The UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor will assess the situation of human rights defenders in Tajikistan during an official visit to the country from November 28 to December 9, 2022. Photo: Internet As reported by the press service of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor will focus on Tajikistan’s implementation of […]
AZDA.TV· Send to others
The UN Special Rapporteur Mary Lawlor will assess the situation of human rights defenders in Tajikistan during an official visit to the country from November 28 to December 9, 2022.
Photo: Internet
As reported by the press service of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor will focus on Tajikistan’s implementation of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and other relevant international human rights documents to ensure favorable conditions for human rights defenders to carry out their legitimate and peaceful activities in defense of human rights.
“I will also examine existing and planned measures to protect human rights defenders, including legislation and policy; general conditions for the registration and management of non-governmental organizations; freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, and access to legal assistance,” Lawlor said.
It is reported that during her visit, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders will meet with representatives of government agencies, as well as UN staff, representatives of regional human rights organizations, civil society representatives, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and other relevant stakeholders.
Mary Lawlor is expected to hold a press conference on December 9 at the UN building in Dushanbe.
The findings and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2024.
The visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders comes against a backdrop of reports of gross human rights violations in Tajikistan. In recent months, the country’s authorities have faced criticism for systematic violations of human rights, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly.
A year ago, Tajik authorities violently suppressed a protest by residents of Badakhshan, resulting in several deaths. Later, dozens of residents from Badakhshan were sentenced to long prison terms, including human rights defenders. This year, 7 journalists and bloggers were also imprisoned.
The detainees complained that they had no access to a lawyer, as in most cases lawyers refused to defend the defendants in high-profile cases.
Photo: Internet