Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 8 November 2021, a training on the Basic Principles of the Nelson Mandela Rules started for the employees of the penitentiary institutions of Uzbekistan.

The three-day event is organized by the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan and the Danish Institute for Combating Torture.

At the opening of the training, the participants were greeted by the director of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan Akmal Saidov, Senior Specialist on Projects on OSCE Humanitarian Criteria Marthe Langeland.

The participants included international experts Kalia Kambanella, Vadim Chovgan, Marie Brassholt, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan, the Academy of the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Academy of Public Administration, the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, employees of penitentiary institutions of Andijan, Namangan, Fergana, Jizzakh, Syrdarya, Tashkent regions and the city of Tashkent.

Practical exercises were organized in order to ensure the implementation of the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On additional measures to improve the system for detecting and preventing cases of torture." Particular attention will be paid to the basic principles of the Nelson Mandela Rules and amendments to these Rules, the development of knowledge and skills of prison staff in identifying relevant offenses, protection of prisoners from torture and ill-treatment.

At its core, the purpose of torturing a person is to trample and humiliate his personality, honor and dignity. That is why the United Nations and Uzbekistan, a full member of the UN, have always condemned torture as the most inhuman act committed by some people against others.

Torture is a crime against humanity under international law. Torture is strictly prohibited in all documents adopted in this regard, and nowhere and never is torture justified. According to article 26 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, no one can be subjected to torture, violence, cruel or other forms of harassment.

In recent years, large-scale work has been carried out in our country to further strengthen the guarantees of the rights and freedoms of citizens, including the absolute prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

In particular, the adoption on 26 June 2021, the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, of the resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On additional measures to improve the system for detecting and preventing torture" will further increase the historical significance of this date for us at the national and international levels.

The purpose of the document is to improve national preventive mechanisms for the prevention of torture, taking into account the recommendations of the UN statutory bodies and treaty committees. The timely and complete implementation of the reforms envisaged by the President’s decree will undoubtedly serve to form a positive opinion of the world community about the reforms of our country in this area.

In his message to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on 29 December 2020, the head of state emphasized the need to radically improve the system for preventing torture in the field of operational search, investigation and enforcement of sentences. This topical issue is reflected in the National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights.

In his speech on 6 November 2021 at a joint meeting of the chambers of parliament on the occasion of the inauguration of the newly elected President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, he said: “Strict compliance with the requirements of the Constitution and laws of the country, full implementation of the priority principle“ In the name of honor and dignity of man ”will continue will remain the main criterion of my activity as a guarantor of our Basic Law ”.

“Of course, for us human dignity is not some abstract, grandiloquent concept. It means for us, first of all, ensuring a peaceful and safe life of every citizen, his fundamental rights and freedoms, ”the head of state noted.

As part of the training, employees of penitentiary institutions:

- have a better understanding and practical knowledge of how to balance security and human rights in prisons;

- get acquainted with the history of the Nelson Mandela Rules, determine the place of the Nelson Mandela Rules in the framework of human rights, as well as their implications for national practice in prisons;

- identify the most important changes to the Nelson Mandela Rules;

- will gain practical knowledge about the basic principles and key provisions of the Nelson Mandela Rules (including health issues);

- will gain practical skills in applying the Nelson Mandela Rules, identifying relevant violations and protecting prisoners from torture and ill-treatment.