Life-term prisoners must be provided with normal conditions

On January 24, 2019 the Government of Tajikistan has adopted National Plan of Actions for 2019-2022 to fulfill recommendations of the United Nations Committee Against Torture. The National Plan consists of 22 paragraphs: investigation of torture cases, punishment for torture, intensification of activity of Human Rights Ombudsman in RT, basic legal guarantees and remedies, access to independent lawyer, inspection of detention places, custodial detention conditions, independent grievance mechanism, indemnification and rehabilitation, etc.

The National Plan envisages around 80 measures aimed at improvement of legislation and law enforcement practices as to prevention of torture. Implementation of the National Plan involves a wide range of state authorities, courts, law-enforcement bodies, Ombudsman institution.

So, Paragraph №15 of the National Plan: “Detention conditions of life-term prisoners”

This paragraph implies the implementation of the following measures:

·        Take appropriate measures in order to intensify design work for construction of detention facility YT 9/1 and a specialized institution for keeping life-term prisoners in Rudaki District in accordance with international standards.

·        Consider an issue of employment of life-termers.

·        Consider an issue of joint keeping of other prisoners with life-term prisoners in a single prison cell.

·        Consider an issue of needed improving the Code of Execution of Criminal Sentences pertinent to this recommendation.

This material has been prepared by the International Torture Victims Protection Day that is marked every year on June 26.

Torture is like a dreadful virus, and there is only one vaccine against it – public disclosure.

Activities dedicated to the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture became possible within the framework of the project “Support for anti-torture agenda and human rights groups in Tajikistan”, funded by the European Union