4.13 Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan organized within the framework of the project “Promoting the Sustainable Development of the National System for the Protection of Human Rights in Uzbekistan”. The workshop also complemented PCUz’s efforts to assist in the establishment of a National Preventive Mechanism against Torture (NPM) in Uzbekistan. On 11 December, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the PCUz, jointly with the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights, the Main Directorate on Execution of Punishments of the MoI, the NGO Strategy Development Centre, UNDP, and the regional office for Central Asia of the international NGO, Penal Reform International, held a roundtable discussion on “The Constitution and the Action Strategy for Ensuring Human Rights and Freedoms: Developing Laws and Practices in the Protection of the Rights of Persons in Custody”. The event was organized as part of a project on “Support to establishment of a national preventive mechanism against torture in Uzbekistan” and brought together 50 representatives of both chambers of the parliament, relevant ministries and agencies, national human rights institutions, CSOs and the media. At the event, the participants analysed the state of implementation of the “Programme of Measures to Develop Activities of Penitentiary Institutions in 2018-2022”, discussed the role of the Ombudsperson Institution in protecting the rights and freedoms of persons in custody, and learned about the international law provisions and existing best practices in safeguarding the rights of persons held in custody. Gender and Ethnic Mainstreaming From 12 to 16 November, in Tashkent, the specifics of interviewing special groups of citizens, including women and minors, and investigative interviewing as a credible alternative to the application of mistreatment, were the focus of a training course for 24 police investigators from Tashkent and the Tashkent region organized by the PCUz. The training course was organized within the framework of the project “Supporting the Ministry of Internal Affairs in enhancing professional capacities and skills of investigative divisions”, which aims at improving the capacity of the investigative divisions of the MoI in performing their tasks in line with the OSCE commitments, including the OSCE Gender Action Plan and the applicable laws and human rights and fundamental freedoms in general. 138 Activities Related to Threats Posed by Criminal Activity Financial Investigations, Anti-Money Laundering and Seizures of Criminal Proceeds From 18 to 23 February and 14 to 19 October, the PCUz supported the participation of two representatives from the FIU of Uzbekistan in the FATF Plenary and Working Group meetings that took place in Paris. The meetings enable governments to stay abreast of the most recent developments in the area of AML/CFT, to reflect this in their national system and to obtain updates on the latest changes and dynamics in this area. On 26 and 27 March, the PCUz supported a FIU representative to attend an international workshop for judges and prosecutors in Strasbourg, with the objective of assisting the host authorities in increasing their capacities for the prevention of abuse of national financial and non-financial systems for ML/FT purposes. The workshop, organized by the OSCE Secretariat in co-operation with MONEYVAL and the FATF, was the latest in a series of similar workshops organized worldwide. It was attended by representatives of judicial and prosecutorial authorities, as well as FIUs, from the OSCE region. From 23 to 28 September, the PCUz supported the participation of two representatives from the Department on Combating Economic Crimes under the GPO and the FIU to participate in the 25th Egmont Group Plenary Meeting, which took place in Sydney, Australia. Over 400 delegates from FIUs around the world exchanged information on money laundering trends, discussed compliance issues and received technical assistance and training within the framework of their Egmont Group membership. The participation of Uzbek officials in these events was supported under the project “Support to Uzbekistan in combating money laundering and terrorism financing”. From 24 to 29 June, the PCUz supported the participation of two representatives of the FIU and one representative of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan at FATF Plenary and Working Group meetings in Paris. These regular meetings allow governments to stay abreast of the most recent developments in the area of AML/CFT, ensure that developments are reflected in the national systems, and receive updates on the latest changes and dynamics in this area.