OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan delivered training course on medico-legal documentation of torture and the Istanbul Protocol

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) conducted a training course on “Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol”. The event was held from 14 to 16 December 2020.

The training course was organized together with the National Human Rights Centre and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' Regional Office for Central Asia.

During the event, international experts from the Danish Institute Against Torture (DIGNITY) provided information on the investigation and documentation of torture, international standards for the investigation under the Istanbul Protocol, the co-operation of experts in the investigation of torture, the physical and psychological evidence of torture.

Medical personnel of penitentiary institutions of the Main Directorate for Execution of Sentence of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and representatives of the National Human Rights Centre participated in the training course. Through the course, they advanced their knowledge in areas such as state’s obligation to investigate, document and prosecute torture, the implications of the principle of do-no-harm and values of inter-disciplinary collaboration in the documentation of torture, and fundamental principles and application of the Istanbul Protocol. The event also included a presentation of the Uzbek language translation of the Istanbul Protocol.

Professor Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Human Rights Centre noted: “The promotion, protection and observance of human rights in Uzbekistan is one of the priorities of the state policy, and the Istanbul Protocol provides a brief description of the minimum standards that states must adhere to, to ensure effective investigation and documentation of torture.”

Richard Wheeler, Senior Project Officer at the OSCE PCUz said: “During 2017-2020, serious work was undertaken by Uzbekistan to identify and eliminate shortcomings in torture prevention, affecting the level of protection of human rights and freedoms. The OSCE PCUz most certainly commend Uzbekistan’s efforts in prioritizing urgent action against torture and ill-treatment.”

The training course is part of the OSCE PCUz project “Promoting the Sustainable Development of the National Human Rights System in Uzbekistan”.