U.S. Mission to International
Organizations in Geneva

39^th session

Statement Read by Meryn Schneiderhan

The United States welcomes the Tajik delegation and thanks the delegation for its presentation.  

We recommend the government:  

1. Allow civil society, including non-governmental organizations and independent media to operate without harassment and fear of reprisals;  
2. End transnational repression and forced repatriation of human rights defenders and members of civil society;  
3. Permit more access to independent prison monitoring organizations including private and fully confidential interviews with prisoners consistent with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules on the Treatment of Prisoners.  

The United States remains deeply concerned by the lack of progress on human rights and note with concern the government’s censorship and control of media and continued restrictions on the registration and operation of civil society organizations.  

We are troubled by the government’s harassment of self-exiled dissenters in order to silence criticism from abroad. We are concerned by continuing reports that detainees and prisoners face torture and other abuse by security forces along with harsh and life-threatening prison conditions.