A/78/306 40. In Tajikistan, the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia provided support in the drafting and adoption of national legislation on equality and non-discrimination, which was adopted in July 2022 and prohibits direct and indirect discrimination based on race, origin, language and ethnicity. 17 OHCHR also contributed to the drafting of a national strategy for the protection of human rights, which aimed to promote the participation of national minorities in the political, economic and cultural life of the country. Effective implementation of the anti-discrimination legislation and protection of minorities by the Government of Tajikistan included addressing the recommendations from the United Nations human rights mechanisms on the situation of the Pamiri minority in Kŭhistoni Badakhshon Autonomous Province, which has deteriorated since November 2021. The events of 2 022, raised in a statement by the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, caused concern regarding the need for the authorities to adopt conflict-prevention measures that met international human rights standards, including the protection of the Pamiri minor ity. 18 41. In Uzbekistan, on 5 July 2022, the High Commissioner for Human Rights called for a prompt, independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of at least 18 people 19 during clashes at protests in the Uzbek region of Karakalpakstan. OHCHR continued to monitor the situation in Karakalpakstan and to advocate for the publication of legislation in minority languages and the translation into Karakalpak and Russian of a booklet on the universal periodic review, as well as the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 2. Europe 42. On 21 June 2022, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, representatives of the Human Rights Ombudsman, the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, the Central Election Commission and the Communications Regulatory Agency, under the auspices of the Resid ent Coordinator, signed a pledge reaffirming their commitment to countering all forms of hate speech and discrimination. 20 43. In Kosovo, 21 during the reporting period, the human rights component of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo found, through its monitoring of hate speech and incitement to hatred online and on social media in line with the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, that such incidents were particularly prevalent along inter-ethnic lines, as well as when targeting members of the LGBTQI+ community. It noted that the lack of systematic monitoring, disapprobation or sanction of such exchanges on social media by public authorities risked deepening inter-ethnic divisions and discrimination and might cause violence. 22 44. In 2021 and 2022, OHCHR in the Republic of Moldova provided expertise and technical assistance for the development of a national programme of support for the __________________ 17 18 19 20 21 22 23-15674 See https://cis-legislation.com/document.fwx?rgn=142287. OHCHR, “Tajikistan: UN expert fears crackdown against Pamiri minority could spiral out of control”, 20 May 2022. OHCHR, “Bachelet calls for urgent probe into deadly protest in Uzbek city of Nukus”, 5 July 2022. United Nations, “#NoToHate: human rights institutions and the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina pledge to counter hate speech in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, 21 June 2022. All references to Kosovo should be understood to be made in the conte xt of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). United Nations, “Ending hate speech and discrimination closer than ever – year-long project to train municipal staff concludes”, 6 July 2023. 11/17