29th Session Human Rights Council: Statement for UPR Outcomes: Kyrgyzstan

29th session – June 24, 2015

Item 6: UPR Outcomes: Kyrgyzstan

Oralstatement delivered by theWorld Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), within the frameworkof the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders.

Mr.President,

OMCT andFIDH welcome the report of the working group on the UPR on Kyrgyzstan.

TheObservatory has been documenting and denouncing the regional trend of tablingand adopting laws restricting or repressing the exercise of freedom of association. Kyrgyzstan isunfortunately no exception as bills establishing registration as "foreignagents" and restricting foreign funding among others, are currently beingdebated. The UN, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and otherinternational and Kyrgyz organisations have already expressed theirconcerns in this regard. It is also worth mentioning the ongoing harassment ofthe human rights organisation Bir Duino which we fear is related to itsmonitoring of the case of Azimjon Askarov.

We welcomethe acceptance by Kyrgyzstan of eight recommendations explicitly addressing therespect of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association and we encourage authorities totranslate these commitments into genuine and effective reforms that fullyguarantee them. In a regional context in which various States have beenrestricting these rights, Kyrgyzstan has the opportunity to dramatically improveits international reputation by standing out as a State that fulfils itsinternational commitments. This opportunity should not be missed.

Furthermore, the Observatoryis very concerned by the rejection of most of the recommendations calling forthe adoption of legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. The draft lawbanning the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" is inherentlydiscriminatory and infringing freedom of expression, assembly and otherfundamental rights. It should therefore be dropped if Kyrgyzstan's human rightscommitments are to be taken seriously. The bill contributes to the generalintensification of harassment against the LGBTI community and its supporters.The recent assault in May 2015 against participants to an anti-homophobia eventorganised by Labris is a good example of this.

We wouldlike to conclude by encouraging Mr. Maina Kiai to make use of Kyrgyzstan'sinvitation to visit the country during this critical time for the right tofreedom of association in the country.

We thank youMr President.