LocationsStrengthening Justice through Standardized Free Legal Aid
August 22, 2024
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan — Today, in a significant step towards strengthening the rule of law and enhancing human rights, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, is hosting a roundtable on free legal aid (FLA) system. This key event has drawn esteemed figures, including senior management from the Ministry of Justice, the Chamber of Advocates of Uzbekistan, NGO “MADAD”, and various representatives from civil society institutions. The roundtable discussion is centered on the critical role of standardized FLA in safeguarding justice throughout the country, underscoring the ongoing commitment to improve access to legal services for all citizens. This initiative is funded by the Government of Finland through the joint project with UNDP ‘Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights Protection in Uzbekistan’.
This project aims to significantly improve the country’s FLA system, which includes both primary and secondary providers of FLA. Efforts are underway to address and fill the existing gaps within the system, ensuring a more robust framework for legal aid provision. As part of a collaborative initiative, the Ministry of Justice and the project team have developed a set of minimum standards for state-funded legal aid. These standards apply to criminal, administrative, and civil proceedings and primary FLA settings.
Acknowledging the importance of FLA framework, Ms. Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan mentioned:
“This meeting serves as a platform to promote understanding, exchange ideas and work together towards our common goals of improving the free legal aid system in Uzbekistan. With ongoing reforms, we're striving to protect human rights, make justice more accessible, and ensure that everyone can trust in a fair and efficient legal system that meets international standards.”
Importantly, in line with its commitment to international human rights standards, Uzbekistan has ratified key UN treaties and conventions requiring the establishment of effective FLA mechanisms. These systems aim to streamline court proceedings by improving legal representation, thereby speeding up the resolution of cases and improving efficiency through preparation that is more thorough and better quality of documents.
The event featured a keynote presentation on “A Brief Overview of the System of Free Legal Aid in Uzbekistan”, which outlined several critical improvements to the FLA framework in Uzbekistan. These included addressing the systematic legal needs of the population, establishing a comprehensive case management system for both primary and secondary legal aid providers, setting minimum qualification and organizational requirements for primary legal aid providers, and extending accreditation to all eligible entities. It also detailed the standards and requirements for secondary legal aid, especially those services that are “state-funded”.
Following this, a distinguished member of the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Uzbekistan discussed “Minimum Standards for Legal Aid: Relevance and Importance”, highlighting the essential role of robust standards in providing effective legal support. Adding a technological perspective, a representative of the Ministry of Justice presented the “New Version of the Legal Aid Information System”. This system will revolutionize the way legal aid services are managed and delivered across the country, increasing transparency and efficiency.
In addition, participants discussed a range of issues aimed at improving the effectiveness and accessibility of legal aid services. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to upholding the principles of justice and equal access to FLA in Uzbekistan.
The roundtable concluded with a handover ceremony where essential ICT equipment was transferred to five legal aid providers, marking a milestone in the practical empowerment of existing NGOs. This initiative not only reflects Uzbekistan’s commitment to upholding the rule of law but also ensures that justice remains accessible to every citizen across the nation. This event was organized as part of UNDP project “Strengthening the Rule of Law and Human Rights Protection in Uzbekistan” implemented jointly with the Ministry of Justice and funded by the Government of Finland.
