OSCE Centre in Dushanbe organizes summer school on international law and human rights

VARZOB, Tajikistan, July 17, 2006 - University students are learning about human rights and mechanisms to protect those rights during a summer school co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe and Tajikistan's Bureau on Human Rights and the Rule of Law.

The two-week class on international law and human rights brings together 20 students from law and international relations departments from universities across the country. Trainers from the Bureau on Human Rights and the Rule of Law, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights and other international and national organizations lead the sessions.

"Human rights are at the core of international law and international relations. They form a fundamental value in every culture and should be respected and observed all over the world", said Ambassador Alain Couanon, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe. "The OSCE Centre in Dushanbe recognizes that human rights education is an important aspect of security, peace and stability".

Nigina Bahrieva, Director of the Bureau on Human Rights and the Rule of Law, added: "The annual summer schools, held for the sixth time this year, have made a significant contribution to human rights awareness in Tajikistan".

This year's summer school is being organized in close co-operation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.