This opinion was expressed by the First Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Akramjon Nematov at the roundtable discussion on constitutional reform as the basis for ensuring the rule of law, security, development of a free and fair civil society, organized by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Brussels.

Speaking on the importance of constitutional reform for the development of civil society in Uzbekistan, Mr. Nematov noted that the main goal of constitutional reform is to build a humane, democratic, legal, social and secular state, the formation of an open and fair civil society.

In particular, the ISRS First Deputy Director drew attention to the fact that already in the draft preamble of the Constitution, for the first time, the desire of the people of Uzbekistan to build an open, harmonious and fair civil society is enshrined. At the same time, the term civil society is used for the first time, a separate section dedicated to its institutions is introduced. It is determined that political parties, trade unions, public foundations, other non-governmental organizations, civil society institutions, mass media form the basis of civil society and determine its content.

According to the ISRS representative, the constitutional reform should radically change the paradigm of thinking and principles of activity in the system of state and public administration, put the postulate “person-society-state” as the basis of relations in New Uzbekistan instead of the principle of “state-society-person”.

A.Nematov noted that the new draft Constitution significantly strengthens the rights and freedoms of the individual, significantly improves the constitutional and legal foundations of democracy and civil society, increases the responsibility of the authorities to society.

Source