As a reaction to the deteriorating human rights situation in Central Asia a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between human rights NGOs from all five Central Asian countries. In the MoU the NGOs declare their commitment to continue their human rights work, they agree to coordinate their activities and cooperate on international level, provide mutual support and solidarity and they provide recommendations to international organizations.

The Universal Periodic Review of Uzbekistan on 24 April 2013 by the UN Human Rights Council ended with the adoption of an outcome report containing a set of recommendations in Geneva on 26 April 2013. International Partnership for Human Rights, the Netherlands Helsinki Committee and the Initiative Group of Independent Human Rights Defenders of Uzbekistan appeal to Uzbekistan's partners to champion the implementation of these recommendations in its relations with the Central Asian country.

In April 2013 the Netherlands Helsinki Committee has started with the implementation of the project 'Enhancing professionalism in the Libyan Prison Service'. The aim of the project is to strengthen the penitentiary system in Libya and incorporate international human rights standards by sharing Netherlands experience and stimulating cooperation.

In the second week of April, fifteen activists from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for a training of trainers on a rights based approach to social policies relevant to women and children. The training was held in the context of the project: ‘Countering discrimination of women and children and promoting their rights by changing social and economic policies in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan’.