In recent years, Kyrgyzstan has actively co-operated with the Council of Europe on a relatively wide range of topics, mostly in the framework of the Neighbourhood Co-operation Priorities for the Kyrgyzstan for 2015-2019. Within this document, three projects were implemented: “Support to Strengthening Democracy through Electoral Reform”, “Strengthen Prevention and Combating of Corruption in Kyrgyz Republic”, “Training of new generations of leaders: School of Political Studies”.

As the Priorities came to an end in December 2019, the Council of Europe and the Kyrgyz authorities are currently discussing the follow-up co-operation strategy. In the meanwhile, the Central Asia Rule of Law Programme serves as the main instrument for co-operation between the Council of Europe and Kyrgyzstan.

The country also participates in the European Union/Council of Europe Joint Programme “Support to reforms of electoral legislation and practice and regional Human Rights instruments and mechanisms in countries of Latin America, Central Asia and Mongolia”.

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Back European standards of prevention of torture and ill-treatment: focus of high-level conference in Almaty

European standards of prevention of torture and ill-treatment: focus of high-level conference in Almaty

On 20 April 2023, the Council of Europe in co-operation with the Prosecutor General’s Office of Kazakhstan, the Commissioner for Human Rights and the Human Rights Commission under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held a conference in Almaty under the theme “Prevention of torture and ill-treatment: International and European standards and good practices”.

The high-level conference was opened by the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr Berik Asylov, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr Artur Lastaev, the Director of Programme Co-ordination of the Council of Europe Mr Claus Neukirch, the Ambassador of the European Union to Kazakhstan Mr Kestutis Jankauskas, the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr Aslambek Mergaliev and Mr Akmal Saidov, First Deputy Speaker of the legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majilis (Parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The event brought together some 100 participants representing prosecutorial and judicial bodies, national human rights institutions and bar associations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as international organisations.

The conference participants took stock of the situation relating to the investigation of ill-treatment and torture in Central Asia. They looked at the achievements and challenges in this field through the prism of relevant European and international standards, gaining from best European practices presented by Council of Europe experts. Discussion focused in particular on the role of prosecutors and investigative bodies, judges, lawyers and national human rights institutions, including National Preventive Mechanisms in preventing and investigating cases of torture and ill-treatment.

At the end of the day, participants discussed draft recommendations for law enforcement bodies, national human rights institutions and the judiciary outlining the necessity of joining efforts to ensure compliance with human rights standards on preventing torture and ill-treatment.

The conference was organised within the framework of the Central Asia Rule of Law Programme 2020-2023, a joint initiative co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.

Almaty, Kazakhstan 20 April 2023
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