UNODC participated at the international scientific and practical conference on “Actual problems of combating crime: theory and practice” in Uzbekistan.

On 25 November 2022, UNODC participated at the international scientific and practical conference on “Actual problems of combating crime: theory and practice”, which was held at the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 

The event brought together over 200 participants from law enforcement agencies, as well as representatives of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Parliament), officials from ministries and departments, specialists from leading law enforcements educational institutions of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan.

Rustam Khatamov, Head of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in his opening remarks noted: “Effective implementation of countering crime in the world, especially with its organized and transnational types, requires multifaceted cooperation, mutual exchange of experience and knowledge, practical implementation of developed proposals and recommendations, new systems and mechanisms of countering crime.”

Akmal Saidov, First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Director of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights highlighted:

“This scientific and practical conference is important due to the recommendations given on improving the legal mechanisms for combating crime, improving the legal culture in society by strengthening the role of civil society institutions in this process, expanding regional and international cooperation”.

Reda Sirgediene, UNODC Regional Adviser on Countering Trafficking in Persons and Migrant Smuggling in Central Asia spoke about the UNODC technical assistance in Central Asia to enhance countering human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Ms. Sirgediene noted that nowadays challenges are related to crimes that are carried out online, difficulties with these crimes’ prosecution, sharp increase of internal trafficking in adults and children in some regions, an increase in the number of potential victims of the crimes among vulnerable people, especially among migrants, etc. She highlighted: “One of the important factors on countering trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants in Central Asia is criminalisation of those crimes in national criminal legislation in pursuant to the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and to the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime adopted on 15 November 2000, States Parties of which are all five countries of the region, as well as distinguishing trafficking in children and sale of children in national laws”.

UNODC conducts trainings for consular staff on the identification and referral of victims of human trafficking, trainings for practitioners of law enforcement and judiciary, as well as other specialists, and provides mentoring for law enforcement agencies, supports national authorities in the development of educational materials and in enhancing police and judicial international cooperation.

Reports of national and international experts on the current directions of improving the criminal legislation of Uzbekistan, problems and solutions of combating crimes related to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, countering cybercrime, countering illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the main trends in policymaking in countering crime in the digital age were also presented. The issues of improving the investigation methodology, new vectors of combating crime were discussed.

At the end of the event, the participants developed proposals and recommendations aimed at the evidence-based and practical solution of problems on countering crimes and agreed to publish a series of scientific articles based on the results of the conference.

For further information please contact:   

Arifa Fatikhova  

Communications and External Relations Officer

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 

Regional Office for Central Asia

Mobile: (+998 99) 825-05-43 | Email: arifa.fatikhova[at]un.org