Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Khaniya Asilbekova, a representative of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, has been appointed as a member of the Expert Group on Environmental Performance Reviews for the years 2023–2026 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

The Environmental Performance Review (EPR) is an assessment of the progress made by a country in aligning its environmental and economic goals and fulfilling its international environmental obligations.

The EPR program assists and supports UNECE member countries in improving their environmental management and performance, facilitates the exchange of information on policies and experiences among countries, helps integrate environmental policy into economic sectors, strengthens cooperation with the international community, and contributes to the achievement and monitoring of relevant Sustainable Development Goals.

The Expert Group for 2023–2026 consists of 10–14 members, including experts from Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, and Switzerland.

As a member of the Expert Group, Khaniya Asilbekova heads the Information and Analytical Department of the Specialized Analytical Control Center under the Ministry of Ecology. With over 20 years of experience in the field of ecology and a PhD in chemical sciences, she specializes in waste and chemical management, environmental education, and awareness-raising initiatives. From 2009 to 2017, Ms. Asilbekova coordinated the activities of the Scientific and Technical Council of the Environmental Protection Organization of Uzbekistan and played a key role in implementing education for sustainable development in Uzbekistan.

Recently, she led the national group in preparing the National Report on the State of the Environment of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which was developed in collaboration with UNEP, UNECE, and FAO.

Ms. Asilbekova has contributed to various international projects, including "Development of a Comprehensive National Program and Strategic Approach for Implementing International Chemical Regulation in Uzbekistan" and "Support for the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management and the Stockholm Convention in Uzbekistan" (UNITAR). She is currently a lead expert on the UNEP Special Program project "Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of Uzbekistan in Implementing the Basel and Stockholm Conventions and Facilitating Accession to the Rotterdam and Minamata Conventions," as well as the FAO-EU project "Technical Assistance for the Safe Management of Hazardous Chemicals in Uzbekistan."