CIS States Expand Cooperation in Healthcare and Human Rights

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — An international conference on “The Right to Health: Contemporary Challenges and State Responsibility. Exchange of Experience and Best Practices in Human Rights Protection in the CIS” was held in Minsk.

The delegation from Uzbekistan was represented at the event by Mirzatilla Tillabaev, member of the Human Rights Commission and First Deputy Director of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights.

A welcoming address to participants of the conference was sent by Igor Petrishenko, First Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The conference was attended by representatives of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan, as well as international organizations, the Secretariat of the CIS Human Rights Commission, and the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth.

The conference, organized within the framework of the CIS Year of Health, was dedicated to the exchange of best practices in the field of human rights protection, the development of cooperation between ombudsmen of CIS member states, and support for youth initiatives in the area of the right to health.

Participants emphasized that holding the event under the auspices of the CIS Human Rights Commission demonstrates the growing importance of the human rights agenda within integration processes across the Commonwealth. It was noted that the Commission, established on the basis of the CIS Charter, has become an important advisory mechanism for monitoring compliance with human rights and an effective platform for open interstate dialogue.

Special attention was given to the decision of the member states to declare 2026 the Year of Health in the CIS. According to participants, this initiative reflects the countries’ efforts to combine resources in the fields of medicine, law, and social policy.

During discussions, participants stressed the importance of exchanging best practices aimed at improving national legal systems and increasing the effectiveness of state healthcare policies.

Participants also noted that the CIS Human Rights Commission has proven itself to be an effective platform for interaction between ombudsmen, human rights institutions, and relevant government bodies.

As emphasized during the event, the creation of a unified expert space makes it possible to develop coordinated approaches to addressing current challenges — from supporting vulnerable population groups to improving healthcare systems.

Consideration of these issues at the CIS level contributes to the development of cooperation while taking into account the national legislation and legal traditions of member states.