DUSHANBE, April 30, Asia-Plus - On Friday April 27, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, concluded her visit to Tajikistan, which was the second stop on her four-country tour of Central Asia.  

Friday evening, Ms. Arbour gave a news conference in Dushanbe on the results of her visit to Tajikistan.   

The High Commissioner suggests that Tajikistan should establish an ombudsman institution.

Speaking to journalists, she stressed that it would important for Tajikistan to set up its commission for human rights like the ombudsman institution and “it should meet international standards and so-called Paris Principles.”

The High Commissioner added that the idea to set up independent ombudsman institution in Tajikistan had been well received by representatives from the government.  

“They consider that the establishment of this institution will be the best way to provide observance of human rights in Tajikistan.  It will be the national mechanism that will work on the basis of independence, transparency and openness,” Arbour said, adding that she had offered the support and cooperation of her office to the government in establishing that institution.  

Among positive steps taken by Tajikistan to improve the human rights situation she named death penalty moratorium, ratification of important international conventions as well as the fact that Tajikistan has successfully coped with reporting on fulfillment of the terms of the ratified conventions.    

Asked about problems related to representatives of political parties such as the imprisoned leader of the Democratic Party (DPT) Mahmadruzi Iskandarov, Arbour said that that issued had not been discussed specifically but her colleagues will got in touch with representatives from the Tajik Prosecutor-General’s Office.  

She also told journalists that during discussions representatives from some political parties had complained about inadequate representation in electoral commissions.  “They expressed wish for regularly meeting with the president,” said the High Commissioner, “However, when I conveyed this wish to the president, he said that he is holding meetings with them, appoints meetings but the do not come.”  

According to the website of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, during her staying in Dushanbe, the High Commissioner met with the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hamrokhon Zarifi, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Rauf Yousoupov, the Chairperson of the Supreme Court, Nusratullo Abdulloyev, the Minister of Justice, Bakhtiyor Khudoyorov and the Deputy Prosecutor-General, Abdusami Dodoboyev. She also met with the Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Tajikistan Office of Peace-Building (UNTOP), Vladimir Sotirov and other representatives of international governmental organizations, civil society groups and locally based diplomatic corps.

One of the main purposes of the High Commissioner''s visit is the establishment of a Regional Office for Central Asia. In the context of the imminent closing down of UNTOP, the High Commissioner commends the important work conducted by UNTOP in the area of human rights and wishes that her Regional Office build on this work and continue to provide human rights assistance to national authorities and civil society.

In her various meetings with officials, Ms Arbour had extensive discussions concerning the ongoing reforms in the judicial system, including law enforcement, criminal procedures and independence of the judiciary. She said that access to justice is a major challenge that needs to be addressed in a participatory manner and in compliance with international standards.  In this regard, the High Commissioner encourages the Government to implement the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.

The High Commissioner also discussed conditions in places of detention and encouraged the government to provide access for local and international monitors, including the International Committee of the Red Cross. In this regard, she suggested that the Government consider ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture, which provides a framework for monitoring places of detention.

She also met with representatives of political parties and civil society and would like to encourage the government to engage in a continuous dialogue with them and ensure democratic space for their activities.