A roundtable on “Implementing the Third Pillar of the Aarhus Convention — Ensuring Public Access to Justice in Environmental Matters” took place in the conference hall of the Department for Investment and State Property Management of Sughd Region. The event was organized through cooperation between the Regional Department for Environmental Protection, the NGO “Youth Environmental Protection Group”, and the Aarhus Centre in Khujand, with the support of the Administrative and Legal Department of the Sughd Region Administration.
The meeting gathered representatives of executive authorities, judicial and prosecutorial bodies, the Department of Justice, the Environmental and Tourism Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan, civil society organizations including human rights and environmental groups, as well as media representatives.
The Republic of Tajikistan acceded to the Aarhus Convention by Presidential Decree No. 594 of 9 June 2001, and today the country operates five Aarhus Centres, which play a key role in advancing the implementation of the Convention and strengthening ties between public authorities and citizens.
The Regional Department for Environmental Protection of Sughd Region works closely with the “Youth Environmental Protection Group” and the Aarhus Centre in Khujand, viewing the Convention as a vital instrument for promoting environmental rights and ensuring transparency.
Each year, numerous activities are conducted in the region to promote the Convention’s first two pillars — access to environmental information and public participation in decision-making.
The roundtable brought together law-enforcement representatives, experts and stakeholders, who exchanged views, delivered presentations and put forward proposals aimed at expanding activities that strengthen public access to justice in environmental matters.
📌 Source: Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan
