Tashkent Region, 24–26 June 2025 – Over 25 law students and young professionals from Uzbekistan’s top legal universities gathered for a three-day Summer School on “Fostering Integrity in Governance: Legal Education as a Tool for Anti-Corruption Reforms.” The event was jointly organized by the Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan and UNDP, with the financial support from the European Union (EU).

The Summer School brought together law students actively engaged in legal clinics, which are university-based, volunteer-driven programs where students provide supervised and free legal support to the public as part of their practical training. Participants came from the Tashkent State University of Law, the National University of Uzbekistan, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, and the Law Enforcement Academy. The sessions in the Summer School aimed to equip them with practical knowledge and tools to actively contribute to anti-corruption reforms and promote transparency in their future roles as legal professionals, such as lawyers, prosecutors, and judges.

The first day focused on understanding the fundamentals of Uzbekistan’s anti-corruption policy, the role of youth in governance, and how open data can enhance transparency and public oversight, with expert input from the Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan. Students took part in group exercises where they analyzed public tenders to identify corruption risks, discussed ethical dilemmas in legal practice. Students also participated in an interactive Zakovat quiz that reinforced key concepts in a dynamic game format.

“We had the chance to simulate real-life corruption cases and understand how different actors, such as prosecutors, judges, investigators, mediators, lawyers, and public officials, behave in these situations,” shared Shakhlo Kuchkarova, a 3rd year student of the Faculty of International Law and Comparative Jurisprudence at the Tashkent State University of Law. “It helped us see the same case from multiple perspectives and better understand the ethical challenges each role faces,” she says.

The second day was dedicated to how young people can shape inclusive legislation, advocate for justice, and contribute to anti-corruption efforts through volunteerism. Participants exchanged ideas with members of the Youth Parliament and Association of Volunteers, developed community-level project proposals, and discussed ways to increase youth engagement in policy implementation.

On the final day, students applied their knowledge by designing advocacy campaigns focused on educating citizens about their legal rights and raising public awareness through consultations, content creation, and civic advocacy. Students also presented their ideas for applying gained knowledge in their future careers, for example, by incorporating transparency tools in legal consultations, advising clients on reporting mechanisms. They also reflected on their learning, presented individual action plans, and explored opportunities for further training through the Virtual Anti-Corruption Academy.

This event was held as part of the joint project "Strengthening the National Anti-Corruption Ecosystem in Uzbekistan," implemented by UNDP Uzbekistan and the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan with funding from the European Union.  

For more information, please contact:
Dilfuza Abulkhasan, Project Manager at the UNDP, dilfuza.abulkhasan@undp.org 
Fotima Turgunboeva, Communication Specialist at the UNDP, fotima.turgunboeva@undp.org