DUSHANBE, November 7, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- The UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) began its consideration of Tajikistan’s report on the efforts of that country to give effect to the provisions of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on November 7.

The report has been introduced by a Tajik delegation comprising Prosecutor-General Sherkhon Salimzoda, Tajik Ombudsman Zarif Alizoda, First Deputy Interior Minister Nourullo Oripov, Justice Council Head Zafar Azizov, etc.

Human rights activists Sergey Romanov, Gulchehra Rahmanova, Tatiana Khatyukhina and Tahmina Zhurayeva have prepared the alternative report for the Committee Against Torture.

The report introduced by the Tajik official delegation describes events that took place during the period from 2007 to 2010.  the national report consists of two parts: the first part includes general review of Tajikistan legislation on countering and fighting torture, adopted during the period from 2007 to 2010; and the second part is dedicated to measures taken to fulfill final remarks and recommendations of the CAT.

The report has been prepared by the Working Group at Tajikistan’s Commission on Ensuring the Fulfillment of International Obligations in the Field of Human Rights.

We will recall that in April 2012 Tajikistan’s Penal Code was amended to include Article 143.1 criminalizing torture, with a definition of torture in line with Article 1 of the Convention, making torture a punishable offence with a possible sanction of up to fifteen years in prison.

The Committee Against Torture (CAT) is the body of 10 independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment by its State parties.

All States parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented.  States must report initially one year after acceding to the Convention and then every four years.  The Committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of “concluding observations.”

In addition to the reporting procedure, the Convention establishes three other mechanisms through which the Committee performs its monitoring functions: the Committee may also, under certain circumstances, consider individual complaints or communications from individuals claiming that their rights under the Convention have been violated, undertake inquiries, and consider inter-state complaints.

The Optional Protocol to the Convention, which entered into force in June 2006, creates the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT).  The SPT has a mandate to visit places where persons are deprived of their liberty in the States parties.  Under the Optional Protocol, States parties shall establish a independent national preventive mechanisms for the prevention of torture at the domestic level which has also a mandate to inspect places of detention.

The CAT meets in Geneva and normally holds two sessions per year consisting of a four week session in April/May and another four week session in November.

The Committee also publishes its interpretation of the content of the provisions of the Convention, known as general comments on thematic issues.