< Past projects
Action for freedom from torture in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan
Briefing paper for EU-Kazakhstan Human Rights Dialogue, November 2016
Key concerns and recommendations on torture and ill-treatment in Kazakhstan, October 2016
25.10.2016more
Freedom from torture, Issue 7, October 2016
This newsletter features interviews with six lawyers and psychologists from Central Asia, the Russian Federation and Ukraine about their experiences in assisting victims of torture and their families to obtain compensation.
14.10.2016more
Briefing paper for European Union–Central Asia Ministerial Meeting
Information on the situation of civil society, torture and ill-treatement in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for European Union–Central Asia Ministerial Meeting to be held in Brussels on 4-5 October 2016
05.10.2016more
OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting 2016
Torture and ill-treatment in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (23 September 2016)
23.09.2016more
Comments of Kazakhstani human rights NGOs on Kazakhstan’s Second Periodic Report on the implementation of the International Covenant On Civil and Political Rights
The authors of this document point out that in 2015 and at the beginning of 2016 the authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RoK) conducted a relatively intensive dialogue with Kazakhstani human rights NGOs on the main provisions of the Government’s Second (Periodic) Report on the implementation of the ICCPR, as well as specific concerns […]
22.05.2016more
Briefing paper for President of the European Council and President of the European Commission ahead of their meeting with President of Kazakhstan on 30 March 2016
Briefing paper for Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, ahead of their meeting with President Nursultan Nazarbaev of Kazakhstan on 30 March 2016
30.03.2016more
Briefing paper for Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Torture and ill-treatment in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
18.12.2015more
Freedom from torture, Issue 5, November 2015
In this edition: Side event on investigations of torture allegations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Side event on the implementation of the Istanbul Protocol in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Presenting concerns in the plenary of the HDIM
30.11.2015more
Briefing paper on torture and ill-treatment in Kazakhstan for EU-Kazakhstan Human Rights Dialogue
The authorities of Kazakhstan have implemented some significant positive steps in recent years in the area of torture prevention and eradication, but we are concerned that torture and other forms of ill-treatment are continuing and impunity is still the norm. We would like to call on the EU aknowldge these positive steps, but not to stop emphasizing the […]
25.11.2015more
United Nations recommendations to end torture in Kazakhstan (2009-2016) A questionnaire for human rights groups and activists to assess progress with implementation
This questionnaire was designed to simplify evaluation of whether Kazakhstan has fully, partially or not at all implemented recommendations on the issue of torture or other ill-treatment issued by UN human rights bodies, procedures and under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) since 2009. Human rights groups can fill in information from their monitoring in the […]
22.11.2015more
Briefing paper ahead of advocacy meetings with government officials in Astana
The authorities of Kazakhstan have implemented some significant positive steps in recent years in the area of torture prevention and eradication, but we are concerned that torture and other forms of ill-treatment are continuing and impunity is still the norm. There is a danger that the international community stops emphasizing the need for further reform […]
24.10.2015more
Briefing for human rights seminar organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
This document has been prepared by the following Central Asian NGOs: the NGO Coalitions Against Torture in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Turkmenistan’s Independent Lawyers Association (TILA, based in exile in the Netherlands), Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (TIHR, based in exile in Austria) and the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia (AHRCA, based in […]
24.10.2015more
Kazakhstan: Human rights groups and former UN Special Rapporteur meet authorities in Astana and urge to end torture
Manfred Nowak, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on torture from 2004 to 2010 and member of the advisory board of International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), Brigitte Dufour (IPHR), Yevgeniy Zhovtis (Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, KIBHR) and Miguel Martin Zumalacarregui (World Organisation against Torture, OMCT) met government officials in […]
15.10.2015more
2015 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting
Side event: Implementation of the Istanbul Protocol in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (25 September 2015)
25.09.2015more
2015 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting
Working Session 8 Rule of Law: Prevention of torture (25 September 2015) Kazakhstan fails to implement UN treaty body decisions on individual cases. Oral intervention
25.09.2015more
2015 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting
2015 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting Working Session 8 Rule of Law: Prevention of torture Kazakhstan fails to implement UN treaty body decisions on individual cases
25.09.2015more
2015 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting
2015 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting Working Session 8 Rule of Law: Prevention of torture
25.09.2015more
List of issues, analysis, commentary, and recommendations submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee
List of issues, analysis, commentary, and recommendations submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee in connection with the consideration of the second periodic report of Kazakhstan.
30.08.2015more
Freedom from torture, Issue 4, June 2015
In this edition: An overview of the activities carried out by project partners under the “Action for Freedom from Torture” project and the successes and challenges so far.
30.06.2015more
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 26 June: Detainees in Central Asia frequently subjected to electric shock, suffocation, rape and beatings
Central Asian and international human rights groups call on governments in the region to honour today’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture by pledging to end torture and bring justice to the victims.
26.06.2015more
Open Letter to Askhat Daulbaev, Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the cases of Alexander Albrandt and Vitaly Donets, who allege to have been abused by police in the village of Kushmurun in Kostanay region
This letter is submitted to you by a group of human rights organizations: the NGO coalitions against Torture in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland), International Partnership for Human Rights (Belgium), the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and over a […]
23.06.2015more
Briefing paper on torture and other ill-treatment European Union Advocacy Meetings
In recent years the authorities of Kazakhstan have made progress in their fight against torture. However, in November 2014 the United Nations (UN) Committee against Torture raised concern about persistent allegations of torture and ill-treatment and deplored ongoing impunity. Continued international attention and political will of the Kazakhstani authorities are needed to achieve lasting results.
18.05.2015more
Newsletter “Freedom from torture”, Issue 3, March 2015
In this edition: The situation of NGOs in Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan The shrinking space for NGOs in Russia Interview with Natalia Taubina Interview with Galina Arapova Interview with Aleksey Mikheev Download newsletter
30.03.2015more
Briefing note for the meeting of the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council on 3 March 2015
Briefing note on key human rights concerns in Kazakhstan for the meeting of the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council on 3 March 2015: Torture and other ill-treatment.
28.02.2015more
Kazakhstan: Justice must prevail for torture victim Rasim Bayramov
In December 2014, Kostanay City Court ordered the Department of Internal Affairs of Kostanay region to pay compensation to Rasim Bayramov for torturing him in 2008. Police and procuracy did not accept the ruling and Kostanay Regional Court will consider the police appeal on 5 February 2015.
28.01.2015more
E-newsletter Issue no. 1 (28 November 2014): the coalitions against Torture in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
This e-newsletter is the first in a series of newsletters issued by the NGO coalitions against torture in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (HFHR, Poland) and International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR, Belgium). It is produced as part of a joint project of these NGOs, entitled “Action for freedom from torture in […]
28.11.2014more
Responses to the list of issues on implementation of CAT for consideration at the 53rd session
The civil society organizations of Kazakhstan express concern that despite measures taken by the government to reform the legal framework on prevention of torture, it continues to occur in more than exceptional cases. The enormous gap between the law and the everyday practice of state agencies is the main challenge facing the victims of torture. […]
27.10.2014more
2014 OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, Working Session 4, rule of law
In the last few years the authorities of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have taken some noteworthy positive steps to combat torture. For example, in 2012, Tajikistan amended the definition of torture in its Criminal Code and brought it in line with the definition contained in the Convention against Torture. In 2008, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan were […]
24.09.2014more
Anti-torture and other human rights groups vulnerable in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
Members of the NGO coalitions against torture and other human rights groups in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan operate in an increasingly insecure environment. Existing NGO legislation in all three countries does not provide sufficient safeguards to activists and groups to freely exercise their human right to freedom of association and the organizations issuing this statement […]
21.07.2014more
Local and international civil society organizations call on Central Asian states to end torture and impunity
On 26 June 2014, the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, a coalition of human rights organizations is urging the five Central Asian governments to publicly and unequivocally condemn torture and to demonstrate their commitment with follow up actions.
26.06.2014more
Regional workshop on implementing Human Dimension commitments and enhancing the role of civil society in the work of the OSCE
Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 20-21 may 2014 Joint recommendations on improving efforts to eradicate torture in Central Asia
21.05.2014more
OSCE supplementary Human Dimension meeting on prevention of torture, 10-11 April 2014, Vienna
Statement by the NGO Coalitions Against Torture in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
11.04.2014more
OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on prevention of Torture, 10-11 April 2014, Vienna
Statement by The NGO Coalitions Against Torture in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Working Session 2: National level responses and the role of the National Preventive Mechanisms
11.04.2014more
OSCE supplementary Human Dimension meeting on prevention of torture, 10-11 April 2014, Vienna
Statement by the NGO Coalitions Against Torture in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Working Session 1: Taking stock of developments in the OSCE region since the 2003 Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting (SDHM) on the Prevention of Torture
11.04.2014more
Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review 2014
Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review, 20TH Session of the UPR Working Group, submitted 15 March 2014. Download
15.03.2014more
Action for freedom from torture in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan
Information about the project
08.12.2013more
Action for freedom from torture in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan
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