OSCE brings together civil society and state actors to review situation of human rights defenders in Kyrgyzstan

More than 60 representatives from civil society and state institutions in Kyrgyzstan came together to discuss the situation of human rights defenders in the country at a meeting held in Bishkek on 9 and 10 December 2014.

The meeting was jointly organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, with the co-operation of the Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Regional Office for Central Asia of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Bishkek. The event also marks Human Rights Day, which is celebrated annually on 10 December.

The meeting provided a forum for discussion between civil society and state officials about the implementation in Kyrgyzstan of the recently published OSCE/ODIHR Guidelines on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. In particular, participants discussed the steps that need to be taken to create an environment that empowers the work of human rights defenders in the country.

“Human rights defenders perform a vital role in monitoring and advocating for human rights,” said Omer Fisher, Deputy Head of ODIHR’s Human Rights Department. “Regrettably, in many countries across the OSCE region, including in Kyrgyzstan, they are frequently targeted due to their work, and face numerous obstacles that impede their legitimate human rights activities.”

During the meeting, participants also discussed draft legislative changes that, if adopted, may have serious repercussions for human rights defenders. These include a bill that would stigmatize non-governmental organizations that receive foreign funding, as well as provisions that would criminalize the defence of the human rights of those targeted on the basis of their sexual orientation. Participants at the meeting also voiced concerns regarding the harassment and prosecutions of human rights defenders and threats against their families.

“We wish to congratulate one of our partners – the local NGO Spravedlivost – on being awarded the 2014 Max van der Stoel Award by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities. The receipt of such a prestigious award reflects the success of all human rights defenders in carrying out their work in Kyrgyzstan,” said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. “The OSCE fully supports the commitment of the Government of Kyrgyzstan to implementing international obligations on human rights.”

Ahead of the event, a delegation of ODIHR representatives also visited prominent Kyrgyz human rights defender and journalist, Azimjan Askarov, in prison in Bishkek. Askarov was sentenced in September 2010 to life imprisonment and the confiscation of his property. He was convicted of creating mass disturbances, inciting ethnic hatred and complicity in murder, despite serious concerns about the respect for fair trial rights during court proceedings against him.