United Nations

CERD/C/TJK/CO/9-11/Add.1

International Convention on the Elimination of A ll Forms of Racial Discrimination

Distr.: General

8 October 2018

English

Original: Russian

English, French, Russian and Spanish only

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Ninety-seventh session

26 November–14 December 2018

Item 4 of the provisional agenda

Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted

by States parties under article 9 of the Convention

Concluding observations on the combined ninth to eleventh periodic reports of Tajikistan

Addendum

Information received from Tajikistan on follow-up to the concluding observations *

[Date received: 4 September 2018]

Interim information on the implementation of the recommendations contained in paragraphs 12 and 14 of the concluding observations on the combined ninth to eleventh periodic reports of Tajikistan

I.Introduction

1.At its 2562nd and 2563rd meetings, held on 10 and 11 August 2017, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination considered the combined ninth to eleventh periodic reports of Tajikistan (CERD/C/TJK/9-11) and formulated recommendations on the basis of that review.

2.In order to implement the recommendations, the Government Commission on International Human Rights Obligations drafted and, on 23 February 2018, adopted a national action plan on the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination for the period 2018–2020.

3.The information herein was prepared by the secretariat of the Government Commission on International Human Rights Obligations on the basis of inputs submitted by the ministries and departments represented on the Commission. The secretariat held frequent consultations with civil society during the preparation of the report. A draft of the document was circulated to representatives of civil society, and recommendations were received from relevant State bodies and civil society institutions. These recommendations were taken into account in the preparation of the final version of the document.

II.Participation in public and political life

Paragraph 12 of the concluding observations

4.Tajikistan implements a policy directed towards eliminating all forms of racial discrimination, promoting mutual understanding among the peoples living in the country and ensuring respect for the principle that all citizens, stateless persons and other groups protected under the Convention are equal before the law. In the period 2014–2015, Tajikistan ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. In 2018, Tajikistan signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

5.The Constitution of Tajikistan covers all the matters for which provision is made in article 5 of the Convention, including equality before the law and tribunals (art. 17), the right to protection (arts. 18, 19, 20 and 21), political rights (art. 27), the right to freedom of movement and residence (arts. 22 and 24), the right to freedom of conscience (art. 26), the right to inherit (art. 32), the right to marry (art. 33), social rights (arts. 35–38) and cultural rights (arts. 40–41). The legislation governing the relevant sectors sets out these standards and establishes equality of rights and freedoms irrespective of ethnicity, race, sex, language, religion, political opinion, education, social status or property.

6.In accordance with the relevant resolution of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and recommendations of the Conference of European Statisticians, in 2000 Tajikistan initiated the practice of conducting a population census on a regular basis every 10 years. This trend will be maintained for the next census round, which will take place in 2020 and for which preparatory work has already started.

7.Like other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, Tajikistan collects information on the ethnic composition of the population and on the peoples living in its territory only through the population census conducted every 10 years.

8.Comparative indicators on the population growth rates of different ethnic groups and peoples are calculated only for the intercensal period.

9.Following the population census of 2010, the Government took the requisite measures to compile disaggregated data. In the collection of data, the sex, ethnicity and mother tongue of members of ethnic minorities living in Tajikistan were recorded. The information is processed by sex and age. The data on different ethnic groups are disaggregated by marital status, sex and age for persons aged 15 years or over, and by age and education level for those aged 6 years or over.

10.The Republic of Tajikistan is a multi-ethnic country inhabited by some 100 different ethnic groups and peoples, according to the most recent population and housing census, conducted in 2010. The main ethnic groups are as follows: Tajik (84.3 per cent of the total population), Uzbek (12.2 per cent), Kyrgyz (0.8 per cent), Russian (0.5 per cent), Turkmen (0.2 per cent), Tatar (0.1 per cent) and other ethnic groups and peoples (1.9 per cent).

11.The annex shows the composition of the total population of Tajikistan by ethnic group or people and the population growth rate of each group, using figures from the 2000 population census and the 2010 population and housing census.

12.On 1 March 2005 the Act on State Guarantees of Equal Rights for Men and Women and Equal Opportunities in the Exercise of Such Rights came into force in Tajikistan. This law regulates matters concerning the constitutional guarantees of equality between men and women in the social, political, cultural and all other spheres. It is intended to prevent discrimination on grounds of sex and establishes State guarantees of equal opportunities for men and women. Under article 3 of the Act, discrimination between women and men in terms of their rights is prohibited. Violation of the fundamental principle of gender equality (carrying out public policies or other acts that treat men and women unequally on the basis of sex) is regarded as discrimination and is to be eliminated in the cases and the manner set forth in the legislation of Tajikistan.

13.On 19 June 2018, the Commissioner for Human Rights of Tajikistan established an interdepartmental working group and adopted the 2018–2020 action plan of the Commissioner for Human Rights of Tajikistan on the implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination of 20 April 2018. Pursuant to paragraph 4.9 of the national action plan, the Labour Code, the Health Code, the Act on State Guarantees of Equal Rights for Men and Women and Equal Opportunities in the Exercise of Such Rights, the Civil Service Act and the regulations on the procedure for holding competitions to fill vacant administrative posts in the civil service are being reviewed to ensure that they are in conformity with the requirements of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

14.The Ministry of Education and Science has published and distributed the textbook Zaboni davlati (The Official Language) for the second to eleventh grades of general educational institutions where the language of instruction is Uzbek or Russian. There are plans to reissue this textbook for general educational institutions where the language of instruction is Kyrgyz or Turkmen.

Information on the representation of ethnic minorities in educational institutions is shown in the table below:

Total

Women

Number of teachers

120 635

68 867

Including:

Tajik

91 909

50 499

Uzbek

26 206

16 764

Turkmen

524

357

Kyrgyz

1 103

488

Kazakh

23

20

Russian

513

459

Belarusian

7

7

Ukrainian

30

28

Azeri

10

8

Armenian

13

13

Georgian

29

17

Tatar

169

149

Other ethnic groups

99

58

15.The Institute of Capacity-building and Retraining for Educational Personnel has devised and carried out a programme to train teachers who work in schools with pupils belonging to ethnic minorities. The Ministry of Education and Science has also drawn up a model syllabus for instruction in the official language, which it has recommended for use in capacity-building and retraining courses in the official language.

16.Special workshops are regularly held on the question of the official language and the languages of ethnic minorities. In 2018, there are plans to hold capacity-building courses for teachers working in general educational institutions where the language of instruction is an ethnic minority language.

17.The Television and Radio Committee has produced a number of broadcasts and programmes designed to give effect to paragraphs 12 and 14 of the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. These programmes have been aired on the country’s public television and radio channels.

18.In particular, this topic was widely covered on the Television Tajikistan channel. Audiences showed particular interest in programmes such as Murofia, Dar mavzui ruz, Tolikiston va lanon, Mavke, Konun and Menvari siesat. In addition, the information programme Akhbor broadcast news items related to this topic. Radio Tajikistan and its broadcasting network have produced and aired a number of programmes on the elimination of racial discrimination, including Fursati baen, Nabzi siesat, Namsado, Nukuki shumo, Marifati shanrvandi, Fursati baen, Khonai navzindagii nav, Bonu, Posukhi nukukshinos, Nadisi Zan, Charogi khonadon, Menvar, Oila and Muoshirat. In these programmes, experts and specialists focused on issues related to the elimination of racial discrimination.

19.Under the action plan for 2018, the Committee on Youth and Sports has conducted a number of training workshops and round-table discussions, including a workshop on the theme “Preparing capable girls to become civil servants” in the cities and districts of Ayní, Panjakent, Spitamen and Istaravshan, in Sughd Province; and in Kŭlob, Bokhtar, Khamadoni and Farkhor, in Khatlon Province. In addition, 50 girls from all parts of the country participated in a national workshop on the same theme, held in Dushanbe. The speakers at the event included well-known, distinguished women who, through their work, are making a worthy contribution to the development of society in Tajikistan. One of the relevant topics discussed by the workshop participants was the need to combat all forms of racism and, accordingly, to combat racial discrimination and show solidarity with all segments of the population.

20.In accordance with the requirements of the State statistical reporting form No. 1-GS, “Composition of the civil service, by number and grade”, the Civil Service Agency prepares a quarterly statistical report for monitoring the number of civil servants, including women and members of different ethnic groups. The monitoring results are sent to the relevant authorities for the necessary action.

21.As at 1 July 2018, the total civil service staffing table consists of 21,033 posts, of which 1,834 are vacant, meaning that the number of persons actually working as civil servants is 19,199. The number of active civil servants as at 1 January of each year stood at 19,382 in 2018, 19,007 in 2017, 18,902 in 2016, 18,585 in 2015, 18,295 in 2014 and 18,491 in 2013. The number of civil servants who are women stands at 4,457, or 23.2 per cent of the total. As at 1 January of each year, the figure stood at 4,467, or 23.0 per cent, in 2018; 4,171, or 22.0 per cent, in 2017; 4,226, or 22.3 per cent, in 2016; 4,374, or 23.5 per cent, in 2015; 4,315, or 23.5 per cent, in 2014; and 4,343, or 23.4 per cent, in 2013.

22.The ethnic groups represented in the civil service are as follows: Tajik (17,780, or 92.6 per cent); and Russian, Uzbek, Kyrgyz and other ethnic groups (1,419, or 7.4 per cent). The respective figures as at 1 January of each year were 17,951 (92.6 per cent) and 1,431 (7.3 per cent) in 2018; 17,526 (92.2 per cent) and 1,481 (7.8 per cent) in 2017; 17,392 (92.0 per cent) and 1,510 (7.9 per cent) in 2016; 16,900 (90.9 per cent) and 1,685 (9.0 per cent) in 2015; 16,510 (91.2 per cent) and 1,785 (9.7 per cent) in 2014; and 16,693 (90.2 per cent) and 1,798 (9.7 per cent) in 2013.

23.The number of civil servants in decision-making positions stands at 5,762, or 30.0 per cent of the total. As at 1 January of each year, the figure stood at 5,822, or 30.0 per cent, in 2018; 5,670, or 29.8 per cent, in 2017; 5,659, or 29.9 per cent, in 2016; 5,548, or 29.8 per cent, in 2015; 5,521, or 30.1 per cent, in 2014; and 5,743, or 31.0 per cent, in 2013.

24.Of these, 5,389, or 93.5 per cent, belong to the Tajik ethnic group and 373, or 6.4 per cent, belong to the Russian, Uzbek, Kyrgyz or other ethnic groups. The respective figures as at 1 January of each year were 5,447 (93.5 per cent) and 375 (6.4 per cent) in 2018; 5,326 (93.9 per cent) and 344 (6.0 per cent) in 2017; 5,280 (93.3 per cent) and 379 (6.7 per cent) in 2016; 5,145 (92.7 per cent) and 403 (7.2 per cent) in 2015; 5,117 (92.6 per cent) and 404 (7.3 per cent) in 2014; and 5,325 (92.7 per cent) and 418 (7.2 per cent) in 2013.

25.As at 1 July 2018, the number of women appointed to civil service vacancies on a competitive basis stands at 320, or 23.7 per cent of all such appointees.

26.During this period, 7 women were recommended for appointment to senior civil service positions on the basis of the outcome of their performance reviews.

27.In the first half of 2018, out of the pool of officials of State bodies, 5 women were appointed to decision-making positions.

28.In accordance with paragraph 37 of the regulations on the procedure for holding competitions to fill vacant administrative posts in the civil service (Presidential Decree of 10 March 2016, No. 647), the interview scores of women who are first-time applicants to the civil service are increased by three points.

29.As a result of the application of this rule, as at 1 July 2018, 31 women had been appointed to fill vacancies in the civil service, including 19 in central bodies and 12 in local bodies.

30.In the judiciary, 7 members of ethnic minority groups, including 1 person of Kyrgyz background and 6 persons of Uzbek background, 2 of whom are women, have been appointed as judges.

31.Among civil servants employed by the courts, 18 persons are of other ethnic groups, including 1 person of Kyrgyz background and 17 persons of Uzbek background, 1 of whom is a woman.

32.A number of measures, targeting various segments of society, are being taken and widespread use is being made of the media with the aim of eradicating stereotypes concerning the roles of women and men in the family and society and raising awareness of the need to secure equal rights and opportunities for men and women and to eliminate gender stereotypes. The Committee for Women and the Family alone has produced more than 200 programmes and broadcasts, which have been aired on various national and local television channels, for the purpose of increasing understanding of the importance of equal rights and opportunities for men and women. In addition, 70 meetings have been held in ministries and government departments of Tajikistan to raise awareness among male and female civil servants of the need to eliminate social stereotypes in relation to women.

33.In cooperation with the Project on Prevention of Domestic Violence, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), Oxfam, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation and the Taekwondo Association, public service spots have been produced and broadcast on the following issues: equal rights of men and women in society; respect for women in the family; observance of the rights of women and children in the family; prevention of family violence through a public dialogue on family values; gender equality; the primordial importance of education for boys and girls; zero tolerance towards family violence; efforts to combat early marriage; and compulsory State registration of marriages.

34.In order to enact regulations in the social sphere concerning employment in Tajikistan and to lay the legal, socioeconomic and organizational foundations for State policies in this regard, including State guarantees of the constitutional rights of citizens to work and to social protection against unemployment in a market economy, the authorities have adopted a law on employment promotion that is based on the Constitution of the Republic.

35.Under that law, the Government of Tajikistan adopts and implements State programmes to promote employment over the medium term. These measures apply to all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, race, sex, language, religion, political opinion, education, social status or property.

36.At the moment, the labour and employment bodies’ offices on minority ethnic groups do not carry out separate statistical reporting.

37.The results of a procuratorial review show that during the first half of 2018, no allegations or reports of discrimination or wrongful acts against Roma/Jughi individuals were filed.

III.Situation of the Roma/Jughi community

Paragraph 14 of the concluding observations

38.In Tajikistan, the fair social and political representation and participation of persons belonging to ethnic minorities such as Roma/Jughi, including women, are ensured. Legislation has been enacted to raise the level of representation of such persons in all State institutions at the national and local levels.

39.It has been established that there are over 13,000 Jughi communities in Tajikistan. They are located in the towns and districts of Panjakent, Hisor, Vahdat, Vose and Jaloliddini Balkhi. Roma/Jughi communities are concentrated in the Provinces of Sughd and Khatlon (in the districts of Jaloliddini Balkhi and Vose) and in centrally administered areas (the towns of Tursunzoda, Hisor and Vahdat and the district of Rŭdakí).

40.In the Province of Sughd, Roma/Jughi communities are concentrated in the districts of Bobojon Ghafurov and Spitamen and the town of Panjakent. Enrolment of Roma/Jughi children in the Province’s general educational institutions stands at 187, including 50 girls.

41.In the district of Bobojon Ghafurov, 32 such children (including 5 girls) are enrolled in school No. 18; 39 (including 9 girls) are enrolled in school No. 19; 1 is enrolled in school No. 32; and 5 (including 2 girls) are enrolled in school No. 58.

42.In the district of Spitamen, 8 such children (including 1 girl) are enrolled in school No. 2 and 5 (including 4 girls) are enrolled in school No. 27.

43.In the town of Panjakent, 69 such children (including 12 girls) are enrolled in school No. 15; 7 (including 2 girls) are enrolled in school No. 34; 1 is enrolled in school No. 1; and 20 (including 14 girls) are enrolled in school No. 47.

44.In Khatlon Province, Roma/Jughi communities are concentrated in the districts of Jaloliddini Balkhi and Vose. A total of 292 Roma/Jughi children are enrolled in general educational institutions in the Province.

45.In the district of Jaloliddini Balkhi, 57 such children are enrolled in school No. 6 and 75 are enrolled in school No. 8. In the district of Vose, 160 children belonging to that community are enrolled in school No. 68.

46.In the district of Varzob, 64 such children (including 18 girls) are enrolled in a general educational institution: 64 (including 18 girls) are enrolled in school No. 46.

47.In the district of Rŭdakí, 132 such children (including 73 girls) are enrolled in general educational institutions: 27 (including 3 girls) in school No. 12; 70 (including 50 girls) in school No. 109; and 35 (including 20 girls) in school No. 173.

48.In the town of Vahdat, 59 such children (including 29 girls) are enrolled in general educational institutions: 41 (including 23 girls) in school No. 122 and 18 (including 6 girls) in school No. 97.

49.In the town of Tursunzoda, 232 such children (including 79 girls) are enrolled in general educational institutions: 64 (including 25 girls) in school No. 51; 98 (including 35 girls) in school No. 25; 43 (including 9 girls) in school No. 7; and 27 (including 10 girls) in school No. 23.

50.In the town of Hisor, 363 such children (including 150 girls) are enrolled in general educational institutions: 55 (including 21 girls) in school No. 111 and 308 (including 129 girls) in school No. 96.

51.Throughout the Republic, a total of 1,329 children belonging to Roma/Jughi communities are enrolled in general educational institutions, given that basic education is compulsory under the law. After completing their basic education, many of these children go to work with their parents. Girls do not continue their education.

52.According to the passport and registration service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, no difficulties have arisen with regard to the processing of timely applications for the issuance of birth certificates and passports to Roma/Jughi citizens of Tajikistan, as these citizens have a non-nomadic lifestyle and are registered at their place of residence.

53.Like other citizens of Tajikistan, Roma/Jughi individuals do, however, face certain issues if their applications for identity documents are submitted late. In such cases, they must provide additional documents to prove their identity and to show that they are citizens of Tajikistan, and must pay the fines provided for by the relevant Tajik legislation.

54.The passport and registration services of the internal affairs authorities, in close cooperation with civil society organizations that work in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Tajikistan and representatives of Roma/Jughi communities living in the district of Shahrinav (villages of Oftobruya and Vahdat), the town of Hisor (village of Sohtmonchien), the town of Tursunzoda (villages of Shodmon, Zarbador and Khidoyat) and other areas, provide citizens of Tajikistan with assistance in obtaining a passport.

55.No cases of discrimination in the issuance of identity documents or violation of the rights and freedoms of the Roma/Jughi ethnic minority have been identified.

56.Under the Constitution of Tajikistan, all ethnic groups and peoples residing in the territory of the Republic have the right to use their mother tongue. Moreover, as the Constitution does not refer to “ethnic minorities”, the citizenry of the Republic is not divided into ethnic minority groups. The people of Tajikistan are citizens of Tajikistan, irrespective of ethnicity. The State guarantees the rights and freedoms of every person, irrespective of his or her ethnicity, race, sex, language, religion, political opinion, education, social status or property, to take part in government and in political life. Human beings and their rights and freedoms are the supreme value. Life, honour, dignity and other inherent human rights are inviolable. Human and civil rights and freedoms are recognized, observed and protected by the State.

57.Restrictions on human and civil rights and freedoms in accordance with international and national legal instruments are permitted only in order to protect the rights and freedoms of other persons, public order, the constitutional order, national security or defence, public health or morals or the territorial integrity of Tajikistan.

58.To date, there has been no structural differentiation based on race or ethnicity in the health-care and social protection systems. The basic condition for obtaining services is the presentation of an identity document (passport or birth certificate) by the individual concerned, either in person or through his or her legal representative. In addition, in order to prevent any discrimination against persons living in Tajikistan and to ensure their equality before the law, individuals who seek services from the health-care and social protection systems (patients, recipients of social services and other beneficiaries) are identified in records and statistical reports in terms of their status as residents of Tajikistan and their social situation (employed or unemployed, temporarily not working, pensioner, disabled, veteran, etc.).

59.With regard to the adoption of a strategy or plan to improve the situation of Roma/Jughi, given that there are no constraints on the rights and freedoms of these citizens and no signs of discrimination against them, the national action plan on the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination for the period 2018–2020 provides for the review of this issue to determine whether such action is necessary.

Annex

Population of Tajikistan, disaggregated by ethnicity on the basis of data from the 2000 and 2010 population censuses

Ethnic group or people

2000

2010

2010 as % of 2000

Total population

6 127 493

7 564 502

123.5

Tajik

4 898 382

6 373 834

130.1

Uzbek

936 703

926 344

98.9

Russian

68 171

34 838

51.1

Tatar

18 939

6 495

34.3

Kyrgyz

65 515

60 715

92.7

Ukrainian

3 787

1 090

28.8

German

1 136

446

39.3

Turkmen

20 270

15 171

74.8

Korean

1 696

634

37.4

Kazakh

936

595

63.6

Jewish

182

34

18.7

Ossetian

960

396

41.3

Belarusian

464

104

22.4

Crimean Tatar

138

18

13.0

Siberian Tatar

10

17

1.7 times

Bashkir

872

143

16.4

Armenian

995

434

43.6

Mordvin

300

42

14.0

Central Asian Jewish

15

2

13.3

Azeri

798

371

46.5

Chuvash

195

47

24.1

Afghan

4 702

3 675

78.2

Roma

4 249

2 334

54.9

Lak

147

2

1.4

Bulgarian

64

19

29.7

Georgian

161

92

57.1

Moldovan

341

157

46.0

(Ottoman) Turk

672

1 360

2.0 times

Polish

74

23

31.1

Udmurt

39

12

30.8

Mari

60

13

21.7

Greek

41

28

68.3

Uyghur

379

276

72.8

Lithuanian

40

11

27.5

Persian (Iranian)

306

473

154.6

Dargin

39

6

15.4

Latvian

104

9

8.7

Lezgin

51

13

25.5

Arab

14 450

4 184

29.0

Kabardin

11

8

72.7

Avar

19

13

68.4

Karaite

29

2

6.9

Karakalpak

34

4

11.8

Buryat

26

6

23.1

Komi

4

1

25.0

Estonian

20

10

50.0

Chechen

47

20

42.6

Kumyk

26

5

19.2

Ingush

16

11

68.8

Circassian

14

5

35.7

Khakas

6

4

66.7

Finnish

9

5

55.6

Komi-Permyak

4

2

50.0

Tabasaran

17

6

35.3

Chinese

24

801

33.4 times

Kurdish

17

7

41.2

Karachai

11

2

18.2

Abkhaz

67

4

6.0

Balkar

45

2

4.4

Abazin

57

5

8.8

Austrian

1

9

9.0 times

American

24

62

2.6 times

Romanian

5

4

80.0

British

43

104

2.4 times

Nenets

26

1

3.8

Vietnamese

9

3

33.3

Netherlander

19

6

31.6

Spanish

2

7

3.5 times

Karelian

7

166

23.7 times

Slovak

5

2

40.0

French

-

7

-

Italian

1

2

2.0 times

Japanese

-

2

-

Dungan

132

1

0.8

Hungarian

-

1

-

Aghul

9

1

0.1

Koryak

3

4

133.3

Tofalar

2

2

100.0

Chuvan

11

4

36.4

Nogai

15

1

6.7

Mingi

243

268

110.3

Durmen

3 502

7 608

2.2 times

Lakai

51 001

65 555

128.5

Kongrat

15 102

38 078

2.5 times

Katagan

4 888

7 601

155.5

Yuz

1 053

3 798

3.6 times

Barlos

3 743

5 271

140.8

Semiz

1

47

47 times

Kesamir

13

156

12 times

Indian and Pakistani

245

262

106.9

Other ethnic groups

489

15

3.1

Ethnicity not specified

13

74

5.7 times