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Training Strengthens Capacity of the Pilot Monitoring Group of the Ombudsman Office of Tajikistan to Monitor Places of Deprivation of Liberty
Training Strengthens Capacity of the Pilot Monitoring Group of the Ombudsman Office of Tajikistan to Monitor Places of Deprivation of Liberty
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Training Strengthens Capacity of the Pilot Monitoring Group of the Ombudsman Office of Tajikistan to Monitor Places of Deprivation of Liberty
Dushanbe, 25-26 November 2025 - A two-day training for the Pilot Monitoring Group of the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Tajikistan was held in Dushanbe, bringing together representatives of the Ombudsman Office and civil society engaged in monitoring places of deprivation of liberty.
The training was organised by the Centre for Development and Justice International (CDJI) in cooperation with the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner of Tajikistan and the Bureau of Human Rights and Rule of Law (BHR), within an initiative supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The programme aimed to strengthen professional capacity for independent, standards-based preventive monitoring, in line with international human rights obligations.
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"Since 2025, we have resumed active joint work with the Ombudsman Office on conducting monitoring in places of detention, as well as on promoting the ratification of the OPCAT. Over a relatively short period, we have managed to carry out a number of visits, establish interagency cooperation, and strengthen the capacity of the monitoring group. This training is a unique opportunity to gain new knowledge, update existing information, and exchange experiences with leading international experts in the field of torture prevention and human rights protection. We are confident that the knowledge acquired will help the participants to perform their mission even more effectively in ensuring the rights and dignity of every person in places of detention and confinement."
Nargis Zokirova, Director, Bureau of Human Rights and Rule of Law
Preventive Monitoring as a Core Safeguard Against Torture and Ill-Treatment
The training focused on the role of preventive visits as a key mechanism for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, as enshrined in the UN Convention against Torture (CAT) and reinforced by the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT).
“This two-day training for the Pilot Monitoring Group of the Ombudsman Office of Tajikistan was an important opportunity to learn as well as to exchange experiences and best practices of independent oversight over all places of deprivation of liberty which is the hallmark of every democratic society, based on rule of law and respect for fundamental rights of all. The CDJI looks forward to further supporting the Tajik Ombudsman's Office in this important task.”
Elina Steinerte, Chair of the Board of CDJI, Member, Vice-chair of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture
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Sessions addressed:
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international and national legal frameworks governing places of deprivation of liberty;
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monitoring standards for pre-trial detention facilities and prisons;
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gender-sensitive monitoring and protection of vulnerable groups;
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practical methodology for conducting monitoring visits;
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interviewing detainees and staff;
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evidence collection, analysis, and triaging;
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drafting monitoring reports, formulating recommendations, and follow-up.
“Current initiatives to strengthen collaboration between state institutions and civil society in Tajikistan are a significant and very welcome development. Tajikistan Law enshrines the state's commitment to ensuring that detention in custody is be carried out in accordance with the principles of legality, personal integrity, presumption of innocence, equality before the law and court, humanism, and respect for human dignity.
Preventive monitoring visits have a key role to play in ensuring that these commitments are upheld. This very practical training was designed to help the Ombudsman Office and the amazing Bureau of Human Rights NGO jointly deliver monitoring visits using international monitoring standards and best practice visit methodology and reporting. The commitment of the participants and their engagement and enthusiasm made them a joy to work with and it was such a pleasure for the trainers to hear and observe how much more knowledgeable and confident participants felt at the end of the programme. This is a hugely important development in Tajikistan's programme of Criminal Justice reform and it really is a privilege to be able to support the huge efforts being made.”
Pauline McCabe OBE, Vice-Chair of the Board of CDJI
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The training was delivered by leading international and national experts:
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Elina Steinerte, Chair of the Board of CDJI, Member, Vice-Chair of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT);
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Pauline McCabe OBE, Vice-Chair of the Board of CDJI, International Criminal Justice Advisor, Visiting Professor at the University of Ulster, and former Prisoner Ombudsman for Northern Ireland;
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Azamat Shambilov, President of CDJI and Associate Member of the International Penal and Penitentiary Foundation (IPPF);
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Nidoev Husniddin, Head of the Joint Monitoring Group of the Ombudsman Office and civil society organisations.
Building Practical Skills Through International Best Practice
The programme adopted a highly practical, interactive approach, combining expert presentations with group exercises and case studies. Participants worked with specialised guidebooks on monitoring standards and visit methodology, practiced assessing compliance with international standards, and developed skills in drafting evidence-based reports and recommendations.
Special attention was given to monitoring visits to places where persons in situations of vulnerability are deprived of liberty, including children, women and girls, individuals in drug rehabilitation centres, and residents of social care institutions.
“On August 6, 2013, an Ombudsman's decree established a Working Group for the promotion and ratification of the OPCAT. This group included representatives from the Presidential Administration, Parliament, the Prosecutor's Office, judicial bodies, academic circles, and civil society, including members of the Coalition against Torture. In July-August 2013, the Coalition, in conjunction with the Ombudsman, developed the Regulations on the activities of the monitoring group, which were discussed and approved on December 31, 2013, by a decree of the Human Rights Ombudsman. From February 2014 to the present, the monitoring group has conducted over 130 monitoring visits.”
Nidoev Husniddin, Head of the Joint Monitoring Group, Office of the Human Rights Commissioner
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Advancing Human Rights Through Independent Oversight
“Strengthening the joint monitoring group of the Ombudsman and civil society is a significant milestone for Tajikistan’s continued commitment to human rights. The real measure of progress is seen not only in legislation, but in how a country protects those who are out of sight and most at risk. People held in closed facilities are rarely visible to the general public, yet they depend entirely on the State to safeguard their dignity and rights. By equipping this monitoring group with the skills and tools required for professional and impartial oversight, we are helping to create a trusted public lens into places of detention and ensuring that the treatment of all persons deprived of their liberty is fully aligned with national law and international human rights standards.”
Azamat Shambilov, President of CDJI
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The training reaffirmed the importance of effective cooperation between state institutions and civil society in ensuring transparency, accountability, and human dignity in places of deprivation of liberty. Strengthening the capacity of the Pilot Monitoring Group represents a concrete step toward enhancing preventive mechanisms and supporting Tajikistan’s ongoing efforts to align national practice with international human rights standards.
CDJI and its partners reiterated their commitment to continued cooperation with the Ombudsman Office in support of torture prevention, institutional reform, and the protection of fundamental rights.
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