DUSHANBE, January 31, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Tajik Human Rights Ombudsman Office, which is an official human rights watchdog in the country, has given a news conference on the results of its work carried out in 2012.

In 2012, the Ombudsman’s Office for Human Rights received 1,689 applications from citizens, who complained about decisions or inaction of various government agencies, Tajik Ombudsman Zarif Alizoda told journalists on January 30.

According to him, people complain most about judicial bodies – 89 applications; 16 complaints were filed against prosecutors; 24 against police; 16 against the Ministry of Justice, including the penitentiary system; five against the Ministry of Defense (military registration and enlistment offices); four against the anticorruption agency; and two against the Ministry of Education.

“Besides, seven complaints were filed against the State Committee for National Security (SCNS), five complaints were filed against local authorities and so forth,” Alizoda said.

Last year, the Ombudsman’s Office for Human Rights reportedly conducted 16 inspections and participated jointly with the Coalition of NGOs against Torture in two actions to monitor semi-closed institutions.

Over the report period, representatives of the Ombudsman’s Office paid 13 visits to penal colonies and two pretrial detention facilities to study prison conditions.

“The department for protection of child’s rights was set up last year under financial support of the UNICEF Country Office in Tajikistan,” said Alizoda.  “In December, the government approved a draft national program for human rights education for 2013-2020 that was worked out by the Ombudsman’s Office.”

Asked about the problem of use of torture, Alizoda noted that many applications about use of torture in penitentiary institutions had not been confirmed.

“Thus, complaints by parents of juvenile prisoners about use of torture against their children have not been confirmed,” noted the ombudsman.  “During the visit of representatives of the Ombudsman’s Office, the children have not confirmed information received from their parents.”

Alizoda noted that there were serious problems related to prison conditions.  The penitentiary institutions are overcrowded and do not meet requirements.  “The government is taking measures to tackle these problems,” said he.  “A new penitentiary institution is being built in Vahdat and two pretrial detention facilities have been built in Khujand.”

Asked about website blockages, the ombudsman noted that there was no violation of human rights in that issue.  “It is known that the issue has caused by technical problems.”  However, he noted that the Ombudsman’s office would take such issues under its control.