ADDRESS BY THE ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN ON SOCIAL PROTECTION – DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL AGENCY FOR SOCIAL PROTECTION

Dear colleagues! Dear compatriots!Corruption is a scourge that poses a serious threat to the development of the state and society and undermines citizens’ trust in justice and state institutions. Therefore, alongside upholding human dignity, providing quality and targeted social services to the population, and reliably protecting the rights and interests of citizens in need, our country pays particular attention to combating corruption. Today, the National Agency for Social Protection is consistently introducing modern mechanisms aimed at ensuring openness and transparency within the system, reducing bureaucratic barriers, minimising the influence of the human factor, and preventing corruption risks. In particular, digitalising social services, promptly reviewing citizens’ appeals, and ensuring the principles of equality and fairness in access to public services are among our priority tasks. However, we must openly acknowledge that negative practices such as corruption, extortion, conflicts of interest, bureaucracy, and the misuse of official authority still occur within the system. Indifference to such practices harms not only the interests of the state but also the lawful rights and interests of people in need of social protection. For this reason, we must regard combating corruption not merely as the duty of designated personnel, but as the civic duty and moral responsibility of each of us. Our shared task is to identify any shortcomings within the system in a timely manner, eliminate their causes, and prevent their recurrence rather than conceal them. Dear compatriots! If you witness corrupt conduct by employees of the Agency’s central office, regional departments, or organisations and institutions within its system, or if you have information about extortion, conflicts of interest, or other violations of the law, I ask you to report such cases through the established procedures. Your appeals, views, and suggestions are important in identifying problems within the system, finding solutions, and further improving the quality of social services provided to the population. Our goal is to build a transparent and fair social protection system that serves people’s interests! Indeed, participating in the fight against corruption and upholding the rule of law is the civic duty of each of us. Mansurbek Olloyorov, Adviser to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Social Protection – Director of the National Agency for Social Protection.