Svante E. Cornell, ed

Enhancing the Constitutional Foundations of Parliamentary Control, Ensuring Freedom of Speech and Access to Information

Ilkhom Abdullayev

The presence of an effective system of parliamentary control and ensuring freedom of speech and information in the country are important factors of a democratic public life. The constitutional reform undertaken in Uzbekistan organically incorporates a number of important provisions aimed at the development of these institutions. In particular, amendments and additions are made to the fundamental norms of the Constitution (Articles 29 and 30) that ensure freedom of information, as well as citizens' access to socially important information held at the disposal of state bodies. The following proposal illustrates this – the wording in the old constitution to the left, with the new proposed version in the right column.

Article 29.	Article 29.
(First part) Everyone shall be guaranteed freedom of thought, speech and convictions. Everyone shall have the right to seek, obtain and disseminate any information except that which is directed against the existing constitutional system and some other instances specified by law.	(First part) Everyone shall be guaranteed freedom of thought, speech and convictions. Everyone shall have the right to seek, obtain and disseminate any information.
	(Second part) Everyone shall have the right to access and freely use the Internet World Wide Web.