Human Rights Dialogue in Tajikistan: Building Trust,
Partnership, and Progress
26/09/25, 11:00
Dushanbe, 26 September 2025 – The capital of Tajikistan hosted the Second Dialogue
between the State and Civil Society on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights,
reaffirming the shared commitment of national institutions, civil society, and international
partners to advancing human rights and justice reform through cooperation and trust.
The Dialogue brought together more than 70 participants, including representatives of the
Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Majlisi Oli
(Parliament), the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Internal
Affairs, the Main Directorate for the Execution of Sentences (GUIUN), the Office of the
Ombudsman, as well as leading civil society organisations, youth activists, diplomats, and
international experts.
The event was organised by the NGO World of Law, the Ombudsman of Tajikistan, and
Perspectivity Challenge Foundation within the framework of the EU-funded project “Paths to
Justice: Strengthening Human Rights through Torture Prevention and Penitentiary
System Reform”, implemented in partnership with the Centre for Development and Justice
International (CDJI), the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR), and the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR).
Advancing International Human Rights Standards
The Dialogue assessed progress on the 2024 recommendations and defined new priorities in line
with key international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention against Torture (CAT), the Nelson Mandela
Rules, the Bangkok Rules, and the Beijing Rules.
Discussions focused on:
Preventing torture and improving conditions in places of detention;
Expanding access to justice through digital technologies;
Promoting citizen participation and social accountability;
Advancing gender equality and inclusion in national reforms.
In his opening address, H.E. Radosław Darski, Ambassador of the European Union to
Tajikistan, emphasised:
“This dialogue is more than just a meeting. It is a recognition that the protection of human
rights is a shared responsibility. Governments, civil society organisations, and international
partners each play a crucial role. When we come together, we build trust, mutual understanding,
and accountability.”
The Role of Civil Society and Dialogue
The Dialogue reaffirmed that open civic participation is central to protecting human rights. As
enshrined in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (1998), an active civil society
serves as a vital bridge between the people and the State, promoting transparency, oversight, and
solutions rooted in community experience.
Participants worked across four thematic groups to develop recommendations on:
1. Torture Prevention and Oversight Mechanisms
2. Digital Technologies and Human Rights Innovation
3. Prison Reform and Reintegration of Offenders
4. Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
Firuzi Ozruzoda, Head of the Human Rights Guarantee Department of the Executive Office of
the President, noted:
“Human rights are a universal value and form the foundation of peace, social stability, and
sustainable development. We highly appreciate the efforts of all partners in strengthening and
promoting human rights and freedoms.”
Global Engagement, Local Commitment
Elina Steinerte, Vice-Chair of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) and Chair
of the Board of the Centre for Development and Justice International (CDJI), commended
Tajikistan’s engagement with international mechanisms:
“Tajikistan’s participation in the Convention against Torture for over two decades is a
testament to its commitment to eradicating torture and ill-treatment. We hope Tajikistan will
soon join the family of States Parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture
(OPCAT) and further strengthen its preventive framework.”
In closing, Azamat Shambilov, President of CDJI, highlighted the transformative potential of
dialogue:
“True reform begins when dialogue replaces distance and trust replaces doubts. Civil society is
not a bystander but a partner in shaping justice. The more inclusive our cooperation, the
stronger the foundations of dignity, humanity, and human righst.”
A Platform for Sustainable Reform
The outcomes of this Dialogue will guide future national reforms, ensuring that Tajikistan’s
justice and human rights institutions evolve in harmony with international standards and the
Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
This annual platform has become a cornerstone for constructive engagement between the State
and civil society, helping to transform commitments into tangible progress and ensuring that
human rights remain at the heart of national development.
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Human Right Watch (HRW), the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) also took the floor to condemn threats and attacks against the Court, its officials, and those cooperating with it, including the sanctions imposed by the United States: “Sanctions against its officials (…) are a threat to the protection of human rights and the rule of law around the world. These deplorable acts (…) obstruct the course of justice, jeopardising victims’ access to justice, and their right to remedy and reparation.” The organizations concluded that “[n]o one is above the law and that the international community “must stand with victims and those who seek justice” and “must stand united against impunity.” Sanctions are a tool to be used against those responsible for the most serious crimes, not against those seeking justice on behalf of victims. States should take concrete action to mitigate the effects of any coercive measures aimed at hampering the Court’s work, including the adoption and implementation of national and regional blocking statutes.
These statements were made on the occasion of the HRC annual discussion with the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Professor Margaret Satterthwaite. She has repeatedly warned against such attacks on the ICC and other international courts.
International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute
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At the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN independent human rights experts, States and civil society firmly condemned the United States (US) retaliatory sanctions and threats against International Criminal Court (ICC) officials and other persons supporting the Court.
Example of a link: International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute
“I am therefore deeply disturbed by attacks on the international institutions that underpin our rights, including the International Criminal Court. Sanctioning judges and prosecutors at national, regional or international levels, for doing their jobs, is an assault on the rule of law and corrodes justice,” the High Commissioner added.
The executive order appears designed not only to intimidate Court officials and staff involved in the Court’s critical investigations, but also to have a chilling effect on broader cooperation with the ICC, including by victims themselves and civil society organizations supporting them. Victims, survivors and witnesses, as well as human rights defenders and members of civil society organizations supporting and cooperating with the Court, may fall within the order’s scope. The sanctions risk undercutting cooperation from various quarters, potentially resulting in the Court losing access to information and evidence necessary to investigate, arrest, detain and prosecute perpetrators of atrocities. It could also result in the Court losing access to essential goods and services necessary to carry out its global mandate.
These statements were made on the occasion of the HRC annual discussion with the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Professor Margaret Satterthwaite. She has repeatedly warned against such attacks on the ICC and other international courts.
The executive order appears designed not only to intimidate Court officials and staff involved in the Court’s critical investigations, but also to have a chilling effect on broader cooperation with the ICC, including by victims themselves and civil society organizations supporting them. Victims, survivors and witnesses, as well as human rights defenders and members of civil society organizations supporting and cooperating with the Court, may fall within the order’s scope. The sanctions risk undercutting cooperation from various quarters, potentially resulting in the Court losing access to information and evidence necessary to investigate, arrest, detain and prosecute perpetrators of atrocities. It could also result in the Court losing access to essential goods and services necessary to carry out its global mandate.
