On 27-28 April 2023 two new HELP courses on “Combating trafficking in human beings ” and “Violence against women and domestic violence” were launched for two different groups of prosecutors based in and around Tashkent, in co-operation with the Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The objective of these courses is to equip prosecutors with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively prosecute and investigate cases of human trafficking and of violence against women in compliance with international standards. The courses also emphasise the importance of safeguarding the rights of victims and witnesses and ensuring their protection throughout the judicial process.

Both HELP courses have been translated into Uzbek language and adapted to the national legal framework of Uzbekistan. They are now available on the HELP platform. 

The launch of the course on “Violence against women and domestic violence” is particularly significant and timely, since the recently adopted national legislation that criminalises domestic violence in Uzbekistan. This course is designed to help legal professionals to better understand the implications of this legislation and address cases of domestic violence in the country.

In 2022, Uzbekistan was the first country of the Central Asia region to have launched a tutored HELP course (“Rights of Persons with Disabilities” for judges).

The activities are organised in the framework of the action "HELP in Central Asia", within the Central Asia Rule of Law Programme 2020-2023, a joint initiative co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.