DUSHANBE, June 15, 2015, Asia-Plus — The EU and Tajikistan held the seventh round of their annual Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels on June 11.
According to the Tajik MFA information department, the Tajik delegation was headed by Muzaffar Ashouriyon, Head of the Department for Human Rights Guarantees at the President’s Executive Office, who was accompanied by the Ombudsman, Zarif Alizoda, and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.
Press release issued by the European Union notes that the EU delegation was led by Ms Elisabeth Tison, Head of the Human Rights Strategy and Policy Implementation Division in the European External Action Service.
Discussions were reportedly open and constructive, building on the positive experience of previous years. The delegations addressed a range of issues, including elections, freedom of expression, women”s rights, torture, freedom of religion and the situation of civil society. The EU welcomed the work of the Ombudsman and encouraged the Tajikistan authorities to further strengthen the institutional setting, including the planned introduction of an Ombudsman for children”s rights. The adoption of a state program on the prevention of domestic violence was also acknowledged as a positive step. The EU welcomed Tajikistan”s ongoing work to combat torture, but stressed the need for additional efforts to counter impunity.
The EU expressed concern regarding reports of pressure on independent journalists, urged the Tajikistan authorities to cease blocking news and social media websites, and encouraged the implementation of recommendations adopted at the EU-Tajikistan Civil Society Seminar in Dushanbe in 2014, which focused on freedom of expression. The EU expressed regret at the reported shortcomings in the March 2015 parliamentary elections, and reiterated its readiness to support Tajikistan in aligning the electoral process with OSCE and other international standards. Legislative proposals that would impose new requirements on civil society organizations were identified as a matter of concern.
The two sides will explore areas of technical co-operation and possible support, ahead of the next human rights dialogue, that will be held in Dushanbe in 2016.
Bilateral relations between Tajikistan and the EU are governed by a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) since 2010.
Financial assistance is provided by the EU”s Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) and focuses on: rural development and poverty reduction; agriculture and land reform; promotion of good governance; and economic reforms.
The EU is currently preparing a new DCI multi-annual indicative program for 2014-2020, which will set out the structure of future development cooperation.
The EU and Tajikistan also cooperate in the framework of a regional approach, which includes all five Central Asian republics: the EU and Central Asia strategy for a new partnership (2007).
Tajikistan participates in several ongoing regional, thematic and bilateral programs.
