On the eve of the EU-Uzbekistan human rights dialogue, due to take place on 5 May in Brussels, a group of NGOs has organised a roundtable at the European Parliament in Brussels today to commemorate the Andijan massacre, which took place five years ago, on 13 May 2005.

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The purpose of the roundtable was to discuss the human rights situation in Uzbekistan, and review in this context the policy approach of the European Union towards Uzbekistan.

The event featured new testimonies, including that of a former Andijan medical examiner, and provided an update on the families of Andijan victims. There were also discussions and presentations on the continued government crackdown on journalists and human rights defenders, and the pervasive use of torture in Uzbekistan’s detention facilities.

Human rights defenders Mutabar Tajibaeva, Burning Hearts Club; Bakhtiyor Mukhtarov, Andijan For Justice and Rebirth; Nadejda Atayeva, Association for Human Rights in Central Asia; Umida Niyazova, Uzbek-German Forum for Human Rights; and Tamara Chikunova, Mothers Against Dealth Penalty and Torture, testified - raising the need for proper investigation into the Andijan massacre to fight against impunity, and into the current human rights situation in Uzbekistan, which requires stronger engagement by the EU.

Ms Heidi Hautala, chairwoman of the EP sub-committee on human rights, solemnly named human rights defenders who continue to be detained. Mr Niccolò Rinaldi, member of the EP Delegation to Central Asian countries, who travelled to Andijan a few years ago, stressed that by mixing two different approaches - sanctions and engagement in dialogue - the EU has failed to reach any substantial outcome.

Participants in the roundtable included: Uzbekistan Initiative–London, in cooperation with Amnesty International, Andijan for Justice and Rebirth, the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Front Line, Human Rights Watch, the Uzbek-German Forum on Human Rights, International Crisis Group, the Open Society Institute and Press Now.