OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe holds training course on juvenile justice system reform

A three-day training course on juvenile justice aimed at raising awareness about the rights of children in contact with the criminal justice system concluded on 31 August 2018 in Romit, Tajikistan (40 km north-east of Dushanbe). The course was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

Eighteen mid- to senior-level officials from Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry and five members of the Tajik Inter-Agency Working Group on Justice for Children System Reform took part in the event.

The training course focused on international norms and standards as well as domestic legislation concerning children’s rights as applied to juvenile justice and the psychological characteristics of children in contact with the law. It included discussion and interactive exercises on communicating with child suspects, victims and witnesses.

Olga Korzhova, a trainer from Kyrgyzstan, said: “Standards of communication with child victims, witnesses of crimes and children in conflict with the law are an important element of child-friendly justice. The participants in the seminar are professionals who demonstrated a high level of motivation to implement the international standards on the rights of the child in their practical work.”

“Learning about worldwide practices and studying international standards relevant to justice for children will help the participants to improve their professional skills,” said Gulchehra Rakhmanova, a local trainer from Tajikistan. “They will apply the obtained knowledge in their day-to-day activities and share their experience with colleagues in their respective agencies.”

The training course complements Activity 11 of the Tajik National Action Plan on Juvenile Justice Reform 2017-2021, which provides for training of employees of the Interior Ministry, prevention police, investigators and police officers on Justice for Children.