KHUJAND, November 17, 2008, Asia-Plus — To prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment during interrogations the Khujand-based public associations Rural Development Initiative (RDI) and Youth and Civilization have launched the project, entitled Participation of Community in Prevention of Torture in the Sughd province under financial support of the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the Youth and Civilization information officer, Sheroz Sharipov, said that the main objective of the project was to promote development of fair legal proceedings through strengthening of the institution of assessors in court.
The project provides for holding events to raise legal awareness and improve skills of assessors on revealing cases of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment during investigations and develop the institution of assessors as full members of judicial system.
The final phase of the project includes establishment of the Association of Assessors of the Sughd Province that will promote active participation of assessors in consideration of criminal proceedings.
“The project is implemented within the framework of the upcoming judicial and legal reforms in the country and aimed at promoting judicial reforms and democratization of legal proceedings,” Sharipov said.
He added that there are 2,141 assessors in northern Tajikistan; 500 of them are in Khujand. Among them are physicians, teachers, engineers, heads of different organizations and enterprises. Assessors in court are usually appointed for five years.
