Kyrgyzstan: Independent Detention Monitoring of Closed Institutions
On 16-17 October the APT and its partners, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' Regional Office in Central Asia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) Academy sponsored two round-table events in Bishkek designed to promote the ratification and effective implementation of the OPCAT in Kyrgyzstan - the first national discussions to focus on the Optional Protocol.
Date: | 16-17 October 2007 |
Place: | Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan |
Partners: | Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' Regional Office in Central Asia Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Academy in Bishkek |
Purpose: | To promote the ratification and effective implementation of the OPCAT. |
Activities: | On 16-17 October 2007 the APT and its partners, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' Regional Office in Central Asia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) Academy sponsored two round-table events in Bishkek designed to promote the ratification and effective implementation of the OPCAT in Kyrgyzstan.
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Outcome: | As the first national discussion on the OPCAT the round-table meeting raised general awareness about the implications of the OPCAT for Kyrgyzstan, particularly among the government representatives. The events also gave civil society greater impetus and campaigning knowledge to ensure that the instrument becomes a reality in the country in the near future. The examples and campaign techniques given from other countries were especially useful in this respect. |
Next steps: | The APT will remain in close contact with OHCHR's Regional Office in Central Asia and the OSCE's Academy in Bishkek to track the ratification of the draft instrument in the Kyrgyz parliament and to ensure that further meetings and exchanges are held on the establishment of an national preventive mechanism. For this latter purpose a working group will be set up, comprising civil society actors. It is envisaged that this working group will meet in November 2007. |
Contact Person: | Matthew Pringle, APT Europe & Central Asia Programme Officer |
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Some of the participants at the NGO round-table on 17 October. (Photo courtesy of the OSCE Academy) |