The theme of the first day of the training (September 3, 2019): “Monitoring of closed institutions and places of deprivation of liberty” represented how the system of such monitoring is able to help the work of the administration of closed institutions, authorities, and influence society.

 

The training was organized by the National Centre for Human Rights, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the UN OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA).

 

The opening of the training on September 3, 2019 began with welcoming remarks to participants, including representatives of 15 ministries and departments, as well as employees of the National Centre for Human Rights. 

 

Welcoming remarks delivered by Director of the National Centre for Human Rights Akmal Saidov, OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan John McGregor, Vice-Chairperson of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Victor Zaharia, inspector of prisons from HM Inspectorate of Prisons UK Jeanette Hall, representative of the University of Exeter (United Kingdom) Abi Dymond. 

 

It was noted that the most important international document in this direction is the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which defines “torture”, “acts of torture”, sets out the obligations of states to prohibit and prevent torture and other forms ill-treatment. In addition, the United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT) has been established, which monitors compliance with requirements by states.

 

In many countries, stereotypes have existed for years regarding the monitoring of the penitentiary system. However, the development of this direction has led to the fact that ever greater advantages of monitoring are being revealed for such different categories as the administration of places of detention, prisoners, society, and government. This is due to the presence of many functions of the monitoring system. One of them is preventive, which represents a deterrent effect, when implementing various actions in closed institutions, it goes “with an eye to” the upcoming monitoring.

 

Documentation of the general situation in places of detention is not immediately noticeable, but it turns out to be an important part of monitoring. This may become the basis for a documented dialogue and cooperation with the authorities. In addition, objective documentation from the outside can be an argument for the administration of places of detention in certain circumstances, when you have to prove the legitimacy of their actions in a certain period of time.

 

And, of course, one of the most important functions of monitoring places of detention is the direct protection of victims, as well as the overall support and advancement of the rights of prisoners.

 

As an important point, it was noted that the monitoring experience in foreign countries does not replace the National Preventive Mechanism of each country, it is an addition to its comprehensive development.

 

 

Press-service of the National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights