Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 23 May, the nineteenth Meeting of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was held in Tashkent, chaired by the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyar Islamov.

The event was attended by the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of India Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, Deputy Head of the Judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran Kozim Garibobodiy, Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aslambek Mergaliev, Chairman of the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China Zhang Jun, Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic Zamirbek Bazarbekov, Chairman of the Supreme Court Court of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Kazi Faez Isa, Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation Irina Podnosova, Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Tajikistan Shermuhammad Shohiyon.

Also participating were the representative of the observer country to the SCO - Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus Valentin Sukalo and guests - Deputy Secretary General of the SCO Nuran Niyazaliev and Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure Ruslan Mirzaev.

Before the meeting, the participants honored the memory of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran who died in the plane crash with a minute of silence.

At the opening of the meeting, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on issues of coordinating the activities of law enforcement and regulatory authorities, Doniyor Kadirov, read an address from the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The meeting participants noted that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an effective system for protecting common interests, helping to strengthen good neighborliness and friendship, ensuring peace and stability in the region. During the chairmanship of Uzbekistan in the Organization, attention was paid to issues of increasing the efficiency of justice and reforms in the judicial and legal system.

At the meeting of the chairmen of the Supreme Courts of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, an active exchange of information was carried out on various aspects of judicial activity. As part of this exchange, participants discussed issues of law enforcement, improvement of legislation and other relevant aspects of judicial practice.

It was noted that the fight against human trafficking is one of the priorities of the world community, including the SCO states. In this context, the judicial practice of considering criminal cases related to transnational trafficking in persons was discussed and the importance of systematic exchange of experience in this area was emphasized.

Aspects and prospects for the development of the institution of mediation in the field of civil proceedings were also discussed. Participants expressed interest in in-depth study and understanding of the essence of mediation as a mechanism for resolving disputes.

The agenda of the meeting also touched upon the protection of property rights, the development of administrative justice and the prospects for the digitalization of justice using new technologies. The participants expressed their readiness to exchange best practices and knowledge in this area.

Thus, the meeting became a platform for constructive dialogue and exchange of experience between the Supreme Courts of the SCO member states, aimed at further strengthening the legal framework and judicial system in the region.

The meeting participants expressed their unanimous belief that joint efforts and initiatives of the Supreme Courts on a wide range of issues contribute to strengthening the image and increasing the role of the SCO in the international arena. They emphasized the importance of cooperation on the principles of mutual trust, friendship and good neighborliness, as well as consistency with the principles and ideas of the SCO.

The statement signed following the meeting reflects practical decisions aimed at further improving joint activities in the field of protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens, strengthening justice and the rule of law, as well as creating conditions for deepening judicial and legal reforms. This document also laid the foundation for the 20th meeting of the Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts of the SCO member states in 2025 in China.

The nineteenth meeting of the chairmen of the Supreme Courts of the SCO member states was held at a high organizational and substantive level in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and friendliness. It confirmed the willingness of the participating countries to jointly develop judicial systems and further strengthen cooperation in the field of justice.