Uzbekistan Signs UN Refugee Agency Cooperation Plan for 2026

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan and UNHCR Lock In 2026 Agenda on Refugee Rights as Tashkent Deepens UN Alignment

Uzbekistan's National Human Rights Center and the UN refugee agency signed a formal joint work plan on June 9, committing both sides to a structured annual agenda on refugee protections, statelessness, and legal reform — the latest signal of Tashkent's accelerating integration into international human rights frameworks.

The agreement was concluded during a meeting between Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, and Mahir Safarli, UNHCR Regional Representative for Central Asia, with UNHCR Central Asia Legal Protection Officer Balzhan Oshakbayeva also in attendance.

Talks centered on the current state and future trajectory of cooperation in protecting refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless persons — a population that remains among the most legally vulnerable in the region. Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening national protection mechanisms, deepening institutional coordination, and advancing Uzbekistan's compliance with its international obligations in this area.

The 2026 Joint Work Plan signed at the conclusion of the meeting sets out the principal axes of cooperation for the year ahead. Priority areas include reforming national legislation and law enforcement practices, conducting joint educational and public awareness campaigns, building the professional capacity of relevant specialists, and advancing international standards on the protection of refugees, stateless persons, and those requiring international protection.

Both parties also reviewed prospects for joint projects aimed at reinforcing the capacity of state institutions and broadening engagement with international organizations across the human rights spectrum.

Uzbekistan has in recent years pursued a consistent legislative reform agenda on human rights, including targeted measures on statelessness prevention and the protection of vulnerable populations. UNHCR's institutional partnership has been identified as a key driver in that process, with the 2026 plan representing the latest formal commitment in an evolving relationship.

Both sides confirmed their mutual interest in sustaining and deepening the partnership to ensure that the agreed initiatives translate into measurable improvements in the protection of human rights and freedoms in Uzbekistan, in line with international standards.