Committee on the Rights of the Child

Seventy-sixth session

11-29 September 2017

Item 4 of the provisional agenda

Consideration of reports of States parties

List of issues in relation to the combined third to fifth periodic reports of Tajikistan

Addendum

Replies of Tajikistan to the list of issues*

[Date received: 29 May 2017]

Replies to the list of issues in relation to the combined third to fifth periodic reports of Tajikistan

Part I

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 1

1.With a view to the implementation of the Children’s Rights Protection Act, the Government adopted a decision designating the Ministry of Education and Science as the State authority responsible for protecting the rights of the child. A number of other enactments have been prepared and are now at the coordination stage.

2.The Regulations on children’s rights commissions were approved pursuant to a government decision of 25 January 2017. These Regulations establish the basic arrangements for the commissions’ organization and work. Children’s rights commissions are being set up in order to ensure the comprehensive protection of the rights and lawful interests of children, including children who are orphans, children without parental care and children requiring State aid; to address the most complex issues relating to the observance and protection of the rights and interests of children; and to provide legal, social, material and other assistance to families with children and to children who are in conflict with the law, and coordinate efforts in that regard by central and local agencies of the State, government bodies, self-government bodies in settlements and villages, businesses, institutions and other organizations. Within the framework of these Regulations, the coordinating capacity of the National Commission on Children’s Rights has been strengthened (the Commission reports to the Government).

3.Pursuant to the government decision of 25 January 2017, the Regulations on agencies of tutorship or guardianship were approved. These Regulations define the legal basis for the organization of the agencies and their work to safeguard and protect the rights of children, including children who are orphans and children without parental care, as well as adults who have been declared by a court to have limited or no legal capacity and persons who, on account of their state of health, are unable to exercise their rights and perform their duties independently. The activities of government bodies at local level are coordinated in accordance with these Regulations.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 2

4.Under the national policy framework on inclusive education for children with physical disabilities, the necessary conditions will be created in preschools and schools for the education of those children, enabling them to exercise their right to receive quality education with as few restrictions as possible.

5.At present, there are 12 preschool establishments in the country’s education system that provide inclusive education for preschool-age children with physical disabilities (8 in Dushanbe and 4 in Sughd province). Altogether, 392 such children (among them 144 girls) are attending preschool establishments; 91 are attending specialized preschools.

6.One of the requirements of the policy framework is that children with disabilities should be enrolled in general education establishments alongside their non-disabled peers. Currently, 6,139 such children (including 2,502 girls) are enrolled in general education establishments; 2,219 are enrolled in residential special schools, while 1,040 (including 435 girls) are being taught at home. Some 3,463 children (including 847 girls) are studying at the country’s 13 special schools (for children who are blind, deaf or hard of hearing, children with locomotor disorders, mentally retarded children, children from troubled families and children who are orphans), where they also receive rehabilitation.

7.According to data from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, in 2016 social and rehabilitation services were provided for 2,915 children with disabilities, children who are orphans and children in difficulty, including 319 children in residential facilities of the health-care and social welfare systems; 200 children in the State-run Chorbog National Centre for the Rehabilitation of Children with Disabilities in Varzob district, and 600 children in the Centre’s rehabilitation department; 67 children in the State-run International Rehabilitation Centre in Baljuvon district; 75 children in district social services centres for older persons and persons with disabilities; 422 persons through in-home social services departments reporting to local agencies of the State in the country’s cities and districts; 48 children in social services centres for older persons and persons with disabilities; 1,184 children in day centres for children with disabilities; and 190 children in children’s homes.

8.To prevent discrimination against children in institutions providing social services, regular preventive work has been conducted with the institutions’ staff. In 2016, there were no reported cases of discrimination against children in institutions of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.

9.To improve the experience of children residing in children’s homes, draft new model Regulations for such facilities have been prepared; consideration is given in the Regulations to all the elements necessary to improve the conditions in children’s homes, the rehabilitation of children and the prevention of discrimination. These Regulations provide for the establishment of a mother and child department for the temporary accommodation, with their children, of mothers who are in difficulty, particularly mothers intending to give up their children. In addition, they provide for the setting up of a respite care unit to provide 24-hour temporary care for children with intellectual or physical impairments. During their stay in the unit, such children will receive the services specified in their individual care plans.

10.Measures to overcome stereotypes and patriarchal attitudes towards women and girls are envisaged in various State programmes that have been adopted and in the Nation Action Plan for follow-up to the concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Nation Action Plan to implement the State programme to prevent violence in the family, the policy framework on the family and other documents, which contain sections devoted to that topic. State agencies, in cooperation with civil society, are proactively using various approaches and working methods to eradicate discrimination against women and girls and overcome stereotypes; such efforts involve working with the media, issuing printed publications, conducting information campaigns and holding meetings in towns and districts. Meetings and discussions take place in the halls of residence of universities and institutions to ensure that young women are better informed about and have the necessary medical knowledge with respect to the prevention of drug addiction, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, and the prevention of hereditary illnesses, cancer and gynaecological diseases. Similar measures are carried out regularly for girls and women in all the country’s towns and districts. A women’s council on peacekeeping and peacebuilding has been established under the Committee for Women and the Family. Training courses are conducted annually for talented young women in the regions under the Women Leaders Programme. A female students’ council has been established, along with a “Young Women Leaders” course, which it runs. Every year, seasoned experts and politicians are invited to take part in discussions, and study circles are organized. To date, 146 young female students have successfully completed the course.

11.The Charogi Khidoyat State Centre for Orphaned Girls operates under the Committee for Women and the Family. At the Centre, social workers conduct rehabilitation and educational programmes. Girls aged 10-18 who are victims of sexual violence, ill-treatment or trafficking receive rehabilitation in groups. They receive free psychological counselling and medical and social services. The Centre has 20 places. Some 110 district information and advice centres have been set up at which women can receive the services of a lawyer or a psychologist free of charge. A psychology service and a telephone helpline also operate under the Committee. State agencies and civil society organizations have established and now run 33 crisis centres and 3 shelters.

12.The State guarantees free and compulsory general basic education at State educational establishments, as well as free education at subsequent stages of the education system awarded on the basis of a competitive examination. Citizens, foreign nationals and stateless persons have the right to choose their educational establishment and form of instruction: daytime, evening, correspondence, family, inclusive, distance or home-based study. Refugee children have the same right as citizens to free education. Currently, 296 children from refugee families are studying in the country’s educational establishments.

13.Effective measures are being taken to prevent cases of children being hindered from receiving education. In 2016, 144 criminal cases were brought and investigated involving persons who had prevented children from receiving basic general education, seriously violating their right to education.

14.In the first three months of 2017, 563 reports and complaints were submitted under the Family Violence Prevention Act and criminal proceedings were instituted against 49 persons, while reports of administrative offences were drawn up in respect of 42 persons.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 3

15.In accordance with the Family Code, children have the right freely to express their views, in particular when decisions are taken on any family matter affecting them. The views of children aged 10 years or older must be taken into consideration, except when this runs counter to their interests. The courts may not restore parental rights without taking into account the views of children who have attained the age of 10 years; the views of children aged 10 years or older regarding their adoption must be ascertained.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 4

16.The educational authorities, the children’s rights commissions reporting to the local authorities, the internal affairs agencies, procurator’s offices, the Commissioner for Children’s Rights and other authorities take measures to prevent and identify cases of corporal punishment in institutions, schools, families and places of detention.

17.Twelve dedicated officers are currently employed in units of the internal affairs agencies to prevent family violence, including against children. Such posts are being established in internal affairs offices in the country’s towns and centrally administered districts. Neighbourhood militia officers are doing a great deal to prevent violence against children. See also the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 3.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 5

18.The State ensures the protection, care and education of children who are orphans and children with disabilities. It is taking steps to deinstitutionalize children, including those with disabilities.

19.At present, 2,327 children (of whom 534 are girls) are studying in the country’s nine residential schools for orphans. In order to improve the maintenance of children in children’s institutions, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection conducts annual monitoring of conditions in those institutions and of the manner in which the children are cared for there. See also the reply to the issues raised in paragraph 6.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 6

20.The Government has adopted a number of legal and regulatory instruments, notably the National Rehabilitation Programme for Persons with Disabilities 2017-2020 (on 28 October 2016), the National Immunization Programme 2016-2017 (on 28 October 2016), the Rules for the conduct of mandatory medical testing of persons entering into marriage (on 23 August 2016) and the National Programme to Combat AIDS 2017-2020 (on 25 February 2017).

21.There are four children’s homes within the country’s health-care and social welfare systems, to which the following groups of children are admitted:

Children who are orphans and children without parental care;

Children with physical or intellectual impairments;

Children who have been abandoned or who have been removed from dangerous environments, including children who are victims of violence or crime.

22.Efforts are being made to return children to their biological families and towards deinstitutionalization. For example, in 2015-2016, 141 children from children’s homes of the health-care system whose mothers had given them up were adopted pursuant to a court decision (77 in 2015 and 64 in 2016). Furthermore, over those two years, thanks to the concerted efforts of directors of children’s homes and children’s rights commissions in towns and districts, 167 children who had been placed temporarily in children’s homes were returned to their biological families following the conduct of one-on-one sessions to rebuild the relationships between the families and the children concerned (34 in 2015 and 133 in 2016). A draft programme for the preparation and training of foster families has been developed. In addition, initiatives are under way to prevent children from ending up in these institutions and mothers from giving them up. In 2014, the Marvorid Centre was opened at children’s home No.1 in Khujand and, in 2015, the Umed Centre at children’s home No. 2 in Dushanbe. The purpose of these centres is to provide social services to vulnerable families and children in crisis.

23.There are nine psychological, medical and pedagogical advisory centres that undertake early detection and intervention, education and social adaptation activities for children with various developmental disorders and ensure their integration into society. The number of children attending these centres is increasing year on year. Over the past three years, more than 3,500 children have done so.

24.The Ministry of Health and Social Protection in 2016 established a working group to develop a system for providing early detection and intervention services. A draft policy framework on early intervention has now been prepared, and proactive efforts are under way to secure the approval of instruments for the early detection and diagnosis of diseases. In addition, support is being provided to parents’ groups and organizations of children with disabilities for the promotion of inclusion activities.

25.A regulatory framework has been created for inclusive education. In particular, a national policy framework on inclusive education for children with disabilities has been adopted pursuant to a government decision, new articles have been introduced in the Education Act and the central administrative board of the Ministry of Education and Science has adopted Regulations on inclusive education for children with disabilities. Furthermore, the National Education Development Strategy for the Period up to 2020 makes reference to the gradual transition of children with disabilities to the general education system and the taking of appropriate measures to develop inclusive education in the country. Currently, an education code is being drafted, which will contain a chapter on the development of inclusive education. The issue of children with disabilities is also reflected in the Social Protection for Persons with Disabilities Act and the Model Regulations for educational establishments in Tajikistan.

26.Inclusive education within the general education system may be delivered at all educational establishments through joint instruction of children with disabilities and their non-disabled peers in a single class or group, if this is possible. In inclusive education settings, children with disabilities are provided with special study conditions in accordance with their needs and with the findings of the psychological, medical and pedagogical advisory centres. Taking into account the special psychological and physical needs of such pupils, individual learning plans are developed that specify, inter alia, the timetable for the persons concerned, their study load, the time frames for their mastery of the different subjects and the assessment modalities. Children with disabilities who have received their education in an integrated setting and have successfully mastered the subjects taught at their general education establishment are given the appropriate diploma. Children who have partially mastered the subjects taught at their general education establishment are given a certificate of attendance identifying those subjects in which they received a passing grade in the final assessment.

27.To ensure that the population is better informed about the problems of children with disabilities and their enrolment in inclusive education, awareness-raising efforts are being conducted for the public at large and parents, and initiatives are being organized with the participation of children with disabilities and their parents. There are issues with regard to physical access to educational establishments. Much is being done to address them, notably when schools are built. New designs include ramps, special walkways and classrooms. Groups have been formed, consisting of specialists from educational establishments, to develop legal and regulatory instruments, manuals, special textbooks and visual aids. Work is under way on individual study plans and programmes for children with disabilities. A module is being developed for teachers who have children with physical disabilities in their classes. As part of efforts to train specialized teachers to work with children with disabilities, since 2012 all teacher training colleges have trained special education teachers: speech therapists and teachers for children with hearing or intellectual impairments. Some 444 students are currently undergoing such training.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 7

28.Each year, the Government allocates resources for the immunization of children. In 2016, a sum of 7 million somoni was set aside for that purpose and, in 2017, 9 million somoni, which represents about 25 per cent of total annual expenditure on immunization, with the remainder being provided by development partners.

29.The Health Insurance Act was adopted in 2008 to achieve universal health coverage and protect the population from financial risk. This Act envisaged the roll-out of compulsory health insurance starting in 2010; however, as the country was not ready, in 2010 the Act was amended, postponing the introduction of the cover until 2014. In March 2013, an analysis was conducted regarding the technical and economic framework for the introduction of compulsory health insurance. The implementation of the Act was postponed again, until 2017. A strategic plan for further reform of the financing of health care in the period 2015-2018 was approved by a government decision of 2 July 2015; the plan contains measures for the introduction of compulsory health insurance. With support from the World Health Organization, a technical and economic framework has been created to that end and, as part of that process, meetings and discussions have been held with representatives of key ministries and departments. A set of documents concerning the introduction of the insurance has been drafted.

30.To improve the nutritional status of children and mothers, interdepartmental coordinating councils on Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) and on nutrition in schools have been set up comprising representatives of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Finance, Economy and Trade and the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, among others. To coordinate the various sectors and improve the nutritional status of children and mothers, Tajikistan has become a member of the SUN movement. In that context, in 2016 the first forum on the theme “Food — the Key to Sustainable Development” was held, resulting in the adoption of a resolution. Preparatory work has now begun on the development of an intersectoral framework plan of action on nutrition. This initiative will ensure the functioning of the National Nutrition Platform, which brings together civil society, businesses, universities and research institutes, donors and organizations of the United Nations system, among others.

31.In November 2016, a national study on the micronutrient status of mothers and children was carried out. The results of the study will show the achievements and challenges with respect to the nutrition of mothers and children, and ways of improving their nutrition status will be elaborated. It is planned to conduct health and demographic studies in November 2017.

32.To educate the public, especially mothers, about the right nutrition for infants, every year from 1 to 10 August, events are held to mark the international decade to support breastfeeding. More than 200,000 women and 5,000 health-care workers take part.

33.Two projects to improve the nutrition status of mothers and children are under way in Khatlon province: one, launched in 2014 under the “Feed the Future” programme with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is being carried out in 12 districts, reaching 45,000 children and 30,535 pregnant women, while the other, aimed at improving nutrition in severely food insecure districts of Khatlon province, is being implemented in 14 districts with help from the World Bank and the Government of Japan, reaching 78,000 children and 50,000 pregnant women. As part of these projects, children are given the micronutrient “Sprinkles”, while expectant mothers receive folic acid and iron. With the assistance of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), all children suffering from undernutrition are being provided with therapeutic foods (F-75, F-100, BP-100, ReSoMal, amoxicillin, vitamin A, mebendazole). In addition, for the past 12 years, children aged 6-59 months have received two rounds of vitamin A supplementation.

34.In February 2016, steps were taken to implement more effectively the policy framework for the development of nutrition in schools, approved pursuant to a government decision of 28 February 2015, and improve the quality of life, physical and psychological development, education and health of schoolchildren through the reduction of illnesses linked to food consumption in the following pilot areas: Ayní district in Sughd province and the town of Norak in Khatlon province. In addition, a study of the micronutrient status of schoolchildren was conducted in the comparator district of Panjakent in Sughd province.

35.To prevent and reduce the incidence of HIV infection a number of measures are being taken. All pregnant women must undergo testing for HIV prior to the twelfth week of pregnancy in accordance with the clinical protocol for the prevention of vertical (mother-to-child) transmission of HIV, while women in at-risk groups are tested twice during their pregnancies. Furthermore, pregnant women receive antiretroviral therapy from the first day of pregnancy, which lowers the risk of their children being born HIV-positive. All migrants returning from other countries are tested for HIV in order to prevent infection with the virus. Over the past three years, 349 cases of children living with HIV have been reported (115 in 2014, 124 in 2015 and 110 in 2016). Boys accounted for 202 of those cases (69 in 2014, 69 in 2015 and 64 in 2016)) and girls for 147 (46 in 2014, 55 in 2015 and 46 in 2016). The breakdown by age is as follows: 0-4 year-olds, 49 cases (10 in 2014, 14 in 2015 and 25 in 2016), 5-9 year-olds, 181 cases (67 in 2014, 57 in 2015 and 57 in 2016) and 10-18 year-olds, 119 cases (38 in 2014, 53 in 2015 and 28 in 2016).

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 8

36.To reduce child poverty and protect children in troubled families, the Government, by a decision of 2 May 2007, approved the Rules on the payment of allowances to low-income families with children studying in general education establishments. In accordance with this legal instrument, when allowances are allocated, priority is given to single-parent families and families with children with disabilities. Pursuant to this decision, 15 per cent of schoolchildren are currently receiving a cash allowance. At the beginning of 2017, more than 112,300 pupils were receiving the school allowance, at a cost of 3.9 million somoni. Further to the government decision of 3 May 2010 approving the Procedure for the allocation and disbursement of State allowances for children aged up to 16 years who are infected with HIV or suffering from AIDS, such children receive a monthly State allowance in an amount of 350 somoni. In addition, a pilot targeted social assistance project for low-income families and certain vulnerable population groups was launched in 2014. Under this project, which is being implemented in 40 towns and districts, the allocation and disbursement of allowances is based on an indirect assessment of need, and preference is given to large families and families with two or more children with disabilities. The allowance amounts to 400 somoni per year.

37.In accordance with the Standards of hygiene for general education establishments and special children’s institutions, children’s institutions and preschools are provided with foodstuffs to ensure that children have a hot meal.

38.The Drinking Water and Drinking Water Supply Act was adopted to ensure that the population’s basic needs in that regard were met and to protect public health. There are 78 residential schools in Tajikistan, including 8 for children with disabilities, which are provided with drinking water from the central drinking water supply system. Optimal sanitary and hygiene conditions have been put in place to ensure personal and public hygiene.

39.Under the Programme to Improve the Supply of Clean Drinking Water 2007-2020, which was approved by a government decision of 2 December 2006, it was planned to spend an amount of 660,114,800 somoni, from all funding sources, for construction and rehabilitation of the water supply system in the period from 2010 to the first quarter of 2017; actual expenditure totalled 554.7 million somoni or 84 per cent of that figure. As a result of the Programme, access to clean drinking water for all categories of the population, which stood at 48.6 per cent in 2010, has increased to 57.6 per cent. It should be noted that the country’s population is growing by between 2.2 and 2.3 per cent each year and could reach 9.4 million by the end of 2020. When the Programme is fully implemented in 2020, access to clean drinking water will reach 82.0 per cent.

40.Under the Programme for the Development of Housing and Communal Services 2014-2018, which was approved by a government decision of 1 August 2014, a sum of 221.2 million somoni was provided for construction and rehabilitation of the sewerage system; the actual amount spent was 38.4 million somoni or 17.3 per cent of the intended figure. Currently, access to sewerage stands at 79.8 per cent in towns, 18.2 per cent in urban settlements and 0.2 per cent in rural areas.

41.The main aim of the National Development Strategy for the period up to 2030 and the Programme for the Medium-Term Development of Tajikistan 2016-2020 is to improve the living standards of the population, including children, by ensuring the sustainable development of the national economy.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 9

42.The Government is firmly committed to strengthening and providing State support for education and increasing its quality, effectiveness and accessibility and gives special attention to the reform of education at all levels and of all types — from preschools to general education establishments, secondary vocational education establishments and higher education institutions. Accordingly, a number of laws, decisions and decrees have been adopted, contributing to the reform and further development of the education system. As a result, alternative non-State institutions have begun to operate alongside State institutions, including secondary schools specializing in the arts and the sciences, respectively, and colleges. In recent years, substantial changes have taken place in the field of education. A State Standard for general secondary education has been developed and approved, as well as standards for the humanities, natural sciences and mathematics, subject-specific standards for primary education (grades 1-4), a national policy framework on education and a State Programme to Improve the Teaching and Study of Russian and English 2015-2020. The State Schools Computerization Programme 2011-2015 and a State programme to provide general education establishments with specialized classrooms and equipped laboratories have been implemented, along with a number of other legal and regulatory instruments.

43.A National Testing Centre has been established and is now in operation under the authority of the President of Tajikistan. The Centre is responsible, inter alia, for organizing and conducting testing at the different levels of general secondary education and entrance examinations for the country’s higher education institutes.

44.The quality of education at all levels is improving thanks to the reform and modernization of the education system, the review of relevant laws and regulations, efforts to enhance infrastructure and address the shortage of teaching staff, and the provision of textbooks and appropriate supplies and equipment; this has been demonstrated by the participation of pupils in various international, all-Russian and Asian olympiads and competitions. Monitoring of the outcome of assessments of the quality of education conducted over the past few years confirms that quality is increasing visibly year on year at all levels of the education system.

45.Staffing levels in general education establishments are improving every year. In the 2016/17 academic year, education departments and offices sought to recruit 3,626 teachers in various subject areas. In particular, the education department in Kŭhistoni Badakhshon Autonomous Province sought 199 teachers, Khatlon province 591, Sughd province 775, the centrally administered districts 1,619 and Dushanbe 442. General education establishments mainly need teachers in such subjects as English and Russian, mathematics, physics, chemistry, information technology and geography. In 2016, on instructions from the Ministry of Education and Science, 3,931 graduates of secondary and higher teacher training institutes were assigned to general education establishments. As at 25 November 2016, 2,717 (69.1 per cent) of the young specialists had reported to the schools designated for them.

46.The Government’s education policy is aimed at developing the sector by increasing State funding, training highly qualified staff and enhancing facilities at educational establishments. Salaries for staff in the education sector were increased by 10 per cent in 2010, 30 per cent in 2011, 60 per cent in 2012, 30 per cent in 2013 and 20 per cent in 2016, pursuant to a government decision. Salaries are now 1.5 times higher than they were five years ago.

47.Over the past three years (2014-2016), 618 general education establishments have been built and brought into operation, providing 100,382 places. At all these establishments, the following infrastructure has been provided for: mains electricity, heat, water and toilets.

48.In 2008, a State programme for construction, refurbishment and upgrading work at schools located in private homes, rail carriages, administrative buildings and community spaces, covering the period 2008-2015, was drawn up; the purpose of the programme was to enhance facilities at general education establishments and provide for construction, refurbishment and upgrading work at buildings housing institutions of the Ministry of Education and Science. This programme defined the strategy, main lines, priorities and tasks of State policy with regard to construction, refurbishment and upgrading work at general and secondary education establishments in the period 2008-2015, along with mechanisms for the policy’s implementation, and facilitated the realization of key tasks of the Poverty Reduction Strategy and priorities of the National Education Development Strategy. As a result of the programme’s implementation, facilities at the country’s general education establishments have been enhanced, conditions have been created for the delivery of quality, competitive education, the foundations have been laid for the transition to compulsory secondary education and the teaching environment has been improved, which is helping to raise the quality of instruction. The programme allowed for the removal of 136 general education establishments from private homes and 101 from rail carriages. Some 200 new school buildings were built to replace 284 temporary structures. Capital repairs were undertaken on 192 buildings, while 46 out of 75 unfinished model school buildings were completed and brought into operation. Of the programme’s objectives, 84 per cent were realized.

49.During 25 years of independence (1991-2015), 2,254 schools and ancillary buildings were constructed, providing 474,103 places at a cost of 2,316,295,500 somoni from all funding sources. In the period 2006-2010, 782 new or additional buildings were constructed or upgraded at general education establishments using funds from all investment sources and are now in operation, providing 149,094 places. Over the five years between 2011 and 2015, 1,227 such buildings were constructed or upgraded using funds from all investment sources, then brought into operation, for a further 184,011 places. Over the same five-year period, construction and upgrading work at general education establishments increased by a factor of 1.4. Currently, 254 buildings are being constructed or upgraded at the country’s general education establishments with funding from all investment sources. A State programme for the development of educational establishments in Khatlon province in the period 2017-2021 has been approved pursuant to a government decision. This programme defines the strategy, main lines, priorities and tasks of State policy with regard to construction, refurbishment and upgrading work at general and secondary education establishments in Khatlon province in the period 2017-2021, along with mechanisms for the policy’s implementation, and will facilitate the realization of key tasks and priorities of the National Education Development Strategy. It provides for construction, refurbishment and upgrading work at a total of 566 general education establishments in the country at a cost, according to preliminary estimates, of 1,135,661 somoni. All necessary conditions have been put in place so that, when schools are built under the programme, their infrastructure needs can be met: classrooms are supplied with interactive writing boards, visual aids, laboratory equipment and teaching tools; schools are connected to the national grid and provided with a heating system, water and sewerage; and ramps are built to accommodate children with disabilities. This programme will be implemented gradually, depending on the funding available from all investment sources.

50.In the 2014/15 academic year, 23 primary schools were converted into basic education establishments and 73 establishments providing basic education became general education establishments. The aim was to provide pupils in remote and inaccessible districts of the country with the chance to pursue their studies. These efforts are continuing. In the 2015/16 academic year, 65 primary schools were converted into basic education establishments and 121 establishments providing basic education became general education establishments. Altogether, in two years, 133 primary schools were converted into basic education establishments and 159 establishments providing basic education became general education establishments. As a result of these changes, the number of pupils not enrolled in school (grades 1-9) fell from 2,630 in the 2012/13 academic year to 367 (including 206 girls) in 2013/14, then 275 (including 141 girls) in 2014/15, 261 (including 145 girls) in 2015/16 and 151 (including 87 girls) in 2016/17.

51.Measures have been taken to improve the quality of education, school infrastructure and human, technical and financial resources in schools in rural areas. Issues relating to the rights and status of girls are integrated into existing strategies and programmes on gender equality and on separate matters such as education. Furthermore, additional measures are being taken to enrol girls in the third level of education (grades 10-11). Whereas, in the 2012/13 academic year, 68,558 girls completed basic education, graduating from grade 9, which is compulsory under Tajik law, including 49,558 (72.3 per cent) who went on to the next level of education, in 2014/15, of the 77,611 girls who completed basic education, 58,817 (75.9 per cent) continued their studies at general education establishments, and 60,233 (78.8 per cent) of girls did so out of the 76,397 who completed basic education in 2016/17.

52.There are currently 66 secondary vocational education establishments (54 State colleges and 12 private ones) providing secondary vocational education programmes. Specialist training is available in six areas — teaching, medicine, agriculture, economics, technology and culture — and in 155 specialisms. In the 2014/15 academic year, of those girls who completed grade 9, 3,538 entered a secondary vocational education establishment; the figure was 4,185 in 2015/16.

53.The State is taking steps to provide financial support to female undergraduate and postgraduate students and young women who are orphans. For example, capable female students from poor families receive supplementary presidential grants and scholarships, and young women from rural areas and those who are orphans are lodged in a well-equipped hostel while studying at higher education institutes in Dushanbe.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 10

54.With a view to the effective realization of children’s rights, Tajikistan is taking preventive and protective measures to address and reduce the use of child labour, particularly those forms of child labour that inflict irreparable physical and moral harm on the younger generation. Implementation of the National Programme to Eradicate the Worst Forms of Child Labour 2015-2020, approved pursuant to a government decision of 31 October 2014, is ongoing. The Programme provides for the effective operation of the Interdepartmental Coordinating Council for the Eradication of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, the stepping up of the activities of the trilateral mechanism established to coordinate activities in that regard at local level, capacity-building for institutions working at central and local level to tackle child labour, the setting up of a database on the worst forms of child labour, measures to facilitate access by children to quality compulsory education, the development of non-formal education programmes and vocational training programmes, efforts to prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour and support to families of children engaged in the worst forms of child labour.

55.The Interdepartmental Coordinating Council for the Eradication of the Worst Forms of Child Labour was established in 2012. The Council coordinates all activities at national level aimed at eradicating the worst forms of child labour on the basis of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138), and the ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182). The Council’s members are experts from ministries and departments, representatives of international and civil society organizations, employers’ organizations and trade unions whose activities relate directly to the issues of child labour, the education of the rising generation and the protection of the rights of the child. The Council holds regular meetings to discuss problems and issues linked to child labour on which it plans to work with the employers’ organizations, trade unions and civil society. Special attention is given to problems of particular significance, including the current situation with regard to the education of children, especially girls, and their early recruitment into work; the unresolved issues concerning the employment of children in rural households; statistics on child labour; and terminology on child labour.

56.To raise awareness of efforts to prevent the use of child labour, particularly the worst forms of child labour, and to educate the public about that phenomenon, thematic activities are organized in various regions and at various levels.

57.The State service overseeing labour, migration and employment under the Ministry of Labour, Migration and Employment verifies compliance with the provisions of labour law, working alone or together with relevant departments; this includes identifying violations involving the use of child labour and breaches by employers of the labour rights of persons aged under 18.

58.In 2009, a child labour monitoring unit was set up under the Ministry. It is tasked with coordinating, and providing methodological support to, efforts to identify children engaged in the worst forms of child labour and ensure their removal, rehabilitation and reintegration through the provision of appropriate social services. The unit’s work takes various forms, inter alia: preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour by raising awareness of child labour and its adverse effects; offering initial assistance and essential services; counselling parents and children; educating the public through the media; and providing vocational training. Representatives of relevant bodies and fields are involved in this work. In addition, child labour monitoring committees have been established, under local agencies of the State, in Dushanbe, Kŭlob and Khorugh and in Isfara, Shughnon and Ghafurov districts. The committees oversee and carry out monitoring and address issues relating to children engaged in the worst forms of child labour. The results obtained and assessments conducted attest to the effectiveness of child labour monitoring, and the goal of establishing a child labour monitoring system has been set. In 2017, as part of the new ILO project of technical assistance for the elimination of child labour, including trafficking, these activities will be extended to other regions of the country. Methodological and informational materials are available in the field of child labour monitoring, addressing issues with regard to child labour and setting out the measures taken by Tajikistan to address the problem. In 2014, these materials were supplemented with a list of jobs with harmful or dangerous conditions in which it is prohibited to employ persons aged under 18 and a set of standards regarding the maximum weights that they may lift or transport manually, approved pursuant to a government decision.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 11

59.In accordance with the Constitutional Act on Tajik Nationality, children born in the territory of Tajikistan to stateless persons are considered Tajik nationals, as are children born in the territory of Tajikistan whose parents are nationals of other States if these States have not granted them their nationality. These children do not experience any problems in obtaining Tajik passports and nor do refugee children. Quantitative information on refugee and asylum seeing children is provided in the following table (table 1).

Table 1

Refugee and asylum seeking children

No.		2014	2015	2016
1	Children	1 253	993	825
2	Geographical location:
	Khatlon province	61	43	30
	Sughd province	50	35	89
	Dushanbe	272	190	214
	Centrally administered districts	970	725	492

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 12

60.National law and policy on juvenile justice in Tajikistan have undergone far-reaching and positive change in recent years. The National Plan for 2013-2015 to implement the recommendations made by Human Rights Council member States in connection with the universal periodic review of Tajikistan was approved pursuant to a presidential order of 3 April 2013. Item 38 of the Plan is devoted to juvenile justice. Reform of the juvenile justice system is also provided for in the Plan of Action to prevent the use of torture, which is based on the recommendations of the Committee against Torture and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Mr. Juan Méndez, and in the Judicial Reform Programme for 2015-2017, approved on 5 January 2015. In July 2015, a department for the protection of children’s rights was established in the Executive Office of the President. This department now acts as the secretariat for the Government Commission on Children’s Rights. A specialized children’s rights department was set up in the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in 2012 and, in April 2016, the post of Commissioner for Children’s Rights was created. A juvenile justice department was established in the Ministry of Justice in March 2011.

61.There are no separate laws on juvenile justice. The Criminal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Penalties Enforcement Code constitute the legal framework for the administration of juvenile justice.

62.In October 2009, the Government Commission on Children’s Rights adopted the National Plan of Action on Juvenile Justice System Reform for 2010-2015. Almost all points of the Plan have been implemented, although some are no longer relevant.

63.Amendments have been made to the Family Code, Criminal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Penalties Enforcement Code and other laws and regulations in order to implement the Plan and refine the legislation governing the juvenile justice system. In addition, laws have been adopted containing provisions on juvenile justice that are in line with international rules and standards: the Act on Procedures and Conditions for the Custody of Suspects, Accused Persons and Defendants; the Act on Parental Responsibility for the Education and Upbringing of Children; and the Children’s Rights Protection Act. The laws and regulations referred to provide important guarantees with regard to the rights of children in the juvenile justice system:

During questioning of children, the presence of a lawyer, a legal representative or a teacher or psychologist is mandatory;

Questioning of a minor suspected or accused of an offence may not continue for more than two hours without a break and for more than four hours in total in a day;

Children must undergo a medical examination on admission to any place of deprivation of liberty;

The minimum age of criminal responsibility is 14 years;

Criminal investigations of cases against minors must be completed within six months;

The maximum term of deprivation of liberty to which a minor may be sentenced is 12 years.

64.One of the achievements realized within the framework of the Plan was the establishment of a rehabilitation centre for the protection of children’s rights in Khujand. The rehabilitation centre, which is a State institution funded from the national budget, provides psychological, social, legal and educational services to children who are victims of physical or psychological violence, abandoned children, street children and children in conflict with the law. It is staffed by two full-time social workers, one part-time psychologist, teachers from the non-formal education system and a senior educator. If necessary, the children are referred for legal assistance to the civil society organization Sarchashma, which is based at the centre, and for medical care to health centres, where they receive treatment free of charge under the terms of an agreement. Funding is made available from the national budget. Children may visit the centre during the day; those with nowhere to go live at the centre, where they may stay for up to four months. An individual rehabilitation programme is devised for every child. Up to 30 children can be admitted as residents.

65.With support from UNICEF, seven child-friendly offices have been set up in district courts. Four of these offices are equipped with technology allowing interviews with children to be recorded and relayed. Specialized judges have been appointed to hear cases involving children in at least 23 courts in the country. There are no special requirements with regard to the education or qualifications of such judges.

66.Since 2010, training has been an important part of the efforts made by all ministries and departments to raise the level of awareness of the rights and interests of children among judges, law enforcement officers, juvenile affairs officers, procurators and staff of relevant bodies. Attitudes towards and care of children in all closed and semi-closed institutions have improved as a result of independent monitoring, upgrading and restoration of facilities, staff training, training of social workers and psychologists, and the conduct of prevention work with children.

67.The post of psychologist has been established for the first time in young offenders’ institutions.

68.Over the past decade, many institutions and programmes have been established, restructured or enhanced, and juvenile affairs commissions have been transformed into children’s rights commissions. The special school for troubled adolescents has been turned into a semi-open institution and, in principle, children are no longer placed there without a court decision to that effect and without the consent of the children themselves and their parents. Girls are no longer placed in the school and, in 2009, a support service was set up for girls who are victims, or at risk, of sexual exploitation or violence.

69.A draft new programme on juvenile justice system reform for 2017-2021 has been elaborated and is in the process of being adopted by the Government. The programme is aimed at implementing the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the main international rules and standards on juvenile justice and relevant recommendations on that topic of the United Nations treaty bodies and the Human Rights Council. The purpose of the programme is to align legislation and practice in the sphere of juvenile justice with international rules and standards and to create a system for children in conflict with the law and children who are witnesses or victims of crime or violence. The programme seeks to ensure appropriate attitudes towards children, including respect for their rights and dignity, and will help to reduce the level of offending and repeat offending among children by responding effectively to the individual needs of every child.

70.Pursuant to article 32 of the Act on Procedures and Conditions for the Custody of Suspects, Accused Persons and Defendants, better material and living conditions are provided for suspects, accused persons and defendants who are minors, specialized medical care is arranged for them and the nutritional standards defined for them by the Government are higher. Minor suspects, accused persons and defendants are allowed to spend at least two hours outdoors each day. During that time, they are given the opportunity to participate in physical exercise and sports. Where possible, films and television programmes are screened for them and premises are equipped for sports and other leisure activities, along with outdoor sports areas. Conditions are established, to the extent possible, for minor suspects, accused persons and defendants to receive general secondary education, and re-education measures are carried out. They are allowed to acquire and receive textbooks, school supplies and writing materials and to have them hand-delivered or sent by post. In accordance with article 63 of the Penalties Enforcement Code, minors who are convicted of an offence are granted one short meeting per month, lasting up to three hours, with their parents or persons in loco parentis. Convicted prisoners enjoy one hour outdoors each day and convicted minors one and a half hours. Where there are exceptional personal circumstances, minors sentenced to a short term of rigorous imprisonment may be allowed by the director of a short-stay prison to have a telephone conversation with close relatives. Under article 68 of the Code, the standards with regard to material and living conditions and medical care for persons sentenced to a short term of rigorous imprisonment are those established for persons serving their sentences in prisons, whereas for minors in short-stay prisons the standards are the same as those for minors serving their sentences in young offenders’ institutions. During transfers, the rules on the separation of prisoners are observed: men are separated from women, minors from adults, prisoners sentenced to death from other categories of inmate, and co-conspirators from one another (Penalties Enforcement Code, art. 74). In correctional institutions, men are held separately from women and minors from adults (Penalties Enforcement Code, art. 78). Food and clothing are provided free of charge to convicted minors as well as to persons with category I or II disabilities, men aged over 63 who are not in work and women aged over 58. Better living and material conditions are provided for pregnant women, nursing mothers, minors, persons who are ill and persons with category I or II disabilities, and nutritional standards are higher (Penalties Enforcement Code, art. 104).

Part II

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 13

71.No international human rights instruments have been ratified since the submission of the country’s report. However, the National Plan for 2017-2020 to implement the recommendations made by Human Rights Council member States in connection with the second universal periodic review of Tajikistan envisages the signature of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2017. See also the replies to the issues raised in paragraphs 1 to 12.

Part III

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 14

72.Information on the budget lines regarding children and social sectors is provided in the following tables (tables 2 and 3).

Table 2

Expenditure in millions of somoni

Item	2014	2015	2016	2017
Education, including:	1 864.6	1 764.5	2 001.4	2 345.6
- Preschools	135.2	136.4	165.4	169.2
- Primary, general basic and general secondary education	1 729.4	1628.1	1 836.0	2 176.4
Health care, social insurance and social welfare, including :	18.4	24.4	26.5	28.6
- Children ’ s institutions	7.5	10.3	10.7	9.5
- Outpatient centres for children with disabilities	1.7	3.0	2.0	3.5
- Acquisition of immunization supplies and equipment	2.6	5.0	7.0	9.0
- Payment of State allowances to children aged up to 16 who are infected with HIV or suffering from AIDS	0.8	1.1	1.4	2.2
- Payment of allowances to low-income families with children studying in general education schools	5.9	5.1	5.3	4.4
Total	1 889.7	1 795.0	2 034.6	2 380.8

Table 3

Main national budget indicators

Item	2014	2015	2016	2017
Gross domestic product	45 605.2	48 401.6	5 4 471.1	58 809.7
Total national budget expenditure, including:	13 190.6	16 277.4	18 128.2	19 863.2
- Social sectors (education, health care, social welfare, culture, sport and housing )	7 580.5	7 971.6	8 924.8	9 796.1
Total expenditure for social sectors as percentage of GDP	16.6	16.5	16.4	16.7
Total expenditure for social sectors as percentage of national budget	57.5	49.0	49.2	49.3

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 15

73.The measures taken by the Government to improve the infrastructure for combating trafficking in persons have yielded positive results, and the number of recorded offences related to trafficking in children is going down every year. The law enforcement agencies and relevant institutions provide ongoing assistance to trafficking victims when issues relating to cooperation with law enforcement officers aimed at bringing perpetrators to justice are addressed, and victims receive legal assistance throughout pretrial investigations and trials in criminal cases. In accordance with national legislation and the international legal instruments ratified by Tajikistan, special attention is given to child victims of trafficking, who are given comprehensive psychological assistance to facilitate their return to normal life. They must be guaranteed the opportunity to pursue their education in secondary specialized and higher education institutions.

74.Analysis shows that, in the period 2015-2016 and the first three months of 2017, 17 children became victims of trafficking (9 in 2015, 5 in 2016 and 3 in 2017). Of these children, 16 were aged up to 3 years and 1 was over 3; 11 were boys and 6 girls; 13 were of Tajik and 4 of Uzbek ethnicity; all were Tajik nationals.

75.The number of victims of offences related to trafficking in children in the past three years is as follows (see table 4):

Table 4

Year	Total number of child victims of trafficking	Age of trafficking victims	Sex of trafficking victims	Ethnicity of trafficking victims	Nationality of trafficking victims
Aged up to 3 years	Aged over 3 years	Boys	Girls	Tajiks	Uzbeks	Tajikistan	Other countries	Aged up to 3 years
2015	9	8	1	5	4	6	3	9	-	9
2016	5	5	-	4	1	4	1	5	-	5
2017	3	3	-	2	1	3	-	3	-	3

76.In all these cases, the children were trafficked not for the purpose of labour or sexual exploitation but rather for adoption. All these offences were committed by Tajik nationals in the country’s territory. In the whole period, there were no reported cases of children being removed from the territory of Tajikistan for subsequent trafficking. Analysis shows that, in the period 2015-2017, 33 children were victims of rape. Criminal proceedings were brought promptly, and full and thorough investigations were conducted, in respect of all cases of forced sexual intercourse with children, and the perpetrators were sentenced subsequently to various terms of deprivation of liberty. The number of victims of rape in the period is as follows (see table 5):

Table 5

Year	Total number of child victims	Age	Sex	Ethnicity	Nationality
Aged up to 14 years	Aged over 14 years	Boys	Girls	Tajiks	Uzbeks	Other	Tajikistan	Other countries
2015	10	6	4	-	10	9	-	1	10	-
2016	21	15	6	-	21	19	1	1	21	-
2017	2	2	-	-	2	1	1	-	2	-

77.The Dushanbe Special Vocational and Technical Lycée, a State institution, operates under the auspices of the Ministry of Labour, Migration and Employment. Young offenders aged 14-18 are sent there by decision of the children’s rights commissions or by court order. In 2016, nine pupils graduated from this institution, of whom four were placed in jobs, four migrated abroad for work and one is performing military service in the Armed Forces. Forty-eight young offenders are currently attending the institution.

78.Data on children abandoned by parents who are migrant workers abroad are not available.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 16

79.Data on children working in the informal sector are not available.

80.There are no abandoned children in the country, since all children who are abandoned by their parents are placed under the guardianship of the State and are raised in children’s homes and residential schools or by close relatives.

81.According to data from the Supreme Court, from 2014 to 2016, 132 applications for deprivation of parental rights were considered, of which 53 were granted (see table 6).

Table 6

Indicator	2014	2015	2016
Total number of applications for deprivation of parental rights considered	25	45	62
Number granted	10	16	27

82.In 2014, the number of children placed in institutions or foster families was 1,636 (952 in foster families and 684 in institutions); in 2015, the figure was 1,921 (1,182 in foster families and 739 in institutions); and, in 2016, 1,682 (1,147 in foster families and 535 in institutions). The numerical data are presented in tables 7 and 8.

Table 7

Number of children placed in Tajik foster families in 2014-2016

Indicator	2014	2015	2016
All children	Girls	All children	Girls	All children	Girls
Total number of children placed in foster families	952	418	1 182	457	1 147	532
Of whom, children aged 7-15 years	641	275	566	239	598	240

Table 8

Number of children left without parental care and placed in institutions in 2014-2016

Indicator	2014	2015	2016
All children	Girls	All children	Girls	All children	Girls
Total number of children placed in institutions	684	235	739	214	535	177
including:
- In children ’ s homes (Ministry of Health and Social Protection )	66	17	134	66	81	42
Of whom, children aged 0-3 years	31	11	88	52	15	6
- In children ’ s homes (Ministry of Education and Science)	143	64	14	6	38	12
Of whom, children aged 3-7 years	38	14	9	3	33	10
- In residential schools for orphans and children left without parental care	458	148	568	134	413	123
Of whom, children aged 7-15 years	330	93	388	97	341	85
- In primary, secondary and higher vocational education institutions with State funding	17	6	23	8	3	-

83.According to data from the Supreme Court, from 2014 to 2016, 3,393 applications for adoption were considered, of which 2,853 were granted (see table 9).

Table 9

Indicator	2014	201 5	2016
Total number of adoption applications considered	960	1 065	1 368
Number granted	814	868	1 171

84.Pursuant to a government decision of 2 May 2007, children from low-income families receive allowances (table 10).

Table 10

2014	2015	2016
Number of children	Amount in somoni	Number of children	Amount in somoni	Number of children	Amount in somoni
138 331	5 533 240	166 771	3 874 730	195 321	4 849 860

85.In recent years, there has been a decline in infant and child mortality. In the years since independence, infant and child mortality have decreased by a factor of 2.7 (see table 11).

Table 11

Indicator	2014	2015	2016
Infant mortality per 1,000 live births ( children aged up to 1 year)	17.5	16.5	15.8
Child mortality per 1,000 live births ( children aged up to 5 years)	21.2	20.6	20.0

86.In the past three years, 349 children living with HIV have been registered (see table 12).

Table 12

Sex	2014	2015	2016
Boys	69	69	64
Girls	46	55	46
Total	115	124	110
Age
0-4	10	14	25
5-9	67	57	57
10-18	38	53	28
Total	115	124	110

87.Data on the number of births registered by the State and the number of birth certificates issued in the past three years, including the first quarter of 2017, are presented in table 13.

Table 13

	State registration of births (children aged up to 1 year)	State registration of births the deadline for registration of which was missed (children aged 1 and over)	Number of birth certificates issued
2014	2015	2016	First quarter of 2017	2014	2015	2016	First quarter of 2017	2014	2015	2016	First quarter of 2017
Sughd province	69 192	68 480	64 851	13 704	4 510	4 191	3 918	957	73 072	72 671	68 769	14 661
Khatlon province	9 2 177	9 298	93 143	2 393	32 614	26 804	27 464	6 297	12 491	11 902	120 607	29 490
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon Autonomous Province	4 667	4 833	4 622	1 267	1 641	1 072	1 161	269	6 308	5 955	5 783	1 536
Dushanbe	13 180	14 302	14 915	3 761	9 178	9 048	8 910	1 809	22 358	23 350	23 825	5 570
Centrally administered districts	52 618	55 001	55 722	14 968	2 3 646	18 200	17 796	4 433	76 264	73 201	73 518	19 401
Tajikistan	231 834	23 5 314	233 253	56 893	71 598	5 9 315	5 9 249	13 765	302 793	294 679	292 502	70 658

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 17

88.The number of children officially recognized as having a disability and registered with a clinic is shown in table 14. Children with disabilities mainly live with their families, apart from children with severe psychiatric disorders.

Table 14

Year (as at 1 January)	Number of children
2015	26 107
2016	25 351
2017	23 349

89.The number of children with disabilities aged 6-18 years placed in social welfare institutions is shown in table 15.

Table 15

Year (as at 1 January)	Total number of children	Boys	Girls
2014	345	231	114
2015	348	220	128
2016	328	216	112

90.The number of children with disabilities attending general education establishments in 2014-2016 is shown in table 16.

Table 16

Indicator	Tajikistan	Kŭhistoni Badakhshon Autonomous Province	Khatlon province	Sughd province	Dushanbe	Centrally administered districts
2014/15 academic year	5 244	489	822	1 626	813	1 494
All pupils
Of whom, girls	2 035	271	278	655	264	567
2015/16 academic year	5 633	553	1 048	1 729	933	1 370
All pupils
Of whom, girls	2 255	297	372	714	350	522
2015/17 academic year	6 139	564	750	1 797	804	2 224
All pupils
Of whom, girls	2 502	314	331	734	302	821

91.The number of children with disabilities attending residential special schools in 2014-2016 is shown in table 17.

Table 17

Indicator	Tajikistan	Kŭhistoni Badakhshon Autonomous Province	Khatlon province	Sughd province	Dushanbe	Centrally administered districts
2014/15 academic year	1 872	-	120	645	222	885
All pupils
Of whom, girls	534	-	-	234	44	256
2015/16 academic year	1 763	-	129	664	219	751
All pupils
Of whom, girls	488	-	-	240	53	195
2015/17 academic year	2 204	-	144	657	224	1 179
All pupils
Of whom, girls	626	-	-	234	60	332

92.The number of children with disabilities living in children’s homes, having been given up by their parents, is shown in table 18.

Table 18

Year (as at 1 January)	Number
2015	21
2016	9
2017	2
Total	32

93.No exact data on children who are out of school are available.

Reply to the issues raised in paragraph 18

94.Data on preschool institutions and the number of children attending them, enrolment, the number and percentage of children who have repeated an academic year, and the teacher-pupil ratio are provided in tables 19 to 22.

Table 19

Preschool institutions and number of children attending them

	2013	2014	2015	2016
Preschools
Total number	527	550	578	602
Including:
Crèches	7	5	2	1
Kindergarten-crèches	355	396	320	332
Kindergartens	157	142	247	262
Primary-school kindergartens	8	7	9	7
Family-based kindergartens	-	-	-	-
Total number of children	80 442	85 777	92 024	91 081
Including in:
Crèches	721	598	219	103
Kindergarten-crèches	60 630	67 574	61 184	60 365
Kindergartens	17 948	15 658	29 137	29 161
Primary-school kindergartens	1 143	839	1 484	1 452
Family-based kindergartens	-	-	-	-
Total number of children	80 442	85 777	92 024	91 081
Of whom:
Girls	36 418	39 137	40 992	41 004
Boys	44 024	46 640	51 032	50 077

Table 20

Information on enrolment of pupils in 2013-2016

Province	Year	Educational level	Number of pupils	Of whom, girls:	Pupils by level, as %	Girls by level, as %:
Khatlon	2013	Primary	7 062	3 457	1.09	1.13
Khatlon	2013	Basic	35 591	17 324	5.49	5.64
Khatlon	2013	Secondary	605 220	286 490	93.42	93.24
		Total:	647 873	307 271	100	100
Khatlon	2014	Primary	5 228	2 558	0.80	0.82
Khatlon	2014	Basic	30 503	14 802	4.66	4.75
Khatlon	2014	Secondary	618 503	294 278	94.54	94.43
		Total:	654 234	311 638	100	100
Khatlon	2015	Primary	4 361	2 179	0.65	0.69
Khatlon	2015	Basic	28 404	13 908	4.26	4.38
Khatlon	2015	Secondary	633 466	301 542	95.08	94.94
		Total:	666 231	317 629	100	100
Khatlon	2016	Primary	3 857	1 912	0.57	0.59
Khatlon	2016	Basic	27 145	13 366	3.99	4.12
Khatlon	2016	Secondary	649 846	309 152	95.45	95.29
		Total:	680 848	324 430	100	100
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	2013	Primary	1 139	553	2.93	2.88
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	2013	Basic	3 471	1 725	8.93	8.98
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	2013	Secondary	34 261	16 924	88.14	88.14
		Total:	38 871	19 202	100	100
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	2014	Primary	1 087	523	2.83	2.76
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	2014	Basic	2 662	1 332	6.93	7.03
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	2014	Secondary	34 677	17 086	90.24	90.21
		Total:	38 426	18 941	100	100
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	2015	Primary	1 097	535	2.89	2.87
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	2015	Basic	2 163	1 065	5.69	5.71
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	2015	Secondary	34 724	17 038	91.42	91.42
		Total:	37 984	18 638	100	100
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	2016	Primary	1 039	494	2.75	2.66
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	2016	Basic	2 183	1 057	5.77	5.70
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	2016	Secondary	34 584	17 007	91.48	91.64
		Total:	37 806	18 558	100	100
Dushanbe	2013	Primary	3 354	1 492	1.95	1.91
Dushanbe	2013	Basic	5 921	2 545	3.44	3.25
Dushanbe	2013	Secondary	163 046	74 222	94.62	94.84
		Total:	172 321	78 259	100	100
Dushanbe	2014	Primary	2 673	1 275	1.52	1.59
Dushanbe	2014	Basic	6 045	2 604	3.44	3.24
Dushanbe	2014	Secondary	166 837	76 548	95.03	95.18
		Total:	175 555	80 427	100	100
Dushanbe	2015	Primary	2 733	1 305	1.52	1.58
Dushanbe	2015	Basic	6 020	2 625	3.34	3.19
Dushanbe	2015	Secondary	171 603	78 453	95.15	95.23
		Total:	180 356	82 383	100	100
Dushanbe	2016	Primary	1 706	737	0.92	0.86
Dushanbe	2016	Basic	5 410	2 457	2.92	2.87
Dushanbe	2016	Secondary	178 240	82 480	96.16	96.27
		Total:	185 356	85 674	100	100
Centrally administered districts	2013	Primary	11 448	5 655	2.91	3.05
Centrally administered districts	2013	Basic	46 489	22 749	11.83	12.27
Centrally administered districts	2013	Secondary	335 171	156 925	85.26	84.67
		Total:	393 108	185 329	100	100
Centrally administered districts	2014	Primary	10 941	5 335	2.72	2.81
Centrally administered districts	2014	Basic	43 373	21 286	10.79	11.22
Centrally administered districts	2014	Secondary	347 666	163 053	86.49	85.96
		Total:	401 980	189 674	100	100
Centrally administered districts	2015	Primary	10 113	4 954	2.42	2.51
Centrally administered districts	2015	Basic	41 179	20 163	9.86	10.21
Centrally administered districts	2015	Secondary	366 179	172 411	87.71	87.28
		Total:	417 471	197 528	100	100
Centrally administered districts	2016	Primary	9 958	4 899	2.29	2.38
Centrally administered districts	2016	Basic	36 367	18 102	8.38	8.80
Centrally administered districts	2016	Secondary	387 719	182 643	89.33	88.82
		Total:	434 044	205 644	100	100
Sughd	2013	Primary	966	415	0.21	0.18
Sughd	2013	Basic	17 131	8 394	3.69	3.72
Sughd	2013	Secondary	445 669	217 136	96.10	96.10
		Total:	463 766	225 945	100	100
Sughd	2014	Primary	889	366	0.19	0.16
Sughd	2014	Basic	15 940	7 851	3.38	3.42
Sughd	2014	Secondary	454 604	221 488	96.43	96.42
		Total:	471 433	229 705	100	100
Sughd	2015	Primary	701	226	0.15	0.10
Sughd	2015	Basic	11 491	5 564	2.38	2.37
Sughd	2015	Secondary	470 133	229 215	97.47	97.54
		Total:	482 325	235 005	100	100
Sughd	2016	Primary	442	185	0.09	0.08
Sughd	2016	Basic	10 730	5 167	2.15	2.12
Sughd	2016	Secondary	488 536	238 294	97.76	97.80
		Total:	499 708	243 646	100	100
Tajikistan	2013	Primary	23 969	11 572	1.40	1.42
Tajikistan	2013	Basic	108 603	52 737	6.33	6.46
Tajikistan	2013	Secondary	1 583 367	751 697	92.27	92.12
		Total:	1 715 939	816 006	100	100
Tajikistan	2014	Primary	20 818	10 057	1.20	1.21
Tajikistan	2014	Basic	98 523	47 875	5.66	5.77
Tajikistan	2014	Secondary	1 622 287	772 453	93.15	93.02
		Total:	1 741 628	830 385	100	100
Tajikistan	2015	Primary	19 005	9 199	1.07	1.08
Tajikistan	2015	Basic	89 257	43 325	5.00	5.09
Tajikistan	2015	Secondary	1 676 105	798 659	93.93	93.83
		Total:	1 784 367	851 183	100	100
Tajikistan	2016	Primary	17 002	8 227	0.93	0.94
Tajikistan	2016	Basic	81 835	40 149	4.45	4.57
Tajikistan	2016	Secondary	1 738 925	829 576	94.62	94.49
		Total:	1 837 762	877 952	100	100

Table 21

Number and percentage of children who have repeated an academic year

Year	Province	Number of pupils	Of whom, girls	Number of pupils who have repeated an academic year	Number of girls who have repeated an academic year	% of pupils who have repeated an academic year	% of girls who have repeated an academic year
2013	Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	38 871	19 202	11	6	0.03	0.03
2013	Dushanbe	172 321	78 259	102	36	0.06	0.05
2013	Centrally administered districts	393 108	185 329	234	82	0.06	0.04
2013	Sughd	463 766	225 945	319	136	0.07	0.06
2013	Khatlon	647 873	307 271	370	194	0.06	0.06
	Total:	1 715 939	816 006	1 036	454	0.06	0.06
2014	Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	38 426	18 941	5	4	0.01	0.02
2014	Dushanbe	175 555	80 427	287	82	0.16	0.10
2014	Centrally administered districts	401 980	189 674	260	97	0.06	0.05
2014	Sughd	471 433	229 705	344	174	0.07	0.08
2014	Khatlon	654 234	311 638	433	212	0.07	0.07
	Total:	1 741 628	830 385	1 329	569	0.08	0.07
2015	Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	37 984	18 638	21	9	0.06	0.05
2015	Dushanbe	180 356	82 383	199	73	0.11	0.09
2015	Centrally administered districts	417 471	197 528	1 018	478	0.24	0.24
2015	Sughd	482 325	235 005	428	206	0.09	0.09
2015	Khatlon	666 231	317 629	228	84	0.03	0.03
	Total:	1 784 367	851 183	1 894	850	0.11	0.10

Table 22

Teacher-pupil ratio (by academic year)

Province	2013/14	2014/15	2015/16	2016/17
Number of pupils	Number of teachers	Teacher pupil ratio	Number of pupils	Number of teachers	Teacher-pupil ratio	Number of pupils	Number of teachers	Teacher-pupil ratio	Number of pupils
Kŭhistoni Badakhshon	38 871	5 366	7.24	38 426	5 377	7.15	37 984	5 469	6.95	37 806
Dushanbe	172 321	7 202	23.93	175 555	7 296	24.06	180 356	7 825	23.05	185 356
Centrally administered districts	393 108	21 594	18.20	401 980	22 580	17.80	417 471	24 319	17.17	434 044
Sughd	463 766	33 017	14.05	471 433	33 337	14.14	482 325	34 551	13.96	499 708
Khatlon	647 873	33 811	19.16	654 234	35 442	18.46	666 231	38 153	17.46	680 848
Total:	1 715 939	100 990	16.99	1 741 628	104 032	16.74	1 784 367	110 317	16.17	1 837 762