4.14 Office in Tajikistan Background In 2014, through police reform projects based on democratic principles, the OSCE Office in Tajikistan (the Office or the OiT) continued its support to law enforcement agencies of Tajikistan to modernize and strengthen their capacities to effectively address threats posed by criminality, including its most serious forms such as organized crime and terrorism. One set of key achievements within the police programme is related to further development of the legal basis and organisational structures for the successful implementation of police reform in Tajikistan. In this regard, the Police Reform Programme and associated Action Plan have been approved by the Tajik Government. In addition, the Draft Law on Police has been elaborated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) Working Group with the participation and support of the programme staff as well as in-depth involvement of civil society of Tajikistan. Moreover, the National Co-ordinator for Police Reform and his assistant have been appointed by the MIA in agreement with the Executive Office of the President, and they successfully conduct their tasks in close co-operation with the OiT, in particular with the police programme team. These two posts are fully funded by the Tajik Government. Another set of achievements concerns the increasing role of civil society in police reform. The involvement of civil society, in particular the Civil Society Working Groups (CSWG), in processes related to police reform is increasing, for instance through participation in discussions on the Draft Law on Police. Furthermore, the Provision of the Public Council on the Civil Society Assistance to the Police Reform (the Provision of the Public Council) has been finalized and approved by the MIA. It is expected that the first Public Councils will start operating in the first quarter of 2015. Last but not least, a Needs Assessment of Community Policing in Tajikistan was performed and a report subsequently prepared by an OiT consultant. The Report will serve for the MIA as a key reference document for the future development of a Concept for Community Policing in Tajikistan. The activities of the police programme are advancing the implementation of the Police Reform Strategy of Tajikistan and contributing to implementation of the associated Police Reform Programme and Action Plan. It should be mentioned that the current success of the project has been achieved thanks to high-level political support and good co-operation between the OiT and the MIA and other police reform stakeholders. Moreover, the OSCE Office in Tajikistan is recognized as a strategic partner for the Government of Tajikistan as well as a key part of the international community involved in police assistance and the further development of democratic policing principles in Tajikistan. Public opinion survey showed an increase of Tajikistan citizens’ trust towards Police of four per cent in 2014 compared with 2013. Police Reform In 2014, the Office, together with the MIA, co-chaired one high-level Police Reform Steering Group (PRSG) meeting with the involvement of civil society representatives, international organizations (UNDP, UNODC, UNICEF, IOM, ICRC, ADB, EU) and embassies accredited in Tajikistan (Azerbaijan, France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, the UK, the US, Uzbekistan, China and Japan). During the meeting, crucial issues of police reform progress were brought up for participants’ attention and discussion, particularly the introduction of approved Police Reform Programme Development and Action Plan for the period of 20142020 and promotion of the Provision of the Public Council on Police Reform. As a result of the PRSG meeting, the Provision was revised and a working group on drafting a new Law on 148