Second National Plan on Implementation of recommendations provided by countries-members of UN Human Rights Council within the UPR framework is adopted in Tajikistan

National Plan on implementation of the recommendations provided by the countries-members to the United Nations Human Rights Council within the framework of the Universal Periodic Review (second period) for 2017-2020 (hereinafter - the National Plan) has been approved in Tajikistan.

The document was approved by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan as of 7 June, 2017.

"This is the second National Plan for the implementation of the recommendations provided by the countries-members of the UN Council within the UPR framework, which is approved by the country's leadership, which is aimed at strengthening the national system for the protection and promotion of human rights in Tajikistan, therefore it is a positive step," said Nargis Zokirova, director of the PO Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law.

According to the National Action Plan, during the next three years, Tajikistan will have to work on the 151 recommendation (2 of which Tajikistan has already implemented).

The recommendations include amongst others, the need to adhere to the necessary measures to strengthen the independence of the judiciary, in particular, it is planned to assess the implementation of previous programs on judicial and legal reform and to develop a new program, in the meantime to improve material and technical support, social protection and other material guarantees of judges.

It is also planned to improve the conditions in the penitentiary facilities, ensure legal guarantees to the detainees and prisoners, through the adoption of the Strategy for the Reform of the Penitentiary System up to 2025, and improve monitoring mechanism for the monitoring group under the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Tajikistan.

In addition, it is planned to intensify efforts to combat torture. The liability for the use of torture will be enforced, and the training program for staff of relevant state bodies on issues of freedom from torture will be improved, including enhanced awareness on the provisions of the Istanbul Protocol.

The State is also planning to enhance right to education and to promote higher coverage of girls and women residing in the rural areas by education. In this respect it is planned to design the curriculum and the roadmap for the teachers in extramural education. Furthermore, it is expected that the research aimed at the reasons behind high drop out rates amongst girls in the educational systems are to be conducted.

The National Plan of Action indicated a whole spectrum of other activities as per the recommendations adopted by Tajikistan. Further details on the National Plan can be obtained at the bhr.tj using the link  http://bhr.tj/ru/index/index/pageId/17/

According to the Deputy Director of the PO Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law, Tahmina Juraeva from January to February 2017 the Division on Human Rights Guaranteed in the Executive office of the President, NHRI office together with PO Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law which is coordinating the NGO Coalition on UPR, has conducted series of thematic discussions over the recommendation provided during the second UPR cycle. 

"During these thematic discussions, participants representing the state working group on UPR, public organizations, international organizations and other representatives of civil society proposed activities to be included in the National Plan of Action. Based on the results of the thematic discussions, the National Plan was drafted by the Division on Human Rights Guarantees, which was previously discussed with civil society, “said T. Juraeva.

These activities were supported by the Open Society Institute - Foundation in Tajikistan, UNDP in Tajikistan and the Regional Office for Central Asia of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights. All documents related to UPR are available on the website of the Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law www.bhr.tj

To remind, on 6 May, 2016 Tajikistan has undertaken the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review in the UN Human Rights Council. According to the results of the review, Tajikistan received 203 recommendations from 71 states, of which 151 recommendations were accepted, 5 recommendations were partially accepted, 2 were implemented, 45 recommendations were not accepted.