UN expert urges Kyrgyzstan to prevent torture
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 14 December 2011 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, UN expert urges Kyrgyzstan to prevent torture, 14 December 2011, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4f1431afc.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
December 14, 2011
A United Nations human rights expert has urged Kyrgyz authorities to prevent abuses, torture, and ill-treatment and to end impunity by ensuring that alleged perpetrators are held responsible.
In a statement released on December 14, Juan Mendez said that in Kyrgyzstan, there was "a serious lack of sufficiently speedy, meaningful, thorough, and impartial investigations" into allegations of torture and ill-treatment, as well as lack of effective prosecution of law enforcement officials.
His statement came a day after he wrapped up a fact-finding mission in the country.
On his visit, Mendez interviewed people held in various detention facilities, as well as victims of torture and ill-treatment in Bishkek, Osh, and Jalal-Abad.
Mendez noted that the conditions in detention centers he visited ranged from "adequate to dreadful."
He stressed that Kyrgyz authorities need to restructure procedural safeguards against torture, including by creating a transparent system of access to legal counsel for detainees.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
