Human trafficking is a crime that exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced labour and sex. Every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims. Traffickers the world over continue to target women and girls. The vast majority of detected victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation and 35 percent of those trafficked for forced labour are female. Conflict further exacerbates vulnerabilities, with armed groups exploiting civilians and traffickers targeting forcibly displaced people.

The Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan contains a number of provisions that emphasize the principle of democracy, as well as ways of exercising power by the people, as a manifestation of direct democracy. In accordance with Article 2 of the Constitution, the state expresses the will of the people, serves their interests. Article 7 defines the people as the sole source of state power. Moreover, in accordance with this article, state power in the Republic of Uzbekistan is exercised in the interests of the people and exclusively by bodies authorized for this by the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the legislation adopted on its basis. The main forms of manifestation of direct democracy are defined in Art. 32 of the Constitution, according to which citizens have the right to participate in the management of the affairs of society and the state both directly and through their representatives. Such participation is carried out by means of self-government, holding referendums and the democratic formation of state bodies.