Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 20-21 September, a training was held for employees of penitentiary institutions of Uzbekistan on the topic: “Preventing and suppressing sexual and gender-based violence in places of detention.”

It was organized by the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (NCHR), the Department of Execution of Punishments under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the support of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE ODIHR) and the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan.

During the training, prison staff improve their knowledge of international standards in the field of sexual and gender-based violence in places of detention.

At the opening of the event, welcoming speeches were made by the First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Director of the NCHR A. Saidov, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Uzbekistan T. Klinner, Acting Coordinator of OSCE Projects in Uzbekistan S. Sizov, Head of the Human Rights Department, ODIHR/OSCE A. Huber, human rights specialist OSCE/ODIHR I. Hartmani, member of the Senate Committee of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on women and gender equality G. Marufova, head of the department of the Department of Execution of Punishments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan J. Sultonov.

According to A. Saidov, “in the new Uzbekistan, comprehensive measures are being implemented to prevent torture and violence. A system of monitoring the observance of constitutional human rights and freedoms has been formed. Consistent and systematic work is being carried out to develop cooperation with international and regional human rights mechanisms and international human rights organizations.”

“Prisons are intended to be institutions of rehabilitation and correction, where people repay their debt to society for the crime they have committed, while at the same time receiving the opportunity for personal growth. However, too often prisons become breeding grounds for violence, and those who are most vulnerable are women,” noted German Ambassador T. Klinner in his welcoming speech.

As S. Sizov emphasized, this is not the first time that the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan, in cooperation with the National Center for Human Rights and the Department for the Execution of Punishments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has held an event of this kind. “In particular, a seminar was held on the UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Women Offenders (Bangkok Rules). This document is truly a good tool for integrating gender perspectives into prisons and beyond.”

“Increasing human dignity, respecting human rights and legitimate interests, eliminating any forms of violence have become the main idea of the reforms carried out by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan,” noted J. Sultanov, head of the department of the Department of Execution of Punishment under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

During the training, participants were provided with information about the promotion and protection of women’s rights in Uzbekistan, international standards for the protection of women’s rights, the concept of gender-based violence, and measures to prevent violence in places of detention.

The training was organized within the framework of the joint project of the NCHR and the OSCE Project Coordinator in the Republic of Uzbekistan “Promoting the sustainable development of the national system for the protection of human rights in Uzbekistan.”