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Enhancing the Role of the Ombudsman in Monitoring Places of Deprivation of Liberty in Uzbekistan
Enhancing the Role of the Ombudsman in Monitoring Places of Deprivation of Liberty in Uzbekistan
Enhancing the Role of the Ombudsman in Monitoring Places of Deprivation of Liberty in Uzbekistan
29-30 September 2025, Tashkent A two-day advanced training workshop was held in Tashkent to strengthen the capacity of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan in monitoring places of deprivation of liberty. The event gathered around thirty participants, including representatives from the Ombudsman’s Office, the Children’s Ombudsman, and civil society organisations actively engaged in human rights protection and prevention of torture.
Organised jointly by the Centre for Development and Justice International (CDJI) and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, with the support of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the training marked another important milestone in Uzbekistan’s continuing efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability, and the protection of human dignity within its justice system.
“Transparent and accountable oversight of places of deprivation of liberty is essential for building public trust in the justice system,” said H.E. Ambassador Timothy Smart, British Ambassador to Uzbekistan. “This training contributes to applying international human rights standards - including the Nelson Mandela Rules - in practice, helping to strengthen transparency, dignity, and accountability across the system.”
Promoting Human Rights and Strengthening Monitoring Practice
The training formed part of a broader strategy to enhance the effectiveness and professionalism of Uzbekistan’s national monitoring mechanism, enabling the Ombudsman’s Office to conduct preventive visits in full compliance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT).
A key highlight of the programme was the introduction of the newly developed Monitoring Guidance Document, prepared jointly by CDJI and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan. These new instruments serve as practical frameworks to support the Ombudsman’s monitoring groups in carrying out professional, ethical, and rights-based monitoring of detention facilities.
The Monitoring Toolkit provides concrete checklists, data templates, and thematic indicators to help monitors assess conditions of detention, medical care, disciplinary procedures, access to legal assistance, offers step-by-step instructions for planning visits, conducting interviews, analysing evidence, and drafting reports.
Throughout the two-day training, participants learned to apply the new Monitoring Toolkit in simulated monitoring scenarios, deepening their understanding of risk assessment, ethical interviewing, documentation, and evidence analysis. This practical engagement helped translate international human rights standards into actionable skills that can be used during real visits to detention facilities.
Sessions also explored critical themes including:
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Ethical principles and professional integrity of monitors;
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Gender-sensitive and trauma-informed approaches;
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Confidential communication with detainees and protection from reprisals;
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Data security and evidence-based reporting; and
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Follow-up mechanisms to ensure implementation of recommendations.
Learning through Practice and Peer Exchange
The training used an interactive, experiential approach combining expert presentations, peer discussions, and scenario-based group work. Participants were encouraged to analyse real-life situations and reflect on how to address common challenges such as limited access, reluctance of staff to cooperate, and identification of early warning signs of ill-treatment.
Through this exchange, the participants strengthened their capacity to carry out preventive visits that focus not only on documenting violations but also on identifying solutions and engaging constructively with authorities to prevent future abuse.
“The training provided an opportunity for participants to assess and evaluate their current practice related to the preparation, delivery and reporting of preventive monitoring visits, against international standards and best practice. They were then encouraged and supported to discuss practical steps they could take to develop their practice moving forward, using the Monitoring Guidance Document”
Pauline McCabe, Vice-Chair of the Board of CDJI
International Expertise and Guidance
The training was conducted by a distinguished team of international experts:
- Pauline McCabe, 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;
- Elina Steinerte, Member and Vice-Chair of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) and Chair of the Board of CDJI;
- Azamat Shambilov, President of CDJI, Associate Member of the International Penal and Penitentiary Foundation (IPPF), and international expert on the development of National Preventive Mechanisms, torture prevention, and human rights in criminal justice.
“The commitment of the Uzbek Ombudsman to ensure effective independent oversight over the prisons and other deprivation of liberty facilities in the country through a system of regular visits is laudable. The development of the new Visit Monitoring Tool as well as this training are the tangible expressions of this commitment in equipping the monitoring team with the requisite knowledge and practical skills on how to engage with this challenging task with the ultimate aim of preventive torture and ill-treatment in Uzbekistan.” said Elina Steinerte, Member and Vice-
Chair of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) and Chair of the Board of CDJI.
A Shared Vision for Humane and Accountable Justice
The event reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s growing commitment to strengthening human rights protection in its detention and penitentiary systems. It underscored the vital role of the Ombudsman in promoting transparency, accountability, and humane treatment of all persons deprived of liberty.
“The National Preventive Mechanism and monitoring groups play a crucial role in ensuring that every person deprived of liberty is treated with dignity and respect,” said Azamat Shambilov, President of CDJI. “By building the professional capacity of national monitors and equipping them with a unified Monitoring Toolkit aligned with international standards, we are helping to establish a justice system that values transparency, compassion, and the rule of law.”
“Participants demonstrated huge personal commitment to their important, and at times challenging, work in preventing mistreatment in closed institutions.” said Pauline McCabe, Vice-Chair of the Board of CDJI. “They welcomed the opportunity to discuss their experiences with colleagues from other organisations and regions and to explore with the trainers how the training toolkit could best be implemented”.
Towards a Sustainable Monitoring Framework
The introduction of the new Monitoring Toolkit represents a significant advancement in Uzbekistan’s preventive monitoring system. Together, they create a solid methodological and practical foundation for the Ombudsman’s Office and its regional monitoring groups to conduct visits more effectively, collect reliable evidence, and advocate for systemic improvements with greater authority.
Participants concluded the training with a renewed sense of purpose and practical competence to apply these instruments in their daily work. Follow-up mentoring and peer exchanges are planned to ensure that the knowledge gained translates into lasting institutional capacity.
This initiative embodies the shared vision of CDJI, the OSCE to promote human dignity, strengthen national mechanisms against torture, and advance the rule of law through practical cooperation and international solidarity.
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