Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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September 24, 2025 Human rights
The adoption of a new law in Kyrgyzstan that abolishes the independent torture prevention body undermines efforts to prevent torture in the country, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Wednesday.
"The decision to abolish the independent torture prevention monitoring body and transfer its powers to the Ombudsman's office, which is not yet fully independent, is contrary to Kyrgyzstan's human rights obligations," Türk said.
On September 23, Kyrgyz authorities announced that President Sadyr Japarov had signed a law ordering the closure of the National Center for the Prevention of Torture (NCPT) and the transfer of its powers to the Ombudsman.
“The NCPT is a model for the entire Central Asian region, the only independent national human rights institution that meets international standards,” the High Commissioner said.
“During my visit to Kyrgyzstan in March of this year, I emphasized the importance of maintaining the independence of the National Committee for the Prevention of Torture and providing it with sufficient resources and the access necessary to effectively carry out its functions,” he added.
Türk called on the authorities to take urgent measures to ensure uninterrupted monitoring of torture prevention, to create a new structure within the Ombudsman's Office in accordance with Kyrgyzstan's treaty obligations, and to ensure its operational and financial independence.
“It is also crucial that civil society and independent experts are given a clear advisory role in this process and in future preventive monitoring,” Türk said.
The National Center for the Prevention of Torture was established in 2012, following Kyrgyzstan's accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture in 2008. The country's key obligation under the protocol is the creation of an independent torture prevention monitoring body tasked with conducting regular visits to all places of detention.
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