Police Reform

Experts meeting to discuss the Draft Police Reform Program and Action Plan for its implementation

From 27 to 29 November 2013 on the proposal of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan (OiT) the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of the Republic of Tajikistan (RT) held a meeting of national and international experts to finalize the draft Police Reform Programme and Plan for its implementation.

The drafts were presented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on 18 October 2012 at the regular meeting of the Police Reform Steering Group, where it was decided to finalize the drafts and to submit them to the Government of RT for approval.

The round table was attended by representatives of such ministries and agencies of the RT, as the MIA, MFA, MoJ, Ministry of Education, Finance, Health, Economic Development and Trade, the Supreme Court, General Prosecutor’s Office, the National Legislation Centre under the President of the RT, the Agency for State Financial Control and Fight against Corruption in Tajikistan, as well as the Executive Office of the President of the RT and the Office of the Ombudsman for Human Rights in the RT, the representatives of the Civil Society Advisory Working Groups and Sub-Groups on Police Reform from Dushanbe, Khatlon and Soghd regions, GBAO, Shaartuz and Rasht region. The Counter Terrorism and Police Adviser, Mr. Ulf Billving and Police Reform National Team from the OSCE OiT, international experts from the MIA of Georgia and the Russian Federation, UNICEF, etc. also took part in the meeting.

The meeting was opened by the First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Major General Nurillo Oripov, who noted that "we have made one more step forward to create a new model of the police structure, which will correspond to modern standards of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as and the protection of citizens interests in the first instance."

In his opening speech, Head of the OSCE OiT, Mr Markus Mueller has stressed: "The Police Reform - is the heart and basis for development of democratic policing in Tajikistan, which will promote new and positive forms of Community Policing." He also noted that the police reform will lead to changes not only in terms of reorganization within the police structure, but most importantly, will change the mentality of police officers.

Then the participants have considered the comments and recommendations submitted by various ministries and agencies, as well as the OSCE's Office, which are the members of the Working Group, to finalize two abovementioned documents. According to Markus Mueller, it will serve as a "roadmap" while implementing the signed MoU between the OSCE and the Government of Tajikistan and Police Reform Strategy for 2013-2020.

While submitting the OSCE OiT feedback, Mr. Ulf Billving noted that "implementation of police reform in Tajikistan without changing human resources policy, without optimization and modernization of the training and vocational system of employees is inappropriate. The police reform process should be transparent and public." That is why the OSCE OiT has suggested more involvement of civil society in the reform of the education system and the Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel policy. It includes: participation of members of Public Council on Civil Society’s promotion of Police Reform in the entrance exams in the Police Academy, the development of the Regulation on the competitive selection in the MIA system while appointment to the position and promotions to a higher level, participation in the MIA, DIA evaluation committees, members of the Public Councils on assistance the civil society to promote police reform. The MIA will create a special board consisting of the Chief Inspector of the MIA, appointed and accountable personally to the Minister of the Internal Affairs and two civil society representatives, appointed by the members of the Public Council of the civil society to promote police reform. They will have the right to request the Public Council to inspect allegations on committed crimes and offenses by police officers, if the applicant disagreed with the conclusions of the Police Chief Inspectorate.

The experts agreed that the Community Policing Concept would be developed, including a public monitoring of police activities, public examination of police and MIA normative legal acts, providing various consultations between the state and society, as well as quarterly reports to the population by Chiefs of police.

During the discussion some comments and suggestions of international and national experts with productive features were accepted. Participation of the lawyer with vast experience on legislation, the Head of Legal Unit of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan – Mr. Murodov D., who always had a balanced and reasonable approach in addressing emerging issues during the discussion of disputable parts of the drafts, had a very positive impact on overall outcome of the meeting. Thus, while considering the OSCE OiT feedback that the reform should be carried out under the motto "the Police – are the people, the people – are the Police," Mr. Murodov proposed to conduct a competition amongst the population for the best slogan for police reform implementation. He suggested the MIA representatives to place an announcement for competition on the MIA website. The OSCE Office has supported this proposal, declaring beforehand that the author of the best motto will be awarded a prize.

Having signed the final minutes on the results of the round table, the experts agreed that the finalized draft Police Reform Program and Plan for its implementation will be directed for approval to the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan upon endorsement by all concerned ministries and agencies.