On November 27-28 2012, in Dushanbe a workshop to discuss the issues of promotion awareness of law enforcement and the judicial system on HIV/AIDS and providing the legal protection for people living with HIV (PLHIV) was conducted. The event was dedicated to World AIDS Day, which celebrated on December 1 each year around the world. The event was conducted with the support of National Coordination Committee to fight HIV, TB and Malaria in the Republic of Tajikistan and initiative of Council of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan, through financial support of ILO, UN Joint Advocacy Project on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA and UNICEF), Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The objectives of the workshop were to enhance the capacity of law enforcement and judicial system for HIV/AIDS, promote and strengthen the national response to provide and ensure effective legal protection for PLHIV and people affected by HIV and assistance in eradication of stigma and discrimination against PLHIV.
In his opening speech, Mr. Zafar Azizov – Chairman of the Council of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan said that Tajikistan was doing
everything to fight HIV in the country following international documents. “The event is dedicated to ensure that the employees of law enforcement and the judicial system are well-informed on HIV/AIDS, and could use their knowledge during decision-making in their working places”.
The event was attended by the representatives of The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice of RT, public procurator's office, judges of the Regional courts of Dushanbe city, GBAO, Sugd, Khatlon regions and Regions of Republican Subordination, civil societies, involving people living with HIV and representatives from various international organizations.
“The law of the Republic of Tajikistan to fight HIV/AIDS was adopted, State Programme to fight HIV/AIDS and other related documents are implemented in the country level. Together we need to reach the millennium development goals”, noted Mr. Beknazarov M. - Secretary of the National Coordination Committee to fight HIV, TB and Malaria in the Republic of Tajikistan. Mr. Beknazarov concluded his thoughts by thanking all partners for their active participation in the event.
At the process of the event the sessions dedicated to epidemiologic situation on HIV in Tajikistan, general information on HIV/AIDS, ways of prevention and etc were sounded. In her presentation Dr. Maria Boltaeva, UNAIDS Coordinator in Tajikistan, touched upon the issue of fundamental human rights and their use in the scope of HIV/AIDS. In particular participants were concerned by the issues of mandatory HIV testing, the rapid spread of the infection and proposed to the MoH and other international and civil society organizations to strengthen the information campaigns in order to inform population on HIV/AIDS.
The ILO National coordinator in Tajikistan Mr. Sobir Aminov informed participants of the workshop of the ILO mandate and its role in protecting rights of people, its work in Tajikistan, in particular on the activities in the framework of the Decent Work Country Programme for the period 2011-2013, contribution of the ILO tripartite constituents to the implementation of the National AIDS Programme 2011-2015. ILO Coordinator for HIV and world of work in Eastern Europe and Central Asia Ms Elena Kudriavtseva presented key principles of the ILO Recommendation No 200 on HIV and AIDS and the World of Work. This ILO international labour standard recalls the member -States to involve actors of different sectors, among them the law enforcement system representatives, arm forces and judicial officials into national HIV and AIDS response in order to strengthen and support the provision of the quality-based social-legal support to PLHIV and affected families by HIV and reduce stigma and discrimination.
Also participants were informed on the draft Concept note on promotion awareness of law enforcement and the judicial system on HIV/AIDS, which comes as the first step to attract members of the judiciary to the implementation of the national HIV and AIDS response.
By the second day of the National Workshop, the participants have drafted a set of follow-up actions as a part of the Action Plan to implement the HIV/AIDS Concept Paper at the workplaces. Major feedback has been highlighted in the following recommendations:
-Strengthen awareness and capacity building on HIV/AIDS among judges, prosecutors, lawyers and police (training of trainers) at national and oblast/region levels;
- Ensure legal support for people living with HIV through increase of practical knowledge among young magistrates and insertion courses in the vocational and professional courses;
-Design and adapt the module or guidelines on HIV and AIDS for judicial system and law enforcement professionals in Tajikistan.
For more information, contact: Dr. Maria Boltaeva, UNAIDS Country Officer at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Ms.Takhmina Mahmud ILO Focal Point for HIV/AIDS and the World of Work in Tajikistan at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
