OSCE Centre holds meetings on judicial reform and civil society development in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE/VARZOB, 11 August 2006 - The role of public organizations in civil society development and problems and perspectives of judicial reform in Tajikistan topped the agenda of two events, co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe today.

In the city of Varzob, representatives of Tajik state and judicial authorities, law-enforcement agencies, non-governmental and international organizations met to discuss different aspects of judicial reform in the country and ways how to improve the democratic substance and transparency of the judiciary.

"Since independence, Tajikistan has introduced major reforms," said Andrey Shugurov, Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre. "The country has ratified all key international human rights treaties, introduced a moratorium on the death penalty, adopted civil and criminal codes and prolonged office term for judges. However, some laws are no longer meeting the requirements of time and should be reviewed in light of international legal norms".

The event in Varzob was part of an OSCE project to further the compliance of Tajikistan's justice system with international human rights standards. It was organized in co-operation with the National Association of Political Scientists of Tajikistan and the American Bar Association, with the support of the Tajik President's Office.

Meanwhile, some 70 representatives of Tajikistan's state authorities, political parties, non-governmental organizations, international organizations and academic institutions met in Dushanbe to discuss civil society issues and suggest ways to ensure broader co-operation between public organizations and state institutions.

"Not a single state, not even the most developed one, is able to take care of all problems in society", said Bernard Rouault, political officer in the OSCE Centre. "Public organizations are able to support the state in countering such problems. Therefore, public organizations and governmental structures need closer co-operation".

The Dushanbe meeting formed part of another OSCE-supported project, a forum of dialogue between the authorities and the civil society, entitled the Social Partnership Club.