The Institute of Ombudsman has not been aligned with the Paris Principles, despite the committee's concluding comments. This is stated in an alternative report of Kyrgyzstan, prepared for the session of the UN Committee against Torture, which is being held in Geneva (Switzerland).
In accordance with Article 7 of the Law "On Akyikatchi of the Kyrgyz Republic", the Ombudsman can still be early dismissed from office, if the Parliament disapproves his annual report on the observance of human rights and freedoms and on the identified shortcomings in the legislation on the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms.
This norm, as human rights defenders note, creates a direct dependence of the Ombudsman on political forces and hinders his effective performance of the function of human rights protection.
In the Third Periodic Report, the government (now the Cabinet) states that a new draft law "On Akyikatchi (Ombudsman) of the Kyrgyz Republic" has been developed and is under consideration in Parliament, which revises the procedure for the election and dismissal of the Akyikatchi, his legal status, powers, organization of activities.
The report notes that the bill was considered and adopted only in the first of three mandatory readings on April 20, 2017. For more than four years it has been in Parliament without any movement, which is an obstacle to the effective and independent implementation of the mandate of the country's main human rights defender.
An alternative report on the observance by the Kyrgyz Republic of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was prepared by the Coalition against Torture in the Kyrgyz Republic. It is presented to the UN Committee against Torture as part of the consideration of the official report of Kyrgyzstan on the implementation of the Convention.
The country must report to the UN Committee against Torture every four years on measures that have been taken to eradicate torture. The Kyrgyz Republic assumed these obligations in 1997, when it ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
