KHUJAND, May 31, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan has ratified international legal documents and it must ensure timely response of officials to information or applications about use of torture or other cruel treatment by security officials against detained persons.

Eric Swanidze, lawyer and member of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), remarked this at a roundtable entitled “Role of Lawyers and Representatives of Civil Society in Prevention of Torture” that took place in Khujand, Sughd province at the end of last week.

He pointed to the necessity of not only preventing torture but also opportunely responding to such cases and efficiently investigating the use of torture and punishing those using torture.  “Only in this case, we can hope that the torture use practice will come to naught.  There are international standards that could be used by lawyers, public associations and representatives of civil society,” the CPT member said.

Like many Tajik hum rights activists, Mr. Swanidze considers that in accordance with its international obligations, Tajikistan must include a separate article in the country’s penal code that would reflect the definition and punishment for torture.

At present Tajik law enforcement officials that used torture or other cruel treatment are prosecuted by laws prohibiting abuse of authority (Article 314)  and misuse of powers (Article 316).