Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — During the latest plenary session of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, the draft law "On the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman)" was reviewed and approved in its second reading.

The draft law introduces new provisions aimed at enhancing the institutional foundations of the Ombudsman’s activities and expanding their powers in safeguarding human rights and freedoms.

Specifically, the bill provides for the Ombudsman’s ability to submit a "special report" to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the chambers of the Oliy Majlis, and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The bill also grants the Ombudsman the right to prepare an alternative report on the fulfillment of Uzbekistan’s international obligations for submission to international organizations.

Requirements for candidates for the Ombudsman position are simplified under the bill. Some requirements, such as possessing high moral qualities, higher education, and experience in human rights protection, have been removed. Instead, the bill introduces various measures of impact for the Ombudsman, including warnings, representations, petitions, and demands, each described in a separate article.

During the preparation of the bill for the second reading, meetings and seminars were held with members of the working group, legal experts, and lawmakers. All proposals were thoroughly analyzed, and many were incorporated into the final version of the document.

The bill enhances the role of the Ombudsman as a national human rights institution, expands their rights, and clarifies their duties, including cooperation with national human rights institutions such as the Commissioner for Children’s Rights, the Commissioner for the Protection of Entrepreneurial Rights, and the National Center for Human Rights.

Lawmakers noted that the adoption of the bill would strengthen the Ombudsman’s role and expand their powers.

The draft law was approved by the deputies and has been forwarded to the Senate.