KHUJAND, February 19, Asia-Plus  -- A coordination meeting of human rights activists of the Sughd province was held in Khujand on March 18 on an initiative of the OSCE field office in Khujand.

The meeting discussed issues related to observance of rights servicemen of military units of the Tajik Armed Forces stationed in northern Tajikistan.  

According to Suhrob Shoyev, political and economic assistant, OSCE field office in Khujand, the problem of observance of rights of servicemen currently evokes concern of not only the human rights organization but society as a whole. 

“Rights of citizens are violated during the conscription, campaign, during the military and during the medical examination,” the political and economic assistant said.  

Ms. Tatiana Khatyukhina of the Khujand branch of the Human Rights Center noted that monitoring had recorded numerous instances of violation of servicemen’s rights, including hazing of servicemen, illegally detaining young men on the streets and sending them to military, conscripting sick persons, etc.  

In order to avoid negative occurrences in military units and recruitment offices it is necessary to lobby for the law on alternative civilian service, monitor observance rights of servicemen, get a wide access to military units and recruitment offices as well as strengthen public control of observance of the conscription law, Ms. Khatyukhina said.  

Local human rights activists also decided to hold a roundtable meeting with participation of representatives from military units and recruitment offices to discuss the conscription and military service problems.