Police Reform

Human Rights Day

Human Rights Day on the occasion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adoption by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1948 is annually celebrated on December 10. Every year the subject of Human Rights Day is different and reflects the priorities in the field of human rights in the world and in certain countries.

Human Rights Day of this year reflects an idea that every day is a day of human rights. It commemorates the fundamental assertion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that every person anywhere in the world at any time is entitled to a full range of rights, that human rights belong equally to everyone and bind us together into a single global community with similar ideals and values.

There is a decade of "Human Rights Day" particularly devoted to the theme "Voice of the local community in the process of the fight against torture" is on-going from 2 to 10 December 2014 in Tajikistan. According to the plan a round table on the occasion of the UN adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is held as follows: December 2 in Khorog, December 3 in Gharm, December 4 in Khujand, December 8 in Kurgan-Tyube and December 10 in Dushanbe.

On 3 December 2014 such round table was held in Rasht, where the OSCE Office in Tajikistan (OiT) was represented by Ms. Yuliya Rangelova - Mueller Garm Field Officer, Mr. Peter Hajnik Counter Terrorism and Police Advisor, Ms. Jamilya Sharifova Field Assistant and Mr. Firdavs Nurov Administrative Assistant of the OSCE Field Office in Garm. The roundtable was attended by representatives of civil society organizations, government agencies and international organizations that celebrated Human Rights Day under the slogan "Prevention of Torture and improving the practices in the fight against torture, protection of the rights of detainees and improving the working conditions of the law enforcement officers in corrections facilities and other human rights organizations.

Ms. Dilrabo Samadova Executive Director of PO “Office of Civil Freedoms” moderated the event. She presented the international guidelines and instruments on combating torture and other types of cruel treatment. She shared the results of the Anti-Torture Coalition’s work on evaluating and summarising the actions taken by the Tajik authorities to implement National Action Plan and Strategy to Combat Torture. According to the evaluation, the legal framework still does not reflect international standards; an independent access to detention centres and prisons has not been granted to local civil society groups.

Mr. Ali Bobonazarzoda National Police Reform Coordinator briefly presented the police reform progress in Tajikistan and stressed the importance of mutual trust and cooperation between the police and community.

Other issues discussed during the roundtable were mainly focused on implementation of the State programme on prevention of torture and other problems related to torture. In this regard, the participants came up with the following recommendations for the review of legislation:

-          to stop forced conscription and to reduce the time of military service for young men;

-          the military service should be voluntary and paid;

-          to increase the officers control and responsibilities in regard to violent rituals during the military service;

-          benefits to be provided to families, whose sons serve in the army, such as providing land or financial assistance, namely for single mothers;

-          to increase defence attorneys’ access to their clients;

-          safety and personal security of barristers dealing with cases of torture should be enhanced and guaranteed by the law enforcement agencies;

-          free legal consultations to victims of torture and their families;

-          awareness raising events and workshops for the public at large on the freedom from torture.

There was the same round table in Kurgan-Tyube on 8 December 2014. The objective of the event was to celebrate Human Rights Day of 2014; to empower the civil society and state agencies representatives from Khatlon region to declare the main issues and progress in the torture prevention process, protection of the detainees’ rights and improving the working conditions for the law enforcement officers, in the corrections facilities and other human rights organizations staff.

The round table in Kurgan-Tyube was held in continuation of two regional meetings within the same topic in Sogd region and Rasht valley. The meeting was moderated by Ms. Oynihol Bobonazarova, who represented the Anti-Torture Coalition.

Mr. Darijus Pamparas Police Reform Project Coordinator, Mr. Charles Bolland Rule of Law Officer from the Human Dimension Department and Mr. Khaydar Mahmadiev Police Reform National Liaison Officer took part at the meeting from the OSCE OiT.

During the "Human Rights Day" decade the representatives from state institutions, local authorities, law enforcement agencies, civil society, the Ombudsman and etc. will: 

• evaluate the progress achieved in the framework of its activities regarding protection from torture, the impact of the Government on prevention of torture and carrying out the UN Committee against Torture, the Special Rapporteur on Torture and the UN Committee on Human Rights recommendations;

• discuss issues related to torture at the local level;

• formulate the recommendations for the state policy promotion aimed against torture.

On December 10 there will be the final round table in Dushanbe, where the recommendations made at the regional round tables will be considered. Participants will also discuss further cooperation on torture warning and prevention between the government and civil society institutions.