Meeting with the independent human rights activist Uktam Pardaev within the World Bank mission

On December 16, the participants of the World Bank mission held a meeting with the independent human rights activist Uktam Pardaev at “Grand Uzbekistan” Hotel in Jizzakh city. Robert Wrobel, the World Bank Senior specialist on social development, informed the human rights activist about the process of sub-projects implementation in Jizzakh region. It was also noted that for the purpose of providing the full information about the Project, qishloq facilitators conducted trainings for the citizens, and at the present moment this process is established and documented. Then the Deputy director of the Project, Zokir Rakhimov, briefly told about the progress of the tender works. Uktam Pardaev noted that it was gratifying to emphasize that the cases of forced labor were being eliminated in Uzbekistan, and also noted that he had conducted his own independent monitoring of the Project, where he pointed on the importance of implementation the sub-projects for provision of clean drinking water and reconstruction of electrical networks in Oykor and Muzbulak MCAs. At the same time, he also recommended to take advantages of local TV channels to ensure that the general public was aware of the Project. In addition, he particularly draw the attention on the citizens’ satisfaction with the reconstruction process of the school branch in Saroy MCA of Bakhmal district. The Social safeguards specialist of the Project stressed that since it was a social project, the main focus was to increase the proactive attitude and the potential of the citizens, ensuring their direct participation in the decision-making process. In conclusion, the participants made a step-by-step analysis and expressed an exchange of views on the work carried out in Jizzakh region in general.