Police Reform

Meeting of the Working Sub-Group in Khujand

A regular meeting of the Working Sub-Group on Civil Society Assistance to Police Reform has been conducted today, on 18 April 2014 in the OSCE Field Office in Khujand.

The meeting involved the participation of the Police Reform National Team of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan (OiT), as well as active members of the civil society of Sugd region, including lawyers, attorneys, NGO and mass media representatives. Also Mr. Tursunov - responsible officer of the DIA of Sugd region took part in the meeting.  

During the meeting, participants have discussed the Draft Provision of the Public Council on Civil Society Assistance to Police Reform, which was developed by the National Team of the OSCE OiT on Police Reform. There were also other police reform related issues considered.

The OSCE OiT Police Reform National Liaison Officer Mr. Khaydar Mahmadiev has noted that in compliance with the Police Reform Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period of 2013-2020, the principle of public participation in police activity assumes creation of transparent police for citizens, development of mechanisms, and ensuring public participation both in assignment of tasks for police and evaluation of their performance. He has stated that the police should be as transparent as possible to the public, since willingness to disclose information about police activities, except for the classified information, is crucial for securing public confidence.

“The police reform process should be transparent and public. It involves creation of various mechanisms that support an open and public debate throughout the reform period. The format of discussions and decision-making should enable citizens’ direct and indirect involvement in the discussion of the reform progress on its various stages; bringing their wishes and proposals on the subject to the knowledge of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, and controlling the record of police reform related public requests,” emphasized Mr. Mahmadiev.

He has added that for these purposes, on the first stage of the police reform (2014), Public Councils on the Civil Society Assistance to Police Reform will be created under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and regional Departments of Internal Affairs. Further they will be changed to the Public Councils on Assistance to the public order protection that will include civil society representatives, including public organization members, lawyers, attorneys and other active members of civil society, respected by the local communities. 

At the second stage (2015-2017) such Public Councils will be created within all local executive government and self-government bodies ubiquitously.

In conclusion of his speech, Mr. Mahmadiev has outlined that a system of public oversight over the police activity is ensured through such activities: public monitoring, public expertise of the MIA legal and regulatory acts, and conduction of various consultations between the society and the government, as well as quarterly reports of the police chiefs to the population. “Community Policing Concept will be developed and approved,” has informed Mr. Khaydar Mahmadiev.

Other participants, who addressed a meeting later, in general have supported the proposed draft. It was agreed to prepare comments and suggestions regarding the draft and submit them to the OSCE OiT before 1 May 2014.

Ms. Tatyana Khatyukhina - a representative of Human Rights Centre of Khujand has drawn the attention of participants to raising the role of district police inspectors, since they play a crucial role in networking with citizens and in community policing. She has noted that the candidates for district police inspectors’ positions must pass a hard competitive selection, which is based on an utmost objective evaluation of their professional suitability for the abovementioned position.

“Asia Plus” News Agency staff in Sugd region Mr. Khairullo Mirsaidov has raised an issue regarding the traffic situation both in Sugd region and throughout the entire country. He has highlighted poor driving culture of drivers on the roads, including pedestrians.

The meeting was productive.