OSCE in Uzbekistan educates police teachers in human rights standards

TASHKENT, 4 September 2013 –  A three-day course for police instructors on international human rights standards started today in Tashkent, which is being held with support from the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

Some 25 teachers representing the Police Academy, law enforcement schools, and other relevant institutions learned about the role of the police in ensuring and protecting human rights, and about international human rights standards.

"The OSCE Project Coordinator attaches a special importance to educating police officers in human rights, strengthening professionalism and transparency of law enforcement, and helping ensure that they respect and protect human rights,” said Ambassador György Szabó, the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan. “It is important that the theoretical knowledge gained during the course is supported by the development of practical skills. Police officers should be aware of methods to be applied in every specific case, and of the rationale behind them.”

The training will be participatory and interactive; it will include practical exercises aimed at the application of human rights provisions to the work of the police.  The training is part of co-operation between the OSCE Project Co-ordinator and the Interior Ministry on human rights issues.