DUSHANBE, July 22, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Protection of the right to freedom of expression requires consolidation of media and human rights organizations into a single network in order to solve problems in the sphere of freedom of speech and media in Tajikistan, Nouriddin Qarshiboyev, chairman of the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit), told Asia-Plus Wednesday afternoon, following a workshop on strengthening of support for freedom of expression in Tajikistan that took place here on July 21.

Organized by Nansmit in cooperation with Internews Tajikistan under financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the workshop brought together representatives from the Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law (BHR), Journalists’ Union of Tajikistan, Office of the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) in Tajikistan, Media Council, Nansmit, TajANESMI, as well as public associations Homa and Journalist.

The meeting participants discussed the human rights situation in Tajikistan, activities of local media and human rights organizations, media and reporters on protection of freedom speech in the country, as well as activities of international and regional freedom of expression networks.

They also considered a number of important aspects such as use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) for strengthening of support for freedom of expression, and ethical aspects of freedom of speech, the Nansmit head.

According to him, the meeting participants decided to create the freedom of expression network in the country – TajFEN.  The network is a voluntary association and it is open for other public associations, Qarshiboyev added.

He noted that TajFEN would create a platform for discussions, exchange of information, discussion of problems facing freedom of speech and media in the country, and joint actions to protect freedom of expression.