DUSHANBE, October 26, 2011, Asia-Plus – On Tuesday October 25, the Human Rights Dialogue between the Republic of Tajikistan and the European Union took place for the fourth time in Dushanbe.
According to the delegation of the European Union in Dushanbe, the dialogue was held in a businesslike atmosphere, with an exchange on a wide range of issues of mutual interest or concern, as well as discussions on possibilities for concrete cooperation in the field of human rights.
The Tajik delegation was headed by Mr. Khursandmurod Mirzoyev, Senior Advisor to the President of Tajikistan for Legal Policy, and included representatives from the President”s Executive Office and from various relevant line Ministries, State agencies and the judiciary.
The EU delegation was headed by Dr. Riina Kionka, Head of Human Rights Policy Unit at the European External Action Service and included Mr. Eduard Auer, Head of EU Delegation to Tajikistan, Ms Audrone Perkauskiene, Human Rights officer of the European External Action Service and Mr. Frederik Coene, Desk Officer of the European External Action Service.
As a follow-up to last year’s Human Rights Dialogue, the Tajik delegation gave an update on developments in the office of the Ombudsman, elections, freedom of association and assembly; and freedom of religion and belief. The two sides also discussed freedom of media and rights of women; as well as rights of children and the death penalty.
During the meeting the outcomes of the EU-Tajikistan civil society seminar of 2011 were discussed, including a number of recommendations in the area of the rights of labor migrants. It was agreed to hold a fourth civil society seminar in spring 2012.
The EU delegation also met representatives of the civil society, and international organizations active in Tajikistan in the field of human rights.
The EU delegation proposed holding the next EU-Tajikistan Human Rights Dialogue meeting in autumn 2012.
