Editing Uzbekistan (section)

=== Human rights ===
{{Main|Human rights in Uzbekistan}}
{{see also|2005 Andijan unrest}}
[[non-governmental organization|Non-governmental]] human rights organisations, such as [[International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights|IHF]], [[Human Rights Watch]], [[Amnesty International]], as well as [[United States Department of State]] and [[Council of the European Union]], characterize Uzbekistan as "an authoritarian state with limited civil rights"<ref name="US State Dept - human rights">US Department of State, [https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/sca/119143.htm 2008 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Uzbekistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421161732/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/sca/119143.htm |date=21 April 2020 }}, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, 25 February 2009</ref> and express profound concern about "wide-scale violation of virtually all basic human rights".<ref>IHF,{{cite web|url=http://www.ihf-hr.org/documents/doc_summary.php?sec_id=3&d_id=3860 |title=International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights |access-date=9 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129175624/http://www.ihf-hr.org/documents/doc_summary.php?sec_id=3&d_id=3860 |archive-date=29 January 2010 }}, 23 June 2004</ref>
According to the reports, the most widespread violations are [[torture]], [[arbitrary arrest and detention|arbitrary arrests]], and various restrictions of freedoms: of religion, of speech and press, of free association and assembly. It has also been reported that forced sterilisation of rural Uzbek women has been sanctioned by the government.<ref>[[OMCT]] and [[Legal Aid Society]], [http://www.omct.org/files/2005/07/2984/omctlas_uzb_report_04_05.pdf Denial of justice in Uzbekistan&nbsp;– an assessment of the human rights situation and national system of protection of fundamental rights] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205023220/http://www.omct.org/files/2005/07/2984/omctlas_uzb_report_04_05.pdf |date=5 December 2010 }}, April 2005.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/01/tweets-from-gulnara-the-dictators-daughter.html|title=Tweets from Gulnara the dictator's daughter|date=21 December 2012|work=New Yorker|author=Antelava, Natalia|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104001130/http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/01/tweets-from-gulnara-the-dictators-daughter.html|archive-date=4 January 2013}}</ref>
The reports maintain that the violations are most often committed against members of religious organisations, independent journalists, human rights activists and political activists, including members of the banned opposition parties. As of 2015, reports on violations on human rights in Uzbekistan indicated that violations were still going on without any improvement.<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/uzbekistan World Report 2015: Uzbekistan | Human Rights Watch] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323213748/https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/uzbekistan |date=23 March 2016 }}. Hrw.org. Retrieved on 20 March 2016.</ref> The [[Freedom House]] has consistently ranked Uzbekistan near the bottom of its Freedom in the World ranking since the country's founding in 1991. In the 2018 report, Uzbekistan was one of the 11 worst countries for [[Political Rights]] and [[Civil Liberties]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Uzbekistan |website=Freedom House |url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/uzbekistan|access-date=23 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223110947/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/uzbekistan |archive-date=23 February 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[2005 civil unrest in Uzbekistan]], which resulted in several hundred people being killed, is viewed by many as a landmark event in the history of human rights abuse in Uzbekistan.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Jeffrey |date=26 September 2005
|url=http://usinfo.state.gov/eur/Archive/2005/Sep/26-966275.html
 |title=Freedom of Assembly, Association Needed in Eurasia, U.S. Says
 |website=USINFO.STATE.GOV
 |access-date=22 January 2008 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070421032553/http://usinfo.state.gov/eur/Archive/2005/Sep/26-966275.html
 |archive-date=21 April 2007 }}
</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McMahon |first=Robert |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1059147.html |title=Uzbekistan: Report Cites Evidence Of Government 'Massacre' In Andijon&nbsp;– Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Radio Liberty/Radio Liberty |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=7 June 2005 |access-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903120948/http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1059147.html |archive-date=3 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR620152005?open&of=ENG-UZB |title=Uzbekistan: Independent international investigation needed into Andizhan events |publisher=Amnesty International |date=23 June 2005 |access-date=2 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012171720/http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR620152005?open&of=ENG-UZB |archive-date=12 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Concern has been expressed and requests for an independent investigation of the events has been made by the United States,<ref>{{cite web|last=Labott|first=Elise|date=18 May 2005|title=Pressure for Uzbek violence probe|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/05/18/uzbekistan.unrest/|access-date=5 January 2021|website=CNN|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417220920/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/05/18/uzbekistan.unrest/|url-status=live}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>{{cite news|title=Uzbekistan: UN, EU Call For International Probe Into Violence|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1058942.html|access-date=5 January 2021|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=8 April 2008 |last1=Donovan |first1=Jeffrey }}</ref> the [[United Nations]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Annan: Uzbekistan rejects inquiry|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/5/20/annan-uzbekistan-rejects-inquiry|access-date=5 January 2021|website=www.aljazeera.com|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417221032/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/5/20/annan-uzbekistan-rejects-inquiry|url-status=live}}</ref> the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.<ref>{{cite web|title=OSCE Chairman repeats calls for an investigation into Andijan events following OSCE/ODIHR report|url=https://www.osce.org/cio/46541|access-date=5 January 2021|website=[[osce.org]]|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417213714/https://www.osce.org/cio/46541|url-status=live}}</ref>

The government of Uzbekistan is accused of unlawful termination of human life and of denying its citizens [[freedom of assembly]] and freedom of expression. The government vehemently rebuffs the accusations, maintaining that it merely conducted an anti-terrorist operation, exercising only necessary force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.press-service.uz/en/gsection.scm?groupId=5203&contentId=8868 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308115436/http://www.press-service.uz/en/gsection.scm?groupId=5203&contentId=8868 |archive-date=8 March 2008 |title=Press-service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan |publisher=Press-service.uz |date=17 May 2005 |access-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition, some officials claim that "an [[information warfare|information war]] on Uzbekistan has been declared" and the human rights violations in Andijan are invented by the enemies of Uzbekistan as a convenient pretext for intervention in the country's internal affairs.<ref>{{cite web|author=Акмаль Саидов|url=http://www.kreml.org/interview/100931204|title=Андижанские события стали поводом для беспрецедентного давления на Узбекистан|publisher=Kreml.Org|date=27 October 2005|access-date=2 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805161349/http://www.kreml.org/interview/100931204|archive-date=5 August 2014}}</ref> Male and female [[LGBT rights in Uzbekistan|homosexuality]] is illegal in Uzbekistan.<ref>{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=Avery |title=71 Countries Where Homosexuality is Illegal |url=https://www.newsweek.com/73-countries-where-its-illegal-be-gay-1385974 |work=Newsweek |date=4 April 2019 |access-date=18 August 2019 |archive-date=11 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211204842/https://www.newsweek.com/73-countries-where-its-illegal-be-gay-1385974 |url-status=live }}</ref> Punishment ranges from a fine to 3 years in prison.<ref>{{cite web|title=State-Sponsored Homophobia|url=https://ilga.org/state-sponsored-homophobia-report|website=International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Intersex Association|date=20 March 2019|access-date=18 August 2019|archive-date=8 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208040345/https://ilga.org/state-sponsored-homophobia-report|url-status=live}}</ref>

There are an estimated 1.2 million modern slaves in Uzbekistan,<ref name="globalslaveryindex1">[http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/findings/ Findings – Walk Free Foundation – Global Slavery Index 2014] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226154749/http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/findings/|date=26 December 2014}}. Globalslaveryindex.org. Retrieved on 29 November 2015.</ref> most work in the cotton industry. The government allegedly forces state employees to pick cotton in the autumn months.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rferl.org/a/global-slavery-index-uzbekistan-pakistan-worst-offenders/27770928.html|title=Forced Cotton-Picking Earns Uzbekistan Shameful Spot In 'Slavery Index'|work=rferl.org|access-date=14 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116164029/http://www.rferl.org/a/global-slavery-index-uzbekistan-pakistan-worst-offenders/27770928.html|archive-date=16 January 2017}}</ref> World Bank loans have been connected to projects that use child labour and forced labour practices in the cotton industry.<ref name="wbloans">{{cite web|title=Uzbekistan: Forced Labor Linked to World Bank|date=27 June 2017|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/06/27/uzbekistan-forced-labor-linked-world-bank|publisher=Human Rights Watch|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718053021/https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/06/27/uzbekistan-forced-labor-linked-world-bank|archive-date=18 July 2017}}</ref>