THE ROLE OF THE CONSTITUTION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW UZBEKISTAN: CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS, HUMAN DIGNITY AND THE SOCIAL STATE

Аннотация

This article examines the constitutional reforms enacted in the Republic of Uzbekistan through the amended Constitution that entered into force on 1 May 2023, situating them within the processes of state-building, human rights protection, and the development of a constitutionally grounded social state. Using doctrinal, comparative, and socio-legal methods, the study analyses the constitutional entrenchment of human dignity, the expansion of social rights, and the strengthening of institutional accountability mechanisms. Comparative insights are drawn from Germany, France, Japan, and South Korea, while empirical indicators from the World Justice Project, UNDP, Transparency International, and Freedom House provide contextual support. The findings demonstrate that the 2023 reforms have established a stronger normative foundation for the protection of fundamental rights, social justice, and the rule of law. The article proposes legislative and institutional reforms, including enhancement of constitutional justice, establishment of an independent social rights monitoring mechanism, and introduction of a constitutional dignity standard in administrative decision-making.