Poverty limits vindication of children’s rights

The Committee on the Rights of the Child of the UN High Commission for Human Rights (HCHR) has noted that the continuing drought combined with continuing civil unrest have seriously affected the physical security and survival of the population in Tajikistan, especially children. The Committee, which reviewed the situation in Tajikistan in late September, said the economic and social challenges as a result of its transition to a market economy and the civil war had resulted in increased unemployment, poverty and corruption, which had had a severe impact on children and other vulnerable segments of the society, it said.

The committee expressed concern at “the numerous and continuing reports of ill-treatment of persons under 18 by the militia, including psychological intimidation, corporal punishment, and torture.” Other issues raised were an increase in prostitution, the trafficking of children and women, and the extent of commercial sexual exploitation of children. Tajikistan was commended on its adoption of legislative and administrative measures related to the rights of children, the ratification of the six major international human rights instruments, and its cooperation with the international community in the field of human rights.