The seventh plenary session of Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan is underway today in the capital. Invited members of the Cabinet of Ministers, heads of ministries and departments, representatives of other organizations, civil society institutions and the media are attending the event.
The senators started their work with consideration of the issue “On Amnesty in connection with the twenty-fourth anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, submitted to the upper house of Parliament by Interim President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh. Mirziyayev in accordance with paragraph 23 of article 93 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The session participants noted that the adoption of the Amnesty act on the occasion of the twenty-fourth anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution is another striking manifestation of humanity of our state, in which a man, his life, freedom, honour, dignity and other inalienable rights are the highest value, the essence and substance of democratic, political and socio-economic reforms. Application of the Amnesty act in relation to certain categories of individuals is of great social and educational value, is a continuation of the strategic course towards liberalization of the judicial system.
The Senate of the Oliy Majlis has adopted a decision on this issue. It provides for the release of sentenced women, individuals who at the time of the commission of the crime were under 18, men over 60 years of age, foreign nationals, as well as persons recognized in accordance with the law as disabled of 1 or 2 groups, citizens of other categories (subject to limitations). The decision also includes the categories of persons that are not subject to the Amnesty.
In addition, the resolution of the Senate has established a procedure for judicial consideration of cases in respect of persons subject to exemption from criminal liability and punishment under the Amnesty act. Hereby, it is provided for involving of senators, deputies of the Jokargy Kenes of Karakalpakstan, Kengashes of people’s deputies of regions, the city of Tashkent, districts and cities in the implementation of parliamentary and public control over the use of Amnesty decrees, as well as transparency of the procedures for its execution.
The document also includes a set of measures that determines not only the exemption from liability or punishment of a particular category of persons, but also their treatment, employment, and a number of other important measures for the social rehabilitation and adaptation of persons released from punishment.
The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On social services for the elderly, disabled and other socially vulnerable categories of the population” was considered by the senators on October 12, at the seventh plenary session. Previously, the act was submitted to the Legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan within the implementation of the State program “Year of attention and care for the older generation”, initiated by the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan I. A. Karimov.
The law is adopted in order to further improve the legal framework for the provision of social services to the needy categories of the population, determining the General requirements and the main areas of their provision, as well as raising the role and responsibility of government, non-government organizations and business entities in this field. It is provided for to implement measures aimed at strengthening the monitoring and public control over the execution of legislation requirements in the provision of social services.
The law is a comprehensive document that enshrines the guarantees of improving the quality, level and efficiency of social services’ delivery, protecting the interests of those in need.
The legal act clearly defined the main directions of state policy in the field of raising the efficiency of social services, designated the criteria and procedure for detection of categories of population in need of social services.
An important place in the law is given to the forms and types of social services in the areas of education, employment and health.
According to senators, the implementation of the provisions of this law will allow to make the system of social protection open for public scrutiny, will serve not only to streamline the process of providing social services to the population, but also further improve the socio-economic state of citizens, improve the quality and efficiency of social services, will ensure the continuation of a strong social policy carried out in the country. The senators approved the law.