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British Embassy supports partnership between Uzbek media and NGO

British Ambassador attended a Round Table on civil society development.

• From: British Embassy Tashkent
• Published: 24 January 2014
• Last updated: 24 January 2014 — See all updates

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The British Ambassador to Uzbekistan George Edgar attended a Round Table ‘Partnership between the Media and NGOs in Development of Civil Society’ held in Tashkent on 24 January 2014.

More than 30 print and electronic media journalists from the capital and regions of Uzbekistan, NGO and Uzbek Parliament representatives attended the round table organised by the International Training Centre for Journalists (ITCJ) and the Social Fund for Support and Development of Independent Media of Uzbekistan. Participants in the Round Table discussed ways that NGOs and the media can work together to promote transparency of government bodies, as well as the development of a legal basis that will allow the public to exercise more effective control over the activities of central and local government.

Participants in the Round Table were also informed about the results of the ITCJ project implemented in 2012-2013 in nine regions of Uzbekistan, where several hundred journalists and NGO representatives attended training courses on development of partnership and skills for joint work to strengthen civil society institutions. The project was sponsored by the Social Fund for Support and Development of Independent Media of Uzbekistan and the British Embassy in Tashkent.

In his speech at the Round Table Ambassador Edgar said:

We are watching with great interest the development of draft laws on Social Control in Uzbekistan and on Transparency of Government Bodies’ Activities. These acts are intended to make it easier for civil society to ensure that citizens’ rights, freedoms and interests are respected, and that government bodies and state officials act in accordance with the law.

Ambassador Edgar also told participants in Round Table how British public, including journalists and civil society activists, ensure transparency and accountability of government through wide access to information about the activities of central and local government.

Published 24 January 2014
Last updated 24 January 2014 + show all updates

1. 24 January 2014

   Added translation

2. 24 January 2014

   First published.