DUSHANBE, April 9, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Young Lawyers’ Association, Amparo, has prepared a report on the necessity of introduction of alternative (non-military and noncombatant) civil service in Tajikistan.

Ms. Dilafrouz Samadova, chairperson of the Amparo program for protection of conscripts and military servicemen’s rights, says the main objective of the report is “in informing government bodies, media, international and public associations of the necessity of alternative civil service (ACS) and creating a platform for a wide dialogue, cooperation and discussion of this subject.”

“The report describes the notion of the ACS institution, international norms of person’s right to the substitution of military service for alternative civil service, the significance of adoption of the law on ACS and contains two attachments: Memorandum and Alternative Civil Service: Practice of Other Countries,” Samadova said.

It is to be noted that an international conference “Civil Service in European Countries and the CIS Region: History, Models, and Standards.  Perspectives of Development of ACS in Belarus” was held in Minsk, Belarus on May 25, 2010.  The conference brought together leading experts from of Europe and the CIS to discuss the experience of formation of alternative civil service in the CIS.  Tajikistan was also represented at the conference.

Two tentative models of the ACS institution, “European” and “Asian,” have reportedly developed in the post-Soviet area. The “European” model positions ACS as a social service, while the “Asian” model views it as a labor service or as penalty for conscientious objectors.

The academic and research handbook “Alternative Civil Service: Standards and Approaches to Reformation” was presented on sidelines of the conference.  The handbook is a collection of articles and documents that contains examples of the ACS organization in a number of the CIS countries and Central and East Europe states.

The conference resulted in passing a memorandum, in which the conference participants pointed to the necessity of forming and developing the most effective and balanced ACS model in all CIS nations represented at the conference.  Human rights activists called on heads of states and highest legislative agencies to pass laws on ACS that would comply with international legal standards or bring prior legal acts in line with these laws.