Tashkent Hosts Detention Center Management Training

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — A three-day training course titled "International Human Rights Standards and Best Practices in Detention Center Management" began at the Tashkent House of Human Rights on 22 June 2026.

The event is jointly organized by the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with the direct participation of the Metropolitan Police Service of the United Kingdom.

The training aims to build the professional capacity of law enforcement officers working in investigative isolation facilities regarding the prevention of torture and compliance with international human rights standards.

Speakers at the opening ceremony included Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Center for Human Rights and Academician; Andrew Jurkovsky, International Advisor at the Office of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan; Mansur Sattarov, First Deputy Head of the Investigative Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs; and Elina Šteinerte, Vice-Chair of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture.

Akmal Saidov emphasized that the prohibition of torture is enshrined in both international human rights treaties and the national legislation of Uzbekistan. According to him, the updated Constitution of the republic prohibits the use of torture under any circumstances and without any exceptions. He also noted that over the past five years, the National Center, together with the OSCE, has conducted 15 training seminars and courses on countering torture, and relevant training courses for 2025–2026 are being implemented in a number of regions across the country. Saidov added that the Nelson Mandela Rules are consistently being integrated into national legislation, the list of prisoners' rights is expanding, and the duration of preventive measures and detention is being reduced.

The other participants of the opening ceremony—Jurkovsky, Sattarov, and Šteinerte—also highly praised the role of international cooperation in the fight against torture and specifically noted the practical significance of such training sessions for staff working directly in places of deprivation of liberty.

The first day of training focused on international legal and national frameworks for the prevention of torture. Participants reviewed the provisions of the UN Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol, as well as key safeguards for the protection of persons in custody. Relevant issues were covered by Iqbolbek Abdumajidov, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the National Center, and Azamat Shambilov, an international consultant on prison reform representing the International Penitentiary Foundation.

Metropolitan Police representatives Philip Michael Andrews and John Norton Danthurne detailed the standards for treating detainees in temporary detention facilities: the right to access a lawyer, medical assistance, notification of relatives, proper registration and documentation, as well as management and accountability mechanisms in penitentiary institutions.

The day concluded with an interactive discussion on risk factors contributing to the use of torture and ill-treatment, featuring an analysis of specific practical cases.

The Metropolitan Police is the largest police unit in the United Kingdom, founded in 1829. It has more than 40,000 employees. In addition to maintaining public order in London, the service performs nationwide functions, including countering terrorism and protecting members of the royal family.