From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Mon Aug 12 2002 - 10:55:42 EDT
Human Development Report 2002 gives Uzbekistan low rating
United Nations Development Programme projects and programmes are being
actively carried out in Uzbekistan, Uzbek newspaper Hurriyat said in a
report on 7 August. However, despite the financial contribution by the UNDP
to the economy and human development of Uzbekistan, the report said that
Uzbekistan was in 95th place according to the Human Development Report
2002. Prof Akmal Saidov, interviewed by the newspaper, pointed out that the
problems were due to the inefficient work of independent experts. The
following are excerpts from the report entitled; "Is human development
satisfactory?" carried by Uzbek newspaper Hurriyat. Subheads inserted
editorially:
When humanity reaches a certain point, it looks back and weighs up its work
on the scales of justice and compares its work to successes and failures in
others, it believes.
[Passage omitted: global role of UNDP]
The presentation of a new UN Development Programme logo and global Human
Development Report 2002 has been held at the Tashkent International
Business Centre. First, let us talk about the activities of the UNDP in
Uzbekistan.
[Passage omitted: opening of UNDP office in Uzbekistan, short-term
programmes, first long-term programme]
Numbers growing in UN development programmes
The second major UNDP programme was adopted in September 2000. It includes
two main directions for cooperation with Uzbekistan in 2000-2004: to create
an income source by giving microcredits and developing small-size
businesses, and developing human capacity with the help of modern
telecommunication technology (especially the Internet).
Currently there are four UNDP programmes and eight projects operating in
Uzbekistan. These include developing small and medium-size businesses,
information and communication technology, environmental protection,
technical cooperation, humanitarian aid for emergency situations and the
fight against AIDS.
The financial amount of UNDP programmes and projects for 2000-2004 is put at
68,681,000 dollars. Of this, 6,000,070 dollars come from the main UNDP
resources, and 62,611,000 dollars come from sources outside the budget.
The UNDP have undertaken more than 70 projects from 1993 to 2000, with their
overall amount estimated at 26m dollars.
Why is Uzbekistan in 95th place?
[Passage omitted: UNDP Resident Representative Richard Conroy opened the
ceremony, UN development consultant spoke about the Human Development
Report 2002, national publications on human development]
However, Uzbekistan is in 95th place in the Human Development Report 2002.
Why? Of course, one needs some preparation to answer this question.
Head of the National Centre for Human Rights and Doctor of Legal Sciences
Prof Akmal Saidov thinks that there are some problems with this year's
report. First, there is a certain disparity between democracy and human
development. One should not forget this. Let us say that one can think
about democracy when there is economic development. Second, education is
the main indicator. But, the real situation in the education sector of
Uzbekistan has not been highlighted in the report.
Third, there are some debatable parts on gender issues in the report. In
short, it is noticeable that the independent experts involved in the
preparation of the reports did not have sufficient information in this
area. In the scientist's view, the standard of the reports must be slightly
improved. It will do no harm if the independent experts consult government
and non-governmental institutions. Moreover, if such prestigious UN
documents are published in our state language, Uzbek, many of our fellow
countrymen would be glad.
[Passage to end omitted: the event was full of hot debate]
Source: Hurriyat, Tashkent, in Uzbek 7 Aug 02
BBC Mon CAU 070802 ag/ij
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