Ahead of the review of Tajikistan by the Universal Periodic Review’s (UPR) Working Group at its 39th session in Geneva that is scheduled to take place on 4 November 2021, International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) will engage in advocacy and draw the attention of Working Group members to pressing human rights concerns and key recommendations.
In March 2021 IPHR filed two submissions with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights which detail human rights developments and concerns in Tajikistan since the country was last reviewed by the UPR Working Group in May 2016 during the Second Cycle of reviews. The submissions conclude with recommendations for action to the Tajikistani authorities.
- The first document was produced jointly by the NGO Coalition against Torture and Impunity in Tajikistan, uniting 12 human rights groups and nine independent experts, IPHR and Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR, Poland). It covers developments regarding torture and ill-treatment, human rights violations in the armed forces, the death penalty, domestic violence, LGBT persons, persons with disabilities and freedom of association.
- The second document was prepared by IPHR. It summarizes concerns and provides recommendations to the Tajikistani authorities on freedom of expression and the media, freedom of assembly and harassment of independent lawyers. For information regarding the treatment of members of the political opposition please refer to submissions by other NGOs covering this issue.