Lack of Public Participation in Uzbekistan’s Urban Planning Criticized by UN Expert
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, recently concluded his visit to Uzbekistan, where he expressed serious concerns about the ongoing urban renewal projects in the country. These projects, which sometimes involve the demolition of entire neighborhoods, are being carried out without sufficient legal basis, leading to violations of housing rights.
During his visit, Rajagopal met with government officials, civil society representatives, and individuals affected by forced evictions. He highlighted the gap between the legal protection of housing rights in Uzbekistan and their actual implementation in daily life. While acknowledging the adoption of new laws aimed at improving protection against arbitrary home seizures and demolitions, Rajagopal noted that these laws are often not respected in practice due to implementation deficiencies and legal violations, particularly in the construction sector.
The Special Rapporteur raised concerns about large-scale urban renewal projects in Uzbekistan, which often lack meaningful public participation and fail to take into account the rights of those affected by the decisions. He also highlighted issues related to the independence of the judiciary, insufficient compensation for seized housing, and the brutal methods used in demolitions and relocations.
Rajagopal emphasized the need for concrete results in addressing housing issues, beyond just good intentions and laws on paper. He also raised concerns about the intimidation and prosecution of individuals, including human rights defenders and journalists, who report on arbitrary demolitions and forced evictions.
As Uzbekistan prepares to host the UNESCO General Assembly in 2025, Rajagopal called on UNESCO to ensure that the right to adequate housing is fully protected, especially in culturally significant areas like Samarkand and Bukhara. He will present a detailed report on his visit to Uzbekistan to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2025.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev recently signed amendments to the Housing and Urban Planning Codes to strengthen guarantees for the protection of private property and property owners’ rights in Uzbekistan. These amendments come amidst growing concerns about housing rights violations in the country.
