Uzbekistan

Since the Uzbek government is reluctant to address poverty explicitly, there is no official definition of poverty in Uzbekistan and thus no accurate estimate of its extent. However, the government is greatly concerned with social development and the rise of inequality, especially regarding income disparities between rural and urban areas. Reform of the country’s social protection system is undergoing growth and change. There are concerted efforts at gearing social assistance towards those to the needy, child and maternal benefits, and assistance to the elderly. Free basic healthcare, free education, and social programs are all part of this effort.

The Uzbek government is known for committing major violations of the rights to freedom of religion, expression, association, assembly, and assembly.

In May of 2005, the Uzbek government killed hundreds of unarmed protesters in what is known as the “Andijan Massacre.” To date no steps have been taken to investigate or hold accountable those accountable for the atrocity; rather, the government denies all responsibility, and is working to “re-write” history by blaming Islamic extremists, forcing false confessions, and forcibly ejecting foreign journalists present at the time.

Uzbekistan has no independent judiciary, and torture is widespread in both pre-trial and post-conviction facilities. Police use torture and other illegal means to coerce confessions from detainees, and investigators block defense attorneys from visiting their clients during pre-trial detention.

The Uzbek government has used the “war on terror” as a justification for its entrenched habit of religious persecution. Imprisonment of individuals on charges of “fundamentalism” is often imposed upon individuals whose peaceful Islamic beliefs, practices, and affiliations fell outside of strict government controls. Approximately seven thousand people are believed to have been imprisoned since the government’s campaign against independent Islam began in the mid-1990s. Prisoners are sometimes forced to sign statements begging the president for forgiveness, renouncing their faith, and incriminating themselves as terrorists.

The government has taken steps to close hundreds of NGOs in cities throughout the country, as well as expelling or restricting international NGOs. The government also refuses to register any independent human rights groups.

The countries of Central Asia report the highest number of tuberculosis mortalities in all of Europe. Uzbekistan reports 26,000 new cases of tuberculosis each year. The tuberculosis situation in Uzbekistan is marked by significantly low levels of case detection, a substantial increase in the number of smear-positive cases, a high mortality rate and a dangerous increase in multidrug-resistant TB.

The increased rate of HIV infection in Uzbekistan attracted the attention of high-level officials in 2004. Their awareness of HIV-related issues is increasing, and the government is adopting a more effective approach toward people likely to be exposed to the virus. The current rate of adults living with AIDS/HIV is 0.1%.

Uzbekistan’s main environmental problems are soil salinity, land pollution, and water pollution. Chemicals used in farming, such as DDT, contribute to the pollution of the soil, and desertification is a continuing concern. The nation’s forestlands are also threatened and continue to dwindle. The country’s water supply suffers from toxic chemical pollutants from industrial activity as well as fertilizers and pesticides. Only 1.8% of Uzbekistan’s total land area is protected.

Uzbekistan was a noted Muslim education center for centuries, attracting students from other Muslim countries. After Soviet takeover, a secular state-funded educational system was established. The educational system is now being modified, with increased emphasis on Uzbek literature, culture, and history.

There are three universities in Uzbekistan. The adult illiteracy rate is less than one percent.

Center for Social Research “TAHLIL” - Tashkent Center for Social Research "TAHLIL" is a non-governmental organization based in Uzbekistan. The main thrusts of activities of the organization is conducting fundamental and applied researches in the humanities and social sciences, the introduction of innovative research methods, support to the initiatives of and projects undertaken by young researchers in the areas of science, culture and education.

iEARN Uzbekistan Center - iEARN Uzbekistan Center (International Education and Resource Network in Uzbekistan) is made up of over 100 schools in all regions of Uzbekistan. The mission of iEARN Uzbekistan Center is to empower teachers and young people to work together online using the Internet and other new communications technologies. Approximately 1000 students in Uzbekistan each day are engaged in collaborative project work with peers around the world.

Project Hope - Project HOPE is currently implementing two programs to improve the health of the people of Uzbekistan. Due to the rapid spread of tuberculosis (TB), Project HOPE is currently conducting a TB Management program in the region. The program uses the World Health Organization's (WHO) Directly Observed Short Course (DOTS) system to train health professionals to diagnose and treat this potentially deadly disease.
In addition, Project HOPE is operating a mother and child health program to improve essential medical services including prenatal and postnatal care, newborn care, breastfeeding, child spacing, and the integrated management of childhood illness.

Rabat Malik - We are a nongovernmental organization dedicated to teaching young people about the environment.

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