Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 16-17 December 2021, at the initiative of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, together with the UN Regional Office on Drugs and Crime in Central Asia, within the framework of the joint project of the Peacebuilding Fund “Youth for Social Harmony in Ferghana Valley ”, training courses were organized in the city of Ferghana, Ferghana Valley with the support of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the topic“ Combating torture: international practice and national experience”.

The trainings were attended by young employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Academy of Internal Affairs, the Institute for Advanced Studies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Academy of the General Prosecutor's Office, the UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Central Asia. Specialists of the territorial administration, the Penitentiary Administration, Ferghana and Tashkent regional police departments, operational-search, before investigation, inquiry, preliminary investigation bodies, etc. were attended by employees of penitentiary institutions.

The training courses are defined in the paragraph of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On additional measures to improve the system for detecting and preventing torture."

Together with the National Center for Human Rights, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor General's Office, from 1 October 2021, trainings on combating torture were organized for employees of the preliminary, pre-trial investigation, inquest, preliminary investigation and other penitentiary institutions were created to fulfill the task.

The training courses are organized in 3 stages and from 17 November to 17 December, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent. It is planned that 1200 participants will be involved, including pre-trial investigation, inquiry, preliminary investigation bodies and employees of penitentiary institutions. 

In fact, the purpose of torturing a person is to trample on his or her personality and honor, to desecrate and humiliate his or her honor and dignity. This is why the United Nations and Uzbekistan, a full member of the United Nations, 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 on this matter, and it is never, ever, permitted to justify a state of torture. 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 oppression.

In this regard, it should be noted that the UN General Assembly proclaimed June 26, 1997 as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. On this international date, various measures will be taken to ensure the complete abolition of torture worldwide and to enhance the effectiveness of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

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 prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

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

In his Address to the Oliy Majlis on 29 December 2020, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan emphasized the need to radically improve the system of preventive torture in the field of operational search, investigation and execution of sentences, emphasizing the consistent continuation of reforms aimed at guaranteed human rights and freedoms.

First of all, the head of state instructed the chambers of the Oliy Majlis and the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan to develop proposals to expand the powers of the Commissioner for the Prevention of Torture, as well as to strengthen public control. At the same time, the Ombudsman stressed the need to create a system of “monitoring visits” to remand prisons and penitentiary institutions on a quarterly basis, together with representatives of the public.

At the same time, the current phase of the reform program includes the prevention of torture at an early stage, prompt and impartial consideration of appeals, and the creation of effective legal mechanisms for regular monitoring visits to places of detention of persons with disabilities.

This topical issue is reflected in the National Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights. The state program "Year of Support for Youth and Public Health", which is being consistently implemented in my country, also sets specific tasks in this direction.

That is, this decision was made within the framework of the program reports and speeches of the President, as well as the implementation of the tasks set in the National Strategy and State Program. The purpose of the resolution 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 presidential decree will undoubtedly serve to form a positive opinion of the international community on reforms in this area.

The training course is aimed at developing the capacity of law enforcement agencies, especially young professionals who will form a future cohort of law enforcement officials and who build their work on the basis of international practices and UN experience, taking into account human rights and respect for the rule of law.