OSCE/ODIHR brings together Central Asian reform leaders at Tashkent forum to develop human-rights based criminal justice systems
Around 100 policy- and lawmakers, academics, justice professionals and civil society representatives from Central Asia and other parts of the OSCE region discussed current challenges and good practices in criminal justice reform at a forum organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) from 16 to 18 November 2016 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Participants of the Sixth Expert Forum on Criminal Justice for Central Asia, co-organized with the OSCE field missions in Central Asia and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), stressed the essential characteristics of a criminal justice system in a democratic society, including fairness, efficiency and adherence to human rights standards.
Key issues, including the independence of judges and lawyers, sentencing trends, prosecution of terrorism-related offences and torture prevention, were highlighted at sessions, as well as at side events organized by Penal Reform International and the International Commission of Jurists.
“ODIHR supports and encourages OSCE participating States to contemplate comprehensive modernization of their criminal justice systems through technical innovation and respect for human rights and fair trial rights,” said Marcin Walecki, Head of ODIHR’s Democratization Department.
The Regional Representative of UNODC for Central Asia, Ashita Mittal, described the Forum as “an excellent example of our joint work in promoting international standards in crime prevention and criminal justice.” She added: “We all agree that ‘reform of the criminal procedure legislation’ is an important entry point and a prerequisite for the establishment of a democratically accountable criminal justice system that protects human rights.”
John MacGregor, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, said: “As an OSCE field operation, we are here to facilitate discussion of good practices in reforming criminal justice systems from throughout the OSCE area and to present the national experience of Uzbekistan to others. The Expert Forum is a unique opportunity to fulfil this task.”
Shayunus Gaziev, Chairperson of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan, said: “Conclusions and recommendations of national and foreign experts and guests at today’s event will serve as a basis for further improvement of criminal justice systems, as well as for strengthening independence of the judiciary in Uzbekistan and other countries of the Central Asian region.”
The Expert Forum is a leading regional platform for expert discussions on criminal justice reforms, human rights and the harmonization of national legislation with international standards and OSCE commitments.