New Uzbekistan: Current State and Prospects

Large-scale reforms are being carried out in the New Uzbekistan to form a free and strong civil society.
In 2017-2024, 64 regulatory documents aimed at supporting and increasing the effectiveness of civil society institutions were adopted, and the necessary legal and institutional framework for their support was created.

The President separately noted that the creation of the necessary conditions for the free activity of civil society institutions and their active participation in state and public administration, and further improvement of the mechanisms for their state support will be in the center of our attention.

New Uzbekistan and civil society: constitutional, legal and organizational foundations

Large-scale work has been carried out in order to improve the activities of civil society institutions.

Firstly, a separate chapter devoted to civil society institutions has been included in the new edition of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the first time. This is Chapter XIII "Civil Society Institutions", Article 69 of which states: "Civil society institutions, including public associations and other non-governmental non-profit organizations, citizens' self-government bodies, and the media form the basis of civil society."

The main thing is that the new version of the Constitution for the first time stipulates that the activities of civil society institutions are carried out in accordance with the law. These institutions have strengthened the organizational basis of civil society. At the same time, the interests of civil society institutions are protected by 5 articles of other chapters of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Secondly, for the first time in the history of Uzbekistan, the Concept for the Development of Civil Society in 2021-2025 was adopted, the main directions of which are defined as follows:

– consistent improvement of the legal basis for the development of civil society;

– providing assistance to civil society institutions and further improving the mechanism of their state support;

– creating the necessary conditions for the active participation of civil society institutions in state and public administration;

– further expanding the participation of civil society institutions in the implementation of state social projects;

– ensuring the openness of the activities of civil society institutions.

Thirdly, a democratic organizational and legal system of support for civil society institutions has been created. In particular, Public Funds have been formed under the Oliy Majlis and local Kengashes of People's Deputies. The Public Fund under the Oliy Majlis has allocated 1 trillion 916 billion soums to support civil society institutions over the past seven years. As a result, support was provided for 2,246 projects. This is 30 times more than in 2008-2016. Over the past 3 years, 2,120 projects worth 140 billion soums have been implemented with the help of territorial funds.

Fourth, in order to protect the rights and interests, strengthen the social protection of persons with disabilities, the Society of the Blind, the Society of the Deaf, the Association of Disabled People of Uzbekistan, almost 500 branches of these organizations fully use state subsidies.

Fifth, as part of measures to provide state support to civil society institutions, "Houses of Friendship and Non-Governmental Organizations" have been opened in each region. These houses house 350 NGOs and national cultural centers free of charge.

Sixth, the fee for registering non-governmental organizations has been reduced by half on average. Public associations of senior citizens, women and children are completely exempt from paying fees. The re-registration period has been reduced from one month to 15 days.

Seventh, the abolition of the requirement for non-governmental non-profit organizations to obtain permission from the justice authorities to conduct their activities has further strengthened the freedom of their activities.

Eighth, the process of receiving funds from external sources has been simplified. The requirement to open a special bank account has been abolished. The period for considering applications for funds has been reduced from 40 to 15 days.

At the same time, the amount of funds that can be received without approval from the justice authority has been increased by 5 times. As a result, grants attracted over the past 7 years have exceeded 125 million dollars.

Ninth, all public services are provided by non-governmental non-profit organizations in electronic form. The e-ngo.uz portal is used for this.

Tenth, civil society institutions have become direct and active participants in the large-scale reforms carried out in New Uzbekistan. Such active NGOs as the Vatandoshlar Public Foundation, the Khunarmand Association, the Soglom Avlod Foundation, the World Youth Association of Uzbekistan, the Society of Disabled People of Uzbekistan, the Center for Progressive Reforms, the Association of Mahallas of Uzbekistan, the Development Strategy Center, and the Yuksalish National Movement are participating in this process.

Prospects for Civil Societies in the New Uzbekistan

Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. UP-124 "On measures to further improve the system of state support for civil society institutions" dated August 26, 2024 is aimed at creating a system of state support for civil society institutions based on the principles of transparency and healthy competition, as well as additional conditions for increasing the effectiveness of socially significant programs. The Decree defines the following six main areas of state support for civil society institutions, which will help strengthen their role at the current stage of development of the New Uzbekistan:

The first area is further increasing the activity of civil society institutions in the life of the state and society, fully using their potential in the development of the socio-economic, cultural, spiritual and humanitarian spheres;

The second area is assisting in the implementation of initiatives aimed at the interests of society and the real needs of the population, as well as aimed at solving urgent problems that persist at the local level;

The third area is further development of mutually beneficial social partnership between government agencies and civil society institutions;

The fourth direction is to stimulate the implementation of effective public control by civil society institutions in promoting the development of all spheres of state and social life;

The fifth direction is to establish links between civil society institutions and compatriots abroad and to strengthen cooperation with their foreign associations;

The sixth direction is to strengthen the material and technical base of civil society institutions and create favorable organizational and legal conditions for them to carry out their activities.

The decree provides for the following incentives and opportunities for civil society institutions:

Firstly, the establishment of a Public Fund for the Support of Civil Society Institutions under the Parliament, as well as its territorial divisions.

Now, the representatives of the Senate and the Legislative Chamber will alternately chair the Parliamentary Commission for the Management of the Fund's Resources. This will increase the efficiency of the Fund's management.

Secondly, the activities of consultative groups from among representatives of civil society institutions will be established under the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and local Kengashes.

Thirdly, government agencies are granted the right to finance social partnership projects initiated by civil society institutions without a competition in the amount of up to 1000 times the basic calculation value.

Fourthly, in order to expand citizen participation in state and public administration, representatives of civil society institutions will chair public councils under government agencies.

Fifthly, given the social significance of state grants and social procurement projects, income and social tax rates for such projects have been reduced by 50 percent for a period of three years. The saved funds will be used to implement the project goals and will help increase their effectiveness.

Sixthly, from January 1, 2025, the state fee established for state registration of public associations of persons with disabilities, veterans, women and children will be reduced by 2 times.

Seventhly, every year in the first week of December, a "Civil Society Week" will be held, within the framework of which the Parliamentary Commission will award representatives of the sphere with the badge "For Contribution to the Development of Civil Society".

Eighth, the foundation under the Oliy Majlis will award the national prize “Fukarolik Tashabbusi” (“Civil Initiative”) every two years.

Ninth, a nomination will be established in the direction of covering the activities of civil society institutions in the international competition for the national prize “Oltin Kalam”, traditionally held every year among journalists.

Akmal Saidov,
First Deputy Speaker
of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis,
Academician.