OSCE Office in Tajikistan training course highlights need for respecting human rights of detained persons

The OSCE Office in Tajikistan, with the support of the Swiss Co-operation Office, today concluded a three-day training course on the human rights of persons in police custody and the independent monitoring of police detention facilities.

The training at the OSCE Office premises brought together 30 participants, including representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Office of the Ombudsman and members of the Coalition Against Torture comprised of Tajik NGOs. The course was led by international experts from the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), with the expert support of former police chief of Geneva, Laurent Walpen, as well as Tajik national experts.

Participants learned about the essential human rights of persons in police custody, and how to raise awareness among the police about the importance and purpose of monitoring detention facilities, as well as how to build the capacity of civil society in monitoring them. The training was tailored to Tajikistan’s National Strategy on Police Reform, and was developed with guidance from APT.

“Respect for human rights should be at the core of police work,” said APT representative Eva Csergö. “We hope this course will contribute to enhanced compliance with international human rights standards and raise awareness about the need for independent monitoring of all places of deprivation of liberty.”

The Ministry of Internal Affairs’ National Co-ordinator on Police Reform Ali Bobonazarzoda said: “There are components of the Police Reform strategy that specifically aim to address these issues, such as the physical transparency of police dispatch centres; the installation of video surveillance systems in our Ministry’s facilities and the development of a new law on the use of force.”

He added that public councils are also being established to assist in police reform efforts and share responsibility for monitoring police custody.