The OSCE Office in Tajikistan facilitated a three-day expert operational meeting from November 27 to November 29 November, 2013

According to the OSCE Office, the meeting is aimed at aligning the Police Reform Program and Action Plan with the National Police Reform Strategy of Tajikistan.

Ambassador Markus Mueller, Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, said: “Police reform lies at the heart of developing democratic policing in Tajikistan, as it promotes a new, positive relationship between police, civil society and the population at large – the key actors in police reform.”

The meeting reportedly took place in Khoja Obigarm, some 50 kilometers north of Dushanbe.  It brought together some 40 experts from President’s Executive Office of the President, Ministries of Interior, Justice, and Finance, as well as Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption, National Center of Legislation, General Prosecutor’s Office, Supreme Court, Ombudsman, Police Reform Civil Society Advisory Group, Embassy of the Russian Federation, UNICEF, and international independent experts.

The event participants sought to finalize the draft of Police Reform Program and Action Plan for the implementation of the Police Reform Program.  Once revised, the documents will be submitted for approval to the President of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Nourillo Oripov, First Deputy Interior Minister of Tajikistan said: “We have made another step towards creating a new model of police structure which, in line with modern standards in human rights and fundamental freedoms, will help protect the interests and rights of people, in the first place.”