DUSHANBE, May 19, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The National Human Rights Institution (Ombudsman institution) of Tajikistan presented its first on May 19.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Ombudsman Zarif Alizoda noted that the report contained materials about the human rights situation in the country for the last four months of 2009 and 2010.   

He noted that establishment of the National Human Rights Institution in May 2009 was evidence of the fact that independent Tajikistan used all means and opportunities to ensure observance and protection of human rights.

Alizoda is sure that establishment of such an institution has improved Tajikistan’s image on international arena and improved relations of the country with international organizations and advanced countries of the world that pay a serious attention to the issue of observance of human rights and freedoms.

Presenting the report, employees of Tajikistan’s national Human Rights Institution noted that representatives of international and local human rights organizations had provided significant assistance to them with preparation of the report.

The website, www.ombudsman.tj ., and the strategy of activity of the Ombudsman Institution in Tajikistan designed for 2011-2015 were also presented on Thursday.

According to Tajikistan’s Ombudsman Institution, they have received 241 applications over the first four years of this year.  Over the last four months of 2009 and 2010, the Ombudsman Institution received 1,543 applications.

A law establishing the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman was signed by the President in March 2008, and the Ombudsman, Zarif Alizoda, was appointed in May 2009.  The functions of the Human Rights Ombudsman institution include monitoring human rights in the national context, investigating and documenting rights violations, handling individual complaints, as well as providing advisory services including human rights education in school curricula.