KHUJAND, December 19, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- A regional conference, formally titled “development of the Institution of Assessors in a People’s Court” was held in Khujand in December 17.  The conference was organized in the frames of the project, Participation of Community in Prevention of Torture, by public associations Rural Development Initiative (RDI) and Youth and Civilization under financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Sheroz Sharipov, a public affairs specialist with Youth and Civilization, said the conference that had brought together lawyers, judges, assessors and representative of public associations active in the province had discussed issues related to “institutionalization and strengthening of civil activity of assessors in the Sughd province as well as summed up the results of work of the project, Participation of Community in Prevention of Torture, in the province.

At the conclusion of the conference, it was suggested that association of assessors in a people’s court should be established in northern Tajikistan.  “We are currently preparing documents for holding of constituent assembly and registration of this public association,” Sharipov said.