On 9 November 2026, the event “First National Dialogue on Business and Human Rights in Uzbekistan: Unlocking the Way Forward” took place at the Azimut Grand Hotel in Tashkent. The National Dialogue was organized within the framework of the joint “Business and Human Rights” project of the National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The event, held in a hybrid format, was attended by representatives of state bodies, the chambers of the Oliy Majlis, workers’ and employers’ organizations, entrepreneurs, academic institutions, non-governmental non-profit organizations and international organizations.
The Dialogue was opened by Academician Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, and Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan. In his remarks, A. Saidov addressed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the new corporate sustainability requirements of the European Union and their impact on Uzbek exporters.
“Today, foreign investors and buyers ask about the price and quality of a product, and they also ask about the conditions in which it was produced,” Academician A. Saidov said in his remarks.
The Director of the National Centre recalled Uzbekistan’s negotiations on accession to the World Trade Organization, as well as its request in 2026 to begin the process of adhering to the Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. He also provided information on the draft National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights developed by the National Centre.
The first session discussed global and regional trends in business and human rights, the responsible business conduct standards of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and their significance for trade, investment and supply chains. The Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman) also spoke at the session.
The second session presented the results of the National Baseline Assessment prepared at the request of UNDP. According to the assessment, the elements necessary for this area exist in Uzbekistan, but they have not yet been brought together into a coherent national system. Risks related to labour rights, the environment and local communities persist in agriculture, construction and manufacturing.
The afternoon discussions were devoted to the State duty to protect against business-related human rights abuses and to the corporate responsibility to respect human rights through due diligence.
In the third session, representatives of the National Centre, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment took the floor.
At the end of the Dialogue, participants discussed priority areas for further cooperation and steps towards preparing the next National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. The results of the Dialogue will be summarized by the National Centre and UNDP.
As part of the event, a one-day training on human rights due diligence will be held on 10 November for representatives of state bodies and civil society organizations, followed by a three-day training for business representatives on 11–13 November.
Press Service of the
National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights