OSCE Centre/ODIHR hold conference on prison sentences in Tajikistan
(OSCE)Representatives of non-governmental and international organizations discussing prison reform with Tajik government officials in Dushanbe, 13 February 2004. (OSCE) Photo details
DUSHANBE, 1 April 2004 - Alternatives to prison sentences in Tajikistan were the focus of discussion at an international conference held in Dushanbe on 30 and 31 March.
The two-day event was organized by the OSCE's Centre in Dushanbe and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), at the initiative of the Prison Administration of Tajikistan.
It was attended by local government officials, including the Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Sadamir Zuhurov, as well as judges and lawyers, representatives of non-governmental organizations and international organizations. Experts from Kazakhstan, Latvia, Russia and Poland presented international standards and practices from their respective countries.
Speaking at the conference, the Head of the OSCE Centre, Ambassador Yves Bargain, said that "alternative sentencing decreases the social and economic cost of criminality because it allows reducing the number of inmates and facilitates re-integration of offenders".
The Minister of Justice of Tajikistan, Khalifabobo Khamidov, pointed out that "Decisions on the type of punishment must take into account the objective of punishment. Imprisonment does not always give such possibility."
During the discussions, Tajik authorities, including representatives of the General Prosecutors Office, regional and Constitutional Court judges, Ministry of Justice and Social Affairs made it clear that a political will exists for a wider use of alternative sentencing.
At the end of the conference participants agreed on a set of recommendations aimed at bringing practice in line with international standards. Among others were the ideas of increasing the use of early release and re-organizing the activity of the relevant departments of the Prison Administration in order to better assist offenders.
The two-day event was organized by the OSCE's Centre in Dushanbe and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), at the initiative of the Prison Administration of Tajikistan.
It was attended by local government officials, including the Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Sadamir Zuhurov, as well as judges and lawyers, representatives of non-governmental organizations and international organizations. Experts from Kazakhstan, Latvia, Russia and Poland presented international standards and practices from their respective countries.
Speaking at the conference, the Head of the OSCE Centre, Ambassador Yves Bargain, said that "alternative sentencing decreases the social and economic cost of criminality because it allows reducing the number of inmates and facilitates re-integration of offenders".
The Minister of Justice of Tajikistan, Khalifabobo Khamidov, pointed out that "Decisions on the type of punishment must take into account the objective of punishment. Imprisonment does not always give such possibility."
During the discussions, Tajik authorities, including representatives of the General Prosecutors Office, regional and Constitutional Court judges, Ministry of Justice and Social Affairs made it clear that a political will exists for a wider use of alternative sentencing.
At the end of the conference participants agreed on a set of recommendations aimed at bringing practice in line with international standards. Among others were the ideas of increasing the use of early release and re-organizing the activity of the relevant departments of the Prison Administration in order to better assist offenders.