Legal Reform: Support to Democracy

Location

Uzbekistan

Duration

2002 - 2004

Donor

European Commission - Tacis

Budget

1.000.000 EURO

Description and Deliverables

The project aimed to assist the Republic of Uzbekistan in the advancement of democratic reform to reinforce the development of civil society based on the supremacy of law, principles of human rights and freedom, generally recognizes values of democracy and pluralism. The beneficiaries were the Oliy Majlis (Parliament of Uzbekistan), the Committee on Legislation and Judicial Issues, the Committee on Democracy Institutions, NGOs and self-governing organisation, the Institute for Monitoring of Acting Legislation and the Institute of Ombudsman. Further, the project focussed its attention to the NGOs as another main target group.

The main project objectives were:

To contribute to the improvement of policy and framework related to democracy development, adapting it to international standards
To improve relevant legislation on democracy and civil society, including improvement of legal drafting and enactment processes
To strengthen the institutional and human resource capacities of the related institutions (Institute of Ombudsman, Institute for Monitoring of Acting Legislation) and to enhance the professional skills of the personnel of the related structures
To significantly increase awareness of the requirements and functioning of a modern democratic society of all the direct and indirect beneficiaries of the project and the development of the understandings and capabilities of the beneficiaries to move in this direction institutionally as well as in implementation procedures and methods covering all components of the project.

The main outputs were:

International human rights standards reflected in national legislation
Increased effectiveness of the work of the Oliy Majlis Committee for Legislative and Judicial reform, Committee on Democracy Institutions, NGOs and self-governing organisations and the Institutes of Ombudsman and for Monitoring of Acting Legislation
Increased capacity within the Ombudsman's Institutes of Oliy Majlis for disseminating information about human rights to the population at large.
Significantly increased awareness of the requirements and the functioning of a modern democratic society in all the direct and indirect beneficiaries of the project

Overall project management, regular cooperation with the target groups
Installation of working groups, consisting of foreign and local experts
Support to the improvement of legislation: analysis of acting legislation, advice and training in drafting legislation and compatibility of existing legislation with international standards in the area of democracy and human rights, assistance in drafting/reviewing specific laws (drafting laws related to the two chamber parliament, committees and commissions, elections, NGOs, ombudsman issues and other areas)
Provision of assistance to the Ombudsman's institute regarding capacity building and processing with assistance to clients
Policy advice and counselling aimed to increase awareness of the requirements and functioning of a modern democratic society at the different target groups
Capacity building: execution of training (seminars and workshops) to the key target groups at the parliament and its committees
Organisation of six conferences (both in Tashkent and the regions)
Organisation of three study visits to EU countries
Twinning activities and dissemination of results
Assistance in managing public awareness campaigns
Library development and drafting of a glossary of law drafting terms
Creation of a local Information Centre of Oliy Majlis including updating of the Web Site of Oliy Majlis
Equipment procurement