The People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan in the lower house of parliament hosted the next meeting of the faction. A number of draft laws related to interests of the electorate of the party were discussed at the meeting.

First, members of the faction considered the draft law “On preschool education and upbringing children of early and preschool age”. As noted, this draft law was developed in order to fulfill the instructions outlined in the program “Additional measures for further improving the system of preschool education for 2018-2019”, approved by the Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of September 30, 2018.

The draft law provides for introducing of a number of amendments. The basic principles and development goals of preschool children, as well as state guarantees of preschool education, are determined. For the first time, national legislation defines the individual stages of the early development process of preschool children, that is, raising children and getting by them of a preschool education. Classifications of preschool education institutions, organization of activities of preschool education institutions, their rights and obligations were determined.

At the meeting, deputies also widely discussed the draft law “On the rights of persons with disabilities”. As speakers noted, currently more than 700 thousand people with disabilities live in Uzbekistan, including more than 100.0 thousand people with disabilities under the age of 16. The draft law “On the rights of persons with disabilities” was developed in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On measures of radically improving the system of state support for people with disabilities” of 2017.

Experts noted that an analysis of the legislative acts in force in our country regarding the rights of persons with disabilities allows us to conclude that there are trends in two directions in law enforcement practice. This draft law streamlines all the rights of persons with disabilities, provides for the creation of equal conditions for their participation in all spheres of life as equal members of society, and is based on fundamental human rights and freedoms. Members of the faction particularly noted that this is important in the reliable protection of the rights and interests of persons with disabilities, who are the electorate of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan.

Members of the faction also discussed in detail the draft law “On guarantees of equal rights and opportunities for men and women”. “Gender equality” means equal rights and opportunities for men and women, as well as equal opportunities for their use of resources and services in society. Gender equality means providing equal opportunities for men and women to participate in the process of democratic governance, adoption of laws and the security sector.

The draft law is aimed at regulating relations in the field of ensuring equal rights and opportunities for men and women in all spheres of life and society. The draft law specifically defines such concepts as “gender equality” and “gender discrimination”, their varieties, tasks and functions of authorized bodies, norms for ensuring gender equality in participation in public administration, hiring, obtaining loans, doing business, measures for preventing violations of gender equality, as well as responsibility for committing such acts.

In addition, the draft law defines important norms that ensure equal participation of men and women in the field of public service, their equal participation in the selection of candidates for government posts, exercise of the right to vote, in education, science and culture, healthcare, economics, business, fulfillment of labor and family obligations.

Powers of a single system of all state bodies, institutions, organizations and civil society institutions were defined in order to implement state policy in the field of ensuring equal rights and opportunities for men and women.

As members of the faction of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan noted, they support the issue of providing equal rights and opportunities to men and women. This will play an important role in ensuring their equality in the field of social protection.

Deputies also expressed their opinions regarding the draft law “On protection of women from harassment and violence”.

The draft law is aimed at regulating relations in the field of protecting women from oppression and violence in everyday life, at work, educational institutions and other places. It defines measures aimed at preventing all harassment and violence of women, responsibility for committing such acts, procedural guarantees implying the protection of women faced with harassment and violence.

Today, over 220 thousand women are actively involved in implementation of the program goals and objectives of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. The party program pays special attention to protection of women. In this sense, the draft laws “On guarantees of equal rights and opportunities for men and women”, as well as “On protection of women from harassment and violence” are fully consonant with the program goals of the party.

The faction determined its position on the draft laws considered at the meeting.