On May 15, a round table was held in Tashkent on the topic: “The role of media and journalists in promoting and protecting the environmental rights of citizens.” It is organized by the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights together with a number of partners.
Among the partner organizations are the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, the Agency of Information and Mass Communications under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Regional Office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for Central Asia, and the representative office of UNESCO in Uzbekistan.
During the round table, a comprehensive analysis was made of the role of media structures and journalists in enhancing and effectively protecting the environmental rights of citizens, in shaping public opinion, and developing and implementing environmental standards and policies.
The modern challenges and obstacles that journalists face when covering environmental issues, as well as the possibilities for improving the quality and accessibility of environmental information, were also discussed.
Over 50 people took part in the event, including representatives of the organizers, the Senate and Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, civil society and international organizations.
In his welcoming speech, the First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Director of the National Center for Human Rights, Akmal Saidov, highlighted in detail the country’s experience in implementing international environmental agreements and standards. Significant steps taken by the government of Uzbekistan to improve the environmental situation were emphasized, including the fact that for the first time in the country, state obligations were enshrined at the constitutional level in the field of ensuring citizens the right to a clean environment.
Particular attention was paid to increasing the number of specially protected natural areas in the country and strengthening environmental monitoring. A. Saidov also emphasized the role of media structures and journalists in covering environmental issues, which helps not only to increase public awareness, but also to involve citizens in decision-making processes related to environmental protection.
The representative and head of the UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan, Sarah Noshadi, highly appreciated the reforms taking place in Uzbekistan, emphasizing their significance and scale in the field of ecology.
She noted that the UNESCO office is actively supporting the preparation of the draft Law on Ecology. Its preparation is aimed at improving the regulatory framework, which will make it possible to more effectively solve environmental problems and protect the rights of citizens to a favorable environment. Sarah Noshadi paid special attention in her speech to the issue of the safety of journalists involved in covering environmental issues.
Pavlo Bialyk, Human Rights Adviser of the Regional Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for Central Asia, emphasized the importance of journalists in promoting the protection of environmental rights, pointing to their key role in covering complex and sensitive aspects of this area. Their work ranges from reporting on environmental pollution to climate change, biodiversity loss and public health impacts.
Pavlo Byalyk also noted the role of journalists in informing the public about the legal and regulatory aspects of protecting environmental rights, providing a platform to support activists and organizations involved in environmental protection.
During the round table, international and national experts in the field of environmental rights shared their knowledge and experience, highlighted the key aspects and challenges that media structures face when covering environmental issues, as well as ways to promote environmental rights.
During the discussions, successful practices and strategies were reviewed, as well as examples of the effective implementation of regulations and legislative measures aimed at protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development.
Press service of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights
Editorial office of the newspapers “Yangi Uzbekiston” and “Pravda Vostoka”
http://nhrc.uz/ru/news/m13183
