Punishments in Transnistria are too harsh, UN expert

Thomas Hammarberg, UN Senior Expert on Human Rights in the Transnistrian region, has concluded his first mission visit to analyze human rights issues on the left bank. In a press briefing on May 31, he said that the punishments in Transnistria are too harsh compared with the international standards, Info-Prim Neo reports. The visit marked the start of an engagement aimed at providing guidance for the strengthening of the human rights on the territory. The expert said the punishments in the Transnistrian region are harsh because they are long-term ones. Thomas Hammarberg aims to undertake two further visits during 2012 during and after which he will present recommendations to the relevant actors. Senior Expert Hammarberg’s first mission during May 25-31 has involved primarily listening to various stakeholders, with a view to gaining an understanding of human rights issues and problematics in Transnistria. During his mission, he met with civil society organizations, members of ethnic and religious minorities, individuals with human rights concerns, as well as with a range of authorities on both banks. He also visited institutions such as a children’s home, a psychiatric institution and several penitentiaries, including a prison for youth offenders. Thomas Hammarberg undertakes his work outside the 5 + 2 process, in light of the UN’s neutrality role and the vision that human rights are universal, for everyone, everywhere (United Nations General Assembly Resolution 48/141). The sole focus of Mr. Hammarberg’’s work is human rights, following up on the commitments established during the November 2011 visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.