Detention conditions must comply with international standards!

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 №13 of the National Plan: “Detention conditions”

This paragraph implies the implementation of the following measures:

·        Adopt a Strategy to reform the system of penal institutions until 2025.

·        Consider an issue of phased increase in public funding, including the attraction of alternative sources of funding in order to gradually bring penal institution conditions into compliance with requirements of international standards.

·        Consider an issue of improving the statutory instruments that regulate the activity of the penal institution system, in order to introduce the UN rules and regulations regarding the treatment of female detainees (Bangkok Rules).

·        Train officers of women’s correctional facilities for the United Nations rules regarding the treatment of female detainees and non-custodial measures of punishment for female delinquents (Bangkok Rules).

·        Monitor the implementation of National TB-Protection Programme for 2017-2020 and National HIV Spread Control Programme in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2017-2020 in the penal institution system.

·        Consider an issue of establishing an independent medical service to provide medical assistance to apprehended persons, detained persons and convicted inmates.

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.