Karaganda. May 13. KazTAG - A report on the real situation of torture in the country was prepared by the Coalition of Kazakhstan NGOs against Torture, together with the International Partnership for Human Rights and the World Organization Against Torture
"Despite its commitments to the UN, Kazakhstan continues to face systemic violations of detainees' rights - from torture to lack of effective investigation. Cases of ill-treatment and torture of detainees and prisoners continue within Kazakhstan. The country has yet to establish an independent body to investigate torture, as required by international standards. Although some powers have been transferred to the Prosecutor General's Office, allegations of ill-treatment continue to be investigated by the police, structures whose officers are often involved in these cases themselves," KIBHR quoted from the report.
The report on the situation over the past year, according to human rights activists, was prepared at the request of the UN special rapporteur on torture.
According to human rights organizations, convictions under the article “Torture” are extremely few and this does not reflect the real scale of the problem, as most cases of torture are terminated at the stage of pre-investigation or for lack of evidence.
"The document emphasizes that the current definition of torture in the Criminal Code of the RK does not comply with the UN Convention, and sexual forms of torture are not singled out as a separate qualification. This creates gaps in the protection of victims and impedes effective justice. The report also touches on other issues ranging from prison conditions to inadequate protection of women and asylum seekers," KIBHR reported.
Kazakhstan is a party to the UN Convention against Torture and ratified its Optional Protocol in 2008. However, the country has not adopted a separate law on the National Preventive Mechanism.
A positive step of the state on the issues of torture is also noted - changes to the legislation introduced in 2023 cancel the possibility of exemption from criminal responsibility for torture on the basis of amnesty, statute of limitations, active repentance and reconciliation of the parties. However, as noted by human rights defenders, there are cases when officials involved in torture avoid responsibility.
According to human rights defenders, with the financial support of the European Union, Kazakhstani human rights defenders are implementing a three-year project aimed at combating torture in Kazakhstan. The project involves the Taldykorgan Human Rights Center, Prison Reform International (PRI), Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law and other partners.
"Despite its commitments to the UN, Kazakhstan continues to face systemic violations of detainees' rights - from torture to lack of effective investigation. Cases of ill-treatment and torture of detainees and prisoners continue within Kazakhstan. The country has yet to establish an independent body to investigate torture, as required by international standards. Although some powers have been transferred to the Prosecutor General's Office, allegations of ill-treatment continue to be investigated by the police, structures whose officers are often involved in these cases themselves," KIBHR quoted from the report.
The report on the situation over the past year, according to human rights activists, was prepared at the request of the UN special rapporteur on torture.
According to human rights organizations, convictions under the article “Torture” are extremely few and this does not reflect the real scale of the problem, as most cases of torture are terminated at the stage of pre-investigation or for lack of evidence.
"The document emphasizes that the current definition of torture in the Criminal Code of the RK does not comply with the UN Convention, and sexual forms of torture are not singled out as a separate qualification. This creates gaps in the protection of victims and impedes effective justice. The report also touches on other issues ranging from prison conditions to inadequate protection of women and asylum seekers," KIBHR reported.
Kazakhstan is a party to the UN Convention against Torture and ratified its Optional Protocol in 2008. However, the country has not adopted a separate law on the National Preventive Mechanism.
A positive step of the state on the issues of torture is also noted - changes to the legislation introduced in 2023 cancel the possibility of exemption from criminal responsibility for torture on the basis of amnesty, statute of limitations, active repentance and reconciliation of the parties. However, as noted by human rights defenders, there are cases when officials involved in torture avoid responsibility.
According to human rights defenders, with the financial support of the European Union, Kazakhstani human rights defenders are implementing a three-year project aimed at combating torture in Kazakhstan. The project involves the Taldykorgan Human Rights Center, Prison Reform International (PRI), Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law and other partners.