On 17 December, as part of the study visit to Spain, the delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a substantive meeting at the Institute of Human Rights of the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.

The delegation met with the Institute’s leadership, including Carla Boronco, Director of the Institute, Javier Dorado, Deputy Director, and Ereno Vicente, Head of the International Cooperation Unit.

The meeting provided the Uzbek delegation with an up-to-date overview of current human rights trends and key challenges in Spain, with a particular focus on the rights of persons deprived of liberty. Discussions highlighted how emerging issues, such as prison overcrowding, proportionality of detention, rehabilitation, and oversight mechanisms are addressed through research, policy dialogue, and institutional cooperation.

A key feature of the exchange was the research and cooperation model applied in Spain, demonstrating how universities, human rights institutes, and non-governmental organisations work closely together to:
- conduct applied and policy-oriented research;
- monitor human rights compliance in places of detention;
- support evidence-based reforms; and
- promote international human rights standards in law and practice.

This collaborative approach illustrated the important role of academic institutions as bridges between policy, practice, and civil society, particularly in advancing the human rights of prisoners and detainees.

The study visit was organised by the Centre for Development and Justice International (CDJI), the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, and the National Human Rights Centre of Uzbekistan, in close cooperation with Spanish national authorities, academic institutions, and civil society partners.