DUSHANBE, February 15, Asia-Plus – Tajik civil society commented on articles of the draft Ombudsman law in Tajikistan at an OSCE Center roundtable discussion on February 14, press release issued by the OSCE Center in Dushanbe said.  

The event brought together representatives from civil society, the government and international and diplomatic organizations.

"This event was an excellent opportunity for Tajikistan''s civil society engaged in human rights protection to convey its ideas on the draft Ombudsman Law currently in the Majlisi Namoyandagon , the lower house of parliament," said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of OSCE Center in Dushanbe.

Representatives of civil society paid particular attention to articles of the draft law on appointment and investigation powers of the Ombudsman.  They proposed that unlike appointments to other governmental positions, appointment and approval of the Ombudsman should be made by the parliament rather than the president.

They also expressed concerns about an article allowing the Ombudsman to visit prisons, suggesting the article be clarified to allow one-on-one interviews with detainees.

"An up-and-coming democracy can only benefit from the interaction between its government and civil society prior to an expected parliamentary vote" said Ambassador Pryakhin.

The discussion was co-sponsored by the OSCE Center in Dushanbe, the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.