LocationsThe results of the joint efforts on Rule of Law in 2025
December 9, 2025
December 9, 2025, TASHKENT - Today, the project board meeting of the UNDP “Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights Protection in Uzbekistan” project was held in partnership with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman), and with the participation of civil society organizations, independent experts, and representatives of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
In his opening remarks, Anas Qarman, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, highlighted the project’s key achievements in 2025:
"Over 33,000 people, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and residents of rural areas, received free legal aid. The project has completed the development of the Yuridik Yordam online legal aid platform, which will unify all free legal aid providers under one system, marking a major milestone in improving coordination, transparency, and efficiency in access to justice."
During the meeting, a demonstration of the Yuridik Yordam online legal aid system showcased its capabilities to streamline access to primary and secondary legal aid across Uzbekistan. The platform is expected to significantly enhance access to justice, particularly for vulnerable populations in remote regions.
In 2025, the project supported six NGOs with small grants to deliver free legal aid and raise legal awareness among vulnerable and remote communities. Their work demonstrated the remarkable potential of NGOs: with relatively small grants, they provided high-impact services, pioneered new tools such as digital legal aid bots, and identified systemic gaps, including the shortage of sign-language interpreters, which creates barriers for people with hearing impairments.
The event concluded with an award ceremony for the winners of the Poetry Slam competition, organized within the framework of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, recognizing creative efforts to promote human rights and gender equality.
This initiative is part of the broader UNDP project “Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights Protection in Uzbekistan,” implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, the Ombudsman’s Office, and civil society organizations, with financial support from the Government of Finland.
