the conference, Ambassador Antti Karttunen, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, highlighted the importance of ensuring that digitalization remains inclusive and rights-based.
"We should not choose between technology and human rights. We should make sure that technology serves people, and that human rights remain the compass for digital transformation," Karttunen said.
"Digital transformation for us is not only a technological renewal, but also a responsibility to ensure human dignity in modern conditions. Today, human rights, honor, personal data, and security must be reliably protected not only in real life, but also in the online space," said Feruza Eshmatova, the Ombudsman.
The Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Tanzila Narbayeva, the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, Mavluda Khodjayeva and Professor Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Centre for Human Rights, highlighted the importance of the Ombudsman institution in ensuring human rights. The event also featured a video address by Maria Telalian, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
The video address by Maria Telalian, Director of ODIHR
The conference builds on the long-standing co-operation between the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the Ombudsman institution, including support for strengthening human rights protection mechanisms and institutional capacity.
The programme continued with official meetings at the Oliy Majlis and the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
