DUSHANBE, July 19, 2012, Asia-Plus – On Wednesday July 18, the Human Rights Center’s office in Khujand held a working meeting with participation of local police officers to discuss issues related to preventing torture and ill-treatment.

Ms. Tatiana Khatyukhina, chairperson of the Human Rights Center’s office in Khujand, says the meeting was held on an initiative of the Khujand police department.

“During the meeting, human rights activists explained the notion of torture, the absolute ban on use of torture as well as the main requirements of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (United Nations Convention against Torture) to local police officers,” she noted.

Khatyukhina added that the Khujand police officials had offered to dedicate the next meeting to discussion of the problem of domestic violence.

She stressed that the Human Rights Center’s office in Khujand provides legal assistance to victims of violence and their relatives as well as closely cooperates with local law enforcement authorities on the domestic violence problem and other legal issues.