UN Special Rapporteur Highlights Gaps in Housing Rights Protection in Uzbekistan

Rajagopal noted that despite the adoption of new laws and a revised constitution designed to enhance housing rights, these protections are frequently ignored in practice.

UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, has raised serious concerns about the disparity between legal protections for housing rights and their actual enforcement in Uzbekistan. In a statement following his official visit to the country, Rajagopal acknowledged recent legal reforms aimed at improving protections against arbitrary expropriations and home demolitions and ensuring public participation in urban planning. However, he criticized the lack of effective implementation and remedies for non-compliance, particularly in relation to the construction sector.

Rajagopal noted that despite the adoption of new laws and a revised constitution designed to enhance housing rights, these protections are frequently ignored in practice. The Special Rapporteur highlighted that Uzbekistan is experiencing extensive urban renewal projects, often resulting in the demolition of entire neighborhoods to make way for new developments. These projects frequently lack legal and urban planning foundations and fail to involve meaningful public participation, leaving affected residents without a voice in decisions that impact their lives.

The report also points to ongoing challenges with judicial independence, as court cases involving developers often result in decisions favoring developers rather than residents. Non-judicial complaint mechanisms also fall short in providing timely and effective relief.

Rajagopal expressed alarm over inadequate compensation for expropriated housing, delays in payments, and instances where residents are forced out of their homes by disruptive construction activities and the cutting off of essential services like water and gas. When relocated, displaced individuals are often moved to newly constructed apartment blocks on the peripheries of cities, far from their previous communities.

The Special Rapporteur also highlighted concerning cases of housing demolitions and forced evictions occurring in areas of cultural heritage, such as Samarkand and Bukhara. He urged UNESCO to take due diligence in ensuring that housing rights are respected, particularly with the upcoming 2025 UNESCO General Assembly scheduled to be held in Samarkand.

Rajagopal further criticized the harassment and intimidation faced by victims of forced evictions, housing rights defenders, and journalists reporting on these issues. He cited instances of individuals being prosecuted or detained under dubious circumstances, including one case involving confinement in a mental health institution.

While Rajagopal commended the reform efforts and the commitment of some leaders to protect human rights, he stressed the need for concrete results beyond legal frameworks and plans. “I am inspired by the reforms and the commitment of many leaders to address housing issues,” he said. “But it is crucial to move from good intentions to tangible outcomes.”

A comprehensive report detailing his findings will be presented to the Human Rights Council in March 2025.