OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER IN TAJIKISTAN

5 March 2003



The Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Bertrand Ramcharan, visited Tajikistan from 3 to 5 March 2003, as part of his official visit to countries in Central Asia to enhance dialogue and technical cooperation between the governments of the region and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and in follow-up to the Secretary-General’s visit to the region in October 2002.

In Dushanbe, the Deputy High Commissioner met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Talbak Nazarov; the Minister of Justice, Mr. Khalifabobo Homidov; the Minister of Education, Mr. Safarali Radjabov; the Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Commission on the Implementation of the International Obligations of Tajikistan in the Field of Human Rights, Mr. Saidamir Zukhurov; Ms. Gulchera Sharipova, Head of the Department on Constitutional Guarantees of Human Rights and with staff members of this department; and with the General Prosecutor of the Republic of Tajikistan,Mr. Bobojon Bobokhonov. Mr. Ramcharan also met with representatives of civil society and local non-governmental organizations, the United Nations Country Team, and the Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office of Peace building in Tajikistan (UNTOP), Mr. Vladimir Sotirov.

During the visit the Deputy High Commissioner discussed with senior officials of Tajikistan the submission of outstanding reports under the human rights treaties ratified by the country; compliance with interim measures of protection ordered by the Human Rights Committee; support for the Department of Constitutional Guarantees of Human Rights; the provision of human rights education in schools; the activities of a human rights documentation center recently established in cooperation with UNTOP; the application of the death penalty; enhancement of the justice system; the payment of fees for the registration of child-birth; and the protection of the rights of women, including in relation to ownership of land in rural areas.

The Deputy High Commissioner also recalled the regional project for Central Asia of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which focuses on human rights education through a training of trainers approach and supporting the development of materials for teaching human rights in schools, and foresees the establishment of a high level expert in human rights, based in the region, to provide advice and work at the policy level in the field of human rights.

The Deputy High Commissioner called for enhanced protection of human rights on the part of law enforcement officials.

The Deputy High Commissioner also heard the human rights concerns of over two dozens representatives of local non-governmental organizations, and had fruitful meetings with the United Nations country team, the Representative of the Secretary-General and Human Rights Officer in UNTOP, and with the representatives of the OSCE and the diplomatic community in Dushanbe.




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