Roundtable ‘Monitoring the application of the Protocol for forensic examination of detainees and assessment of the situation in the forensic medical service of Tajikistan’

February 26^th, 2019б within the framework of the EU project ‘Action for freedom from torture in Tajikistan’, and at the initiative of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan, in cooperation with an NGO ‘Center for human rights’, a roundtable was held to present the outcomes of monitoring how the Protocol for forensic examination of detainees is adhered to by medical institutions. The Protocol was approved by the Decree of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan in accordance with the standards of the Istanbul Protocol, as well as the results of the study ‘Assessment of the objective situation in the forensic medical service of the Republic of Tajikistan’.

The aim of the roundtable discussion is to present the outcomes of the study, verifying the application of the Protocol of forensic examination of detainees, evaluating the situation in the forensic medical service, as well as developing mechanisms for elimination of barriers to proper documenting and examining the incidences of violence.

Background information on the implementation of the Istanbul Protocol standards in Tajikistan.

The Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Cases of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (Istanbul Protocol) was developed by experts in the field of law, health and human rights and adopted by a resolution of the UN General Assembly and the UN Commission on Human Rights in 2000. 

On the basis of Decree 719 of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan from December 2, 2013, a Working Group was established to improve internal regulations, guidelines and methods of forensic/psychiatric examination and medical examination in accordance with the guidelines of the Istanbul Protocol. The Working Group is comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, forensic experts and a lawyer from NGO ‘Center for human rights’. All activities, aimed at the implementation of the standards of the Istanbul Protocol, are carried out with the expert support of Physicians for human rights, as well as in line with the strategy of the Coalition against Torture and Impunity. The activities include, i.a. step-by-step inclusion of the Standards in legal documents (both internal regulations of forensic and other expert services and acts of law), the curricula of Universities, Academies for Public Prosecutors and Judges (both legal and medical aspects), training programs for various experts (forensic experts, psychiatrists, General Practitioners, prison staff, the Public Prosecutor's office, judges and lawyers). Detailed outcomes of the activities are described in the newsletters in English and Tajik.

The event venue: Conference Hall of the National Library.

For additional information, please, refer to Ms. Parvina Navruzova, member of the Working Group with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan, and project coordinator with NGO ‘Center for Human Rights’: ph: +992 93 555 86 56, e-mail: p.navruzova@gmail.com