Uzbekistan Roundup: Femicide research, public debt, UN Human Rights committee

Uzbekistan - South Korea Cooperation

Uzbekistan and South Korea discussed bilateral cooperation in various fields, including energy, information and communication technologies, and infrastructure. The meeting resulted in identifying further steps to deepen collaboration and holding meetings with key Korean government officials and leading companies, Azer News reported.

Turkey - Uzbekistan trade

Turkey and Uzbekistan aim to boost trade volume to $5 billion. At a recent meeting, Turkish Deputy Minister of Trade Mustafa Tuzcu highlighted Uzbekistan's significance as a key partner in foreign trade, to increase trade volume. Turkiye Newspaper indicated that both countries are committed to enhancing cooperation in complementary sectors and maintaining dialogue. The meeting also emphasized historical and cultural connections between the two nations.

Femicide research

Gender-related killings, or femicide, have reached alarming levels, with nearly 89,000 women and girls intentionally killed in 2022. UN Women's regional programme, "Making Every Woman and Girl Count," is researching femicide in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to address data gaps and promote effective interventions to prevent gender-based violence. According to UN Women, the initiative aims to establish a cohesive methodology for research and gain a deeper understanding of femicide in the region. With over 250 applicants, the initiative is set to advance research on femicide. It will include an orientation webinar, in-person workshop, data collection and analysis, and publication of final products in November 2024.

Public debt

Uzbekistan's public debt is projected to reach $37.9bn by the end of 2024, constituting 37.9% of the country's GDP. The external debt is expected to be $31.1bn, with noticeable fluctuations in borrowing agreements in recent years. Expenditures on servicing the debt in 2024 are forecasted to reach $3.9bn, representing 3.7% of GDP, media agency Daryo reported.

UN Human Rights committee

Uzbekistan's Akmal Saidov, director of the National Center for Human Rights, has been elected to the UN Human Rights Committee for the first time. He will serve from 2025 to 2028, making Uzbekistan the first Central Asian country to join the committee. The committee monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by its 173 member states, ensuring civil and political rights are fully respected. According to the Times of Central Asia, Saidov received the most votes in the election held at the United Nations headquarters in New York on May 29.