Uzbekistan, Tashkent, 28 June / Trend corr. T.Jukov / The Senate of Uzbekistan Parliament approved the bill to join the UN Anti -Corruption Convention.
Senate also approved the bill to ratify the Protocol to warn and prevent human trafficking, particularly women and children trafficking, and punishment rules from the UN Anti Trans National Organized Crime Convention. Both bills were passed in the 14th plenary session of the Senate on 27 June.
" Uzbekistan implements anti crime arrangements in the state management system and economy sphere. The legislation system of the country meets the accepted rules and standards. Joining the Convention shows Uzbekistan's adherence to deepen democratic reforms and to protect human rights. This bill will enable to implement the legal system, state service and to increase economical attractiveness of the country for foreign countries in the future," is stated in the statement released by the news-service of the Parliament.
"A modern legislation basis, which provide an efficient struggle against corruption, has been created in Uzbekistan,' Suraye Adilhojayeva, a member of the Senate Committee of the Parliament on foreign issues, stated. "Joining to the Convention will lead to further upgrade of the national legislation, as well as to increase responsibility of state servicemen by expansion of the citizen community. Joining the international document is also a huge step to build legal state and further deepening of legal reforms in Uzbekistan.
According to the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2007, published by the world coalition against corruption Transparency International, Uzbekistan takes 175th place due to this negative index. According to independent researchers, amongst the CIS countries Uzbekistan together with Turkmenistan and Tajikistan are considered a corruption state. The corruption index is specified on the ground of 18 researches and polls by experts, which have been held by 12 independent organizations. Specifying the corruption rate experts take into consideration the rate of bribe taking, as well as involvement of state servicemen in business, illegal justice, legislation against money laundering and transparence of high ranking officials.
Over twenty court anti-corruption processes over high ranking officials took place in the country for half a year. All the officials were sentenced to long years of imprisonment. In spring 2008, heads of Samarkand and Khorezm provinces were dismissed by the President's order due to abuse of power, bribery taking and violation of rules.