DUSHANBE, May 29, 2014, Asia-Plus — Baroness Vivien Stern, member of the British Parliament’s House of Lords visited Tajikistan from May 22 to May 29.
Baroness Vivien Stern completed her fourth visit to Tajikistan on May 28.
According to the British Embassy in Dushanbe, the aim was to continue her dialogue on Prison Reform and Human Rights as well as to promote Parliamentary relations.
In a full and interesting program the Baroness met with government, non-government representatives as well as with the representatives of the International Community of Tajikistan, including, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Sirojidin Aslov, First Deputy Minister of Interior Mr. Abdurahmon Buzmakov, the Prosecutor General Mr. Sherkhon Salimzoda, Ombudsman Mr. Zarif Alizoda, lawyers and the deputy leaders of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRP) Mr. Saidumar Husayni and Mahmadali Hayit.
The Baroness also had an opportunity to meet with the chairmen of the Human Rights and Legislation Parliamentary Committee Mr. Bahtiyor Khudoyorzoda and Interparliamentary Cooperation Committee Mr. Farhod Rahimov.
Baroness Stern also had the opportunity to engage with young Tajik diplomats in a briefing on inter-parliamentary relations and the role of the UK Parliament in democratic life.
Baroness Stern reportedly visited the Juvenile Detention facility in Dushanbe together with Mr. Izatullo Sharipov, deputy Minister of Justice and head of Department of Execution of Criminal Sentences.
She also visited the Women’s Detention Facility together with the deputies of this Department in Norak.
In addition, she visited a Women’s Wealth and Influence project in Khuroson district, which is supported by the UK Department for International Development and implemented by Save the Children Fund, Tajikistan. She met with a group of inspirational women of Ayni jamoat, Khuroson district.
At the end of her visit Baroness Stern said: “I am always delighted to visit this beautiful country. And I am encouraged to see that there has been progress since my last visit. I was delighted to meet with Foreign Minister Aslov and to discuss with the Tajik Parliament how to further build on the growing relationship between our Parliaments and two countries. I look forward to welcoming Mr. Aslov and his delegation to the British Parliament when they visit on July.”
Baroness Vivien Stern is Senior Research Fellow at the International Center for Prison Studies (ICPS) at King’s College, London, a university center dedicated to the study of imprisonment and its uses around the world. She is also an Honorary President of Penal Reform International (PRI), an NGO promoting penal reform throughout the world, of which she was a founder member and secretary-general from 1989-2005. In 1999 she was appointed as an independent member of the House of Lords. She is currently a member of the parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. She chairs the British parliament’s All Party Group on the Abolition of the Death Penalty.
