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Tashkent Training Strengthens Procedural Safeguards and Promotes Rights-Based Criminal Justice Practices

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Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Svetlana Artykova, In her welcoming remarks, underlined the importance of strengthening institutional safeguards to ensure justice that is both lawful and humane:

Tashkent Training Strengthens Procedural Safeguards and Promotes Rights- Based Criminal Justice Practices . Tashkent, 11–12 November 2025

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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).

Enhancing Fair Trial Guarantees through International Expertise

The training provided a comprehensive overview of procedural safeguards at various stages of
criminal proceedings, including:

Rights of suspects and accused persons during arrest, detention, and interrogation.
Judicial oversight of procedural actions and preventive measures.
Specific guarantees for juveniles in conflict with the law.
Early preservation of testimony and protection of vulnerable witnesses.
International standards governing the admissibility and integrity of evidence.

With the participation of leading experts from Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, the training aimed to strengthen the protection of procedural rights, enhance the fairness of criminal proceedings, and promote ethical investigative practices aligned with international human rights standards.

Official Remarks Emphasise Commitment to Rule of Law and Human Dignity

In her welcoming remarks, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Svetlana Artykova, underlined the importance of strengthening institutional safeguards to ensure justice that is both lawful and humane:

“I believe that today’s training will further advance the honourable reforms undertaken by our state. These reforms are progressing step by step - and we have not stopped, nor will we stop. Why? Because every individual envisions a safe and just future for themselves, their children, and even their grandchildren. Our responsibility is to ensure that this future is built on fairness, dignity, and the rule of law.”

Svetlana Artykova, Deputy Prosecutor General of Uzbekistan

H.E. Ambassador Timothy Smart, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Uzbekistan, highlighted the value of international cooperation and the UK’s continued support for rights-based justice reforms:

“The P.E.A.C.E. model of interviewing, although a UK-developed model, is an internationally adopted and recognised approach to interviewing. And it is fully aligned with the Mendez principles on effective interviewing, developed to help states implement safer, rights-respecting investigative practices. The principles are grounded in international law and underscore the importance of transparency, accountability, and non discrimination in interrogation. It is not only an approach which respects the rights of suspects be effective also in supporting investigators to ensure they are getting accurate and detailed information to support their investigations and provide robust interview-based evidence for use in court.”

H.E. Ambassador Timothy Smart, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Uzbekistan

Mark Dixon, International Police Expert, United Kingdom

Promoting Ethical and Non-Coercive Interviewing Practices

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“When we speak about the interviewing of suspects, we are not merely discussing a technical stage of the investigation - we are safeguarding the integrity of justice itself. Effective procedural protections ensure that interviews are conducted lawfully, ethically, and without coercion. Reliable evidence is not born from pressure, but from respectful, structured and transparent investigative interviewing that upholds both truth-seeking and human dignity”

Azamat Shambilov, President of CDJI

“Torture prevention cannot be achieved solely by documenting cases or holding perpetrators accountable. It requires deep institutional change - transforming how criminal investigations aremconducted and how suspects are interviewed. This training introduces evidence-based investigative interviewing techniques and practical measures to uphold the best interests of vulnerable groups in the justice process. Every actor in the justice system - from police and prosecutors to judges and defence lawyers - has a crucial role in promoting and protecting human rights.”

Prof. Lorena Bachmaier Winter, Spain

“When we talk about the conditions of detention and procedural safeguards, we have to take into account that we are ensuring the rule of law and dignity of persons. Because freedom and security are two of our fundamental rights.”

Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Sustainable Reform

Through interactive discussion, peer exchange, and practical case analysis, participants explored challenges related to the implementation of procedural safeguards, credibility of testimony, and the protection of vulnerable individuals in the justice process.

The training highlighted the importance of:

Early access to legal counsel,
Impartial judicial oversight,
Child-friendly justice procedures,
Trauma-sensitive approaches to questioning,
and coordinated inter-agency cooperation.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and CDJI reaffirmed their commitment to supporting national partners in implementing sustainable justice reforms grounded in human rights, fairness, and the rule of law.

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