CCPR UNITED NATIONS International covenant on civil and political rights Distr. GENERAL CCPR/CO/71/UZB 26 April 2001 Original: ENGLISH HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE Seventy-first session CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 40 OF THE COVENANT Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee Uzbekistan 1. The Committee considered the initial report of Uzbekistan (CCPR/C/UZB/99/1) at its 1908th, 1910th and 1911th meetings, held on 26 and 27 March 2001, and adopted the following concluding observations at its 1922nd meeting, held on 4 April 2001. A. Introduction 2. The Committee has examined the detailed and comprehensive initial report of Uzbekistan, covering events since the country’s independence in 1991. It appreciates the frankness with which the report acknowledged problems and shortcomings encountered in the implementation of Covenant rights, and the State party’s willingness to provide further information and statistics in writing. It regrets, however, the delay in the submission of the initial report and the fact that the report does not give a full picture of the human rights situation in practice. B. Positive aspects 3. The Committee commends the State party, which is in a period of transition from totalitarian rule, compounded by instability in the region, for undertaking the process of bringing its legislation into harmony with its international obligations. It notes the ratification of a number of human rights treaties and the enactment of many laws in order to bring domestic legislation into line with the requirements of the Covenant. GE.01-41479 (E)