LocationsFrom Law to Impact: Meeting the Legal Needs of People in Uzbekistan
May 13, 2025
Tashkent, 13 May 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ombudsman of the Oliy Majlis and the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan, hosted a roundtable to present findings from a Legal Needs Assessment – a national study exploring how people in Uzbekistan access and experience the legal system.
The event brought together government officials, civil society organizations, and international partners to discuss the results and chart next steps for improving access to justice, especially for vulnerable communities.
Since 2023, UNDP has supported efforts to strengthen the rule of law in Uzbekistan. The 2024 assessment revealed key gaps:
- 83% of people rely on mahallas or family networks—not formal legal systems—for help.
- Only 8.6% sought help from a lawyer, often due to high costs and low legal literacy.
- Land, housing, social security, and financial issues were among the most common legal problems.
The study also found that over a third of respondents faced legal issues simply because they didn’t understand the law.
To bridge these gaps, the report recommends expanding digital legal services, increasing funding for free legal aid, and better training for civil servants.
“Policy reforms need to connect formal and informal systems to truly meet people’s legal needs,” said Akiko Fujii, Resident Representative, UNDP Uzbekistan. “We’re ready to support initiatives that boost legal literacy and make services more affordable and accessible.”
Progress is already underway. Since 2022, Uzbekistan has adopted the Law on Free Legal Aid and recently expanded it through a presidential decree, classifying legal aid as a social service for people with a “social card.”
“Important steps have been taken, but more targeted efforts are needed—especially in rural and underserved areas,”said Ombudsperson Feruza Eshmatova.
The roundtable marked another milestone in improving legal access and promoting justice for all in Uzbekistan.
This initiative is part of UNDP’s project “Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights Protection in Uzbekistan,” funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and implemented with the Ministry of Justice.
