The EU Project on Digital Rights Launched in Tashkent Alongside a Training Programme for Lawyers

Tashkent, 25 September, 2025 — On 25 September, the presentation of the Uzbekistan Digital Rights Media Initiative (UDRMI) project was held in Tashkent for representatives of government bodies, international organizations, and the legal community, followed by a two-day training programme for lawyers. The official opening of the presentation was conducted by Mr. Christos Marazopoulos, Second Secretary, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Uzbekistan. The event focused on the goals and expected outcomes of UDRMI, as well as opportunities for professional collaboration between the state, NGOs, media, and the legal sector.

Immediately after the presentation, a practice-oriented training was launched, focusing on the application of international and national standards in the areas of freedom of expression online, privacy and personal data protection, access to information, digital security, and strategic legal protection in the online environment.

The training brought together lawyers and attorneys from commercial organizations, as well as representatives of the Bar Association of Uzbekistan and the Association of Arbitration Courts of Uzbekistan. The programme combined introductory overviews, case studies, and group work on model documents and internal procedures — from privacy policies and evidence retention to responses to data breach incidents and requests from state authorities. The event was organized by the NGO Modern journalism Development Center (MJDC) and the Legal Policy Research Centre (LPRC, Kazakhstan) with the financial support of the European Union.

“The European Union is proud to stand with Uzbekistan on its path towards digital transformation — and at the same time, towards safeguarding the rights and freedoms of its citizens. Digitalisation should serve people, build trust, and expand opportunities for every individual. Our joint efforts will ensure that the digital space becomes not a place of risk, but a space of opportunity, fairness, and empowerment,”

 — said Christos Marazopoulos, Second Secretary, Head of Cooperation, the  Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan.Saida Sulaimanova, Director of the NGO Modern journalism Development Center (MJDC), stated: 

“Our task was to translate norms and standards into tools for everyday legal practice. We systematized the approach to personal data protection, access to information, and digital security, and demonstrated how to integrate these requirements into organizational policies and procedures. This format enhanced the professional competencies of participants and laid the foundation for constructive dialogue between the legal community, state institutions, and the media.”

Tatyana Zinovich, Director of LPRC (Kazakhstan), noted:
 

“We focused on the points where law meets technology: data processing and cross-border data transfer, evidence from the digital environment, and liability for content moderation. Participants left with a set of practical solutions — from templates of internal regulations to response algorithms for legal risks, which directly enhance the legal resilience of organizations and build trust in the digital environment.”

About the UDRMI Project: The two-year EU-funded initiative implemented by MJDC and LPRC is aimed at strengthening the competencies of the media community, NGOs, and the legal sector in the field of digital rights, fostering dialogue with state institutions, and raising public awareness on freedom of expression, cybersecurity, and personal data protection.