DUSHANBE, February 7, 214, Asia-Plus --  The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Mr. Juan E. Mendez, will visit Tajikistan from February 10-12, Tajikistan’s Human Rights Ombudsman Zarif Alizoda announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on February 7.

“During his previous visit to Tajikistan, the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment gave recommendations for removal of or considerable reduction in shortcomings regarding the observance of rights of prisoners,” Alizoda said.

According to him, the recommendations are being effectively implemented, including “the issue of setting up a special working group for monitoring prisons.”

“A seminar to discuss problems raised by Mr. Juan Mendez will take place in Dushanbe on February 12,” the ombudsman said.

We will recall that the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment undertook a visit to Tajikistan from May 8 to May 10, 2012.

In his report, Mr. Mendez, in particular, noted that in the past two years, Tajikistan has introduced some encouraging changes in the normative framework, including, in April 2012, a new criminal provision defining torture and providing penalties for it.

“The broad awareness-raising campaign on prohibition of torture in international and domestic law initiated by the authorities is a step in the right direction,” he said, noting that significant gaps in legislation, policies and law enforcement practices, however, remain.

The Special Rapporteur identified a number of overarching issues critical to combating torture and ill-treatment effectively.

The Special Rapporteur called upon the Government to take decisive steps to ensure immediate and effective implementation of his recommendations, and calls on the international community to assist Tajikistan in its fight against torture and ill-treatment by providing it with appropriate financial and technical support.