In Tajikistan, the national strategy for the protection of human rights was discussed

On September 5, a republican conference was held in Dushanbe on the topic “National Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the Protection of Human Rights until 2038: Plan and Its Implementation”

According to the Khovar agency, this conference was organized at the initiative of the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner of Tajikistan. Representatives of government bodies, diplomatic corps based in Dushanbe, international organizations, and civil society structures participated in the conference.

Umed Bobozoda, the Human Rights Commissioner of Tajikistan, stated at the conference that one of the main goals of the country’s government is to ensure and protect human rights, “to provide decent living conditions, guarantee freedom and inviolability, social protection, and active participation in state governance.”

The Human Rights Commissioner of Tajikistan speaks about “ensuring and protecting human rights” in the country while international organizations have repeatedly criticized the authorities for violating basic human rights in Tajikistan.

In the past year, law enforcement agencies in Tajikistan have imprisoned several human rights defenders, journalists, and bloggers on fabricated charges. International organizations have repeatedly criticized the authorities of Tajikistan and called for the release of all convicted journalists in Tajikistan. However, the authorities of Tajikistan always ignore the recommendations and demands of international organizations.

Repression against journalists in Tajikistan has led to a deterioration in the country’s position in the press freedom ranking.

For example, in the report “World Press Freedom Index 2023” by the international non-governmental organization “Reporters Without Borders” (Reporters Sans Frontieres), Tajikistan ranked 153rd out of 180 countries in 2023. Even Afghanistan, where the Taliban seized power, ranked 152nd, one position better than Tajikistan.

Earlier, on July 4, in a statement, UN experts expressed concern over the sentences against human rights defenders, activists, and journalists and urged the government of Tajikistan to demonstrate its genuine commitment to improving the situation of human rights defenders in the country.

The statement noted that the criminalization of lawful and peaceful activities of human rights defenders is incompatible with Tajikistan’s international human rights obligations. Experts emphasized that “the identification of human rights defenders with extremists and terrorists is a very dangerous practice.”

UN experts paid special attention to the cases of journalists, bloggers, and human rights defenders who were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 7 to 29 years from October to December 2022 on charges of extremism and terrorism. The statement specifically mentions Daleri Imomali, Abdullo Gurbati, Zavkibek Saidamini, Abdusat tor Pirmukhammadzoda, Ulfatkhanim Mamadshoeva, Manuchehr Kholiknazarov, Faromuz Irgashov, and Khushom Gulom. UN experts also noted that at least five convicted human rights defenders did not have access to lawyers, at least three criminal cases were classified as “secret,” at least eight trials of human rights defenders were held behind closed doors, and eight out of nine detainees were allegedly charged with crimes related to extremism and terrorism.

UN experts also expressed serious concern about the apparent use of anti-terrorism legislation to silence critical voices.