Police Reform

Meeting with representatives of Civil Society in Khujand

The National Police Reform Team met with civil society representatives on 1 November 2012 in Khujand. The purpose of the meeting was to establish a group from active members of civil society and local communities in order to involve them into the police reform process. The representatives from NGO “Chashmai Hayot,” “Nuri Islom” mosque, NGO “Youth and Society,” the Human Rights Center, the Bar Association, NGO “Sarchashma” and Public Organization “Youth Group on Protection of Environment” took part in this meeting. 

The OSCE OiT team was headed by Mr. Ulf Billving, Counter Terrorism and Police Advisor. 

The participants of the meeting were familiarized with the Provision of the Sub-Working Group (SWG) “Civil Society Assistance to Police Reform,” as well as with the Draft Police Reform Strategy for the period till 2020. 

The purpose of the SWG creation in conformance to its Provision is: 

- civil society assistance to police reform and development through drafting the basic regulatory acts by its activists; 

- development of socio-administrative partnership between civil society and police; 

- implementation of publicity, openness and transparency principles within Internal Affairs agencies in protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of person and citizen of Tajikistan; 

The SWG members will provide assistance in improving the performance of education and training of police staff, including participation of NGOs, in development of curriculums, review of teaching aids and other materials, in training for the specialists from the MIA educational system and in teaching of certain courses. They will also participate in elaborating and reviewing of the drafts of the Police Reform Strategy and the Police Reform Program, other concepts, programs, as well as the initiatives of the public associations and citizens on the most actual issues of police activities. 

The Civil Society SWG will conduct an independent monitoring over police activities in the field in order to identify and prevent offences committed by the police staff, as well as participate in the development of civil control system over police activities. 

The NGO representatives were enthusiastic about the creation of such a sub-group on a regional level and proposed to provide the contact details of the Coordination Council in Khujand. The OSCE OiT will send it a request to assist in involvement of more members into the SWG, to conduct a presentation about Police Reform in Tajikistan and to facilitate the civil society assistance into the process. 

During the duty trip to Soghd region, the National Police Reform Team members have also met with the management of the Directorate of Internal Affairs (DIA) in Soghd region, which was familiarized with the documents of the Police Reform Steering Group and with the tasks of new SWG. 

The DIA Deputy Head Mr. Pirumshoev welcomed the idea of establishing the SWG from active civil society members of the region, noting that “acting apart from citizens, police is not able to fully address all challenges related to security of citizens.” He briefed about various forms of cooperation with public associations within the region, such as voluntary squads, Neighborhood Watch, junior traffic inspectors, etc. In general, the DIA management expressed a significant interest to the interaction with civil society and expressed its willingness in further collaboration and full support of their initiatives. 

The National Police Reform Team plans to arrange such meetings and establish similar groups in Rasht, Kurgan-Tyube and Kulyab in order to engage more civil society representatives and to assure their participation in this important process.