FIDH welcomes positive steps recently taken by the Uzbek authorities, such as the release of some human rights defenders in 2007 and 20081, the establishment of a Human Rights Dialogue with the European Union, the abolition of the death penalty and the ratification of a number of additional international human rights instruments in 20082. However, while some defenders have been released, arbitrary arrests and sentencing of human rights defenders on fabricated charges have not stopped and reports on the deteriorating health of defenders detained in extremely harsh conditions are frequent. Recent legislative reforms and ratifications have not had a positive impact on the human rights situation in the country. In this respect, FIDH would like to bring to the Human Rights Committee’s attention Uzbekistan’s recurring failures to comply with ICCPR.