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Some human rights defenders dissatisfied with activity of Justice Ministry Social Committee

09 February 2007 10:26 (UTC +04:00)

â€œIf Social Committee under Justice Ministry continues its activity like this, this body will be not perspective enough. There is divergence among the rights defenders on the Committeeâ€™s activity,â€? the member of the Committee, human rights defender Chingiz Ganizadeh told the APA.
He said that the Committee should often meet, discuss the results of the monitoring, and make decisions basing on the results.
â€œIt is a pity that the Committee does not hold meetings and discussions. A group of human rights defenders monitor detention places on their own initiative. The Committeeâ€™s coordinator is not active enough in organizational events. I expressed my position to the Justice Ministry officials several times. They are also dissatisfied with the committeeâ€™s activity,â€? he said.
Social Committee coordinator Kamil Salimov refutes divergence among the Committee members.
â€œWe have no suitable place yet. We temporarily meet at Justice Ministry. We can not meet and hold discussions any time we want. If the Committee is allotted place and provided with necessary equipment we can function normally,â€? he said.
The human rights defender said the Social Committee will be allotted place in the nearest future.
Justice Ministry Penitentiary Service Department Chief Rafig Ramazanov told the APA that they create necessary conditions for the committee members to monitor detention places. He noted though the Social Committee monitored several detention places, no report was submitted to the Penitentiary Service.
â€œInternational organizations inform us about the results of monitoring within a week. We are informed about the shortfalls and positive results. The Social Committee has all necessary conditions to monitor, they do not inform us of the results,â€? he said.
The department chief also noted that social organizations should concern themselves with reforming of prisoners.
â€œBut they are more concerned themselves with social control. They do not take active part in prisonersâ€™ reform. If the committee repeats the activity of the previous Social Council, there is no need for its activity,â€? the chief said.
The Social Committee has been functioning since September last year and unites nine NGOs. /APA/