The
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recognises that mainstreaming or
integrating human rights into its democratic governance
activities is essential if it is to contribute to the fulfillment
of the inherent dignity and worth of the human person.
UNDP
Uzbekistan has selected democratic governance as one of the major
components of its Country Programme 2005-2009. In order to assist
it to develop the human rights aspects of this Programme, UNDP
commissioned HRC Director Mark Kelly
to conduct an independent human rights fact finding and strategy
formulation mission. The goal of the mission, which took place in
Tashkent from 20 October to 5 November 2004, was to assist UNDP
to “find the relevant niche” and to formulate its
programme strategy in consultation with relevant partners and
stakeholders among government, civil society and the donor
community.
During the course of the mission, Mark Kelly held high-level meetings and consultations with a wide variety of government departments, civil society organisations and donors. He also facilitated a round table with representatives of civil society organisations and other private individuals with an interest in the promotion and protection of human rights in Uzbekistan. At the end of the mission, he prepared a report setting out the results of his fact-finding work, and proposing an outline programme strategy for the human rights aspects of the democratic governance element of UNDP’s Uzbekistan Country Programme 2005-2009.