DUSHANBE, June 2, 2016, Asia-Plus – Mr. Toivo Klaar, Head of Central Asia Division at the European External Action Service (EEAS), is expected to arrive in Dushanbe on June 8 for participation in the eighth round of the annual Human Rights Dialogue of the EU and Tajikistan, according to the Tajik MFA information department.
We will recall that the previous seventh round of annual EU-Tajikistan Human Rights Dialogue was held in Brussels on June 11, 2015.
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 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.
