OSCE Office holds Preparatory Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Dushanbe

DUSHANBE, 21 July 2011 - The fifth annual OSCE Preparatory Human Dimension Implementation Meeting during which government and civil society representatives will discuss human rights issues began in Dushanbe today.

The two-day event is organized by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Department on Constitutional Guarantees of Citizen Rights within the Executive Office of the President, in co-operation with civil society organizations from all the country. 

The meeting held ahead of the OSCE-wide annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting to take place in Warsaw in autumn, serves as an open forum to examine topical issues in human rights and the rule of law. 

The agenda of this year’s meeting in Tajikistan was developed jointly by government and civil society representatives; the OSCE Office facilitated the process. Sessions focus on mechanisms for human rights protection, freedom from torture, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, access to justice, human rights and counter-terrorism, property rights and forced resettlement, rights of individuals belonging to national minorities and rights of persons with disabilities.

The meeting brings together over 130 participants, including more than 40 government officials, among them the Deputy Ministers of Justice and Internal Affairs, representatives of General Prosecutor’s Office and the State Committee on Religious Affairs. Representatives of over 35 non-governmental organizations, NGO coalitions and independent defense counsel, including from Tajikistan’s regions, are also taking part, as are diplomatic representatives of OSCE participating States and international organizations. 

"Tajikistan remains committed to maintaining dialogue between government and civil society on the most difficult challenges in the implementation of human rights commitments," said Barbara Davis, Officer-in-Charge of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan. 

Muzaffar Ashurov, the Head of the Department of Constitutional Guarantees of Citizen Rights in the Executive Office of the President said: "This forum provides a valuable opportunity to discuss achievements, co-operation and areas for improvement in the field of implementation of human rights commitments undertaken by the Republic of Tajikistan. Thematic recommendations resulting from the meeting will be useful for  preparing the participation of Tajikistan’s official delegation in the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw."

In May 2011, the Human Dimension Committee of the OSCE Permanent Council – one of the main decision-making bodies in the Organinzation - examined Tajikistan's experience with the Preparatory Human Dimension Implementation Meeting as a potential model for other field operations.