UN Resident Coordinator in Kyrgyzstan, Antje Grawe, expresses concern about the public exposure of women in anti-prostitution investigations, and calls on the authorities to respect women’s dignity and rights. Representative office of the organization in Kyrgyzstan reported.
She addressed relevant authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic in a letter expressing concern about the public dissemination of personal information and identities of women alleged to have engaged in prostitution.
Highlighting potential violations of the women’s rights to privacy, non-discrimination, to be presumed innocent and not to be subjected to degrading treatment, she also emphasized the need to protect potential victims and witnesses of serious criminal offences, such as trafficking in human beings and forced prostitution.
The UN Resident Coordinator called for a prompt review of the circumstances leading to the dissemination of the women’s images to prevent similar incidents in the future and to provide protection and support to affected women.
Antje Grawe urged the authorities to identify and uphold the rights of potential victims and witnesses of trafficking or exploitation of prostitution among affected women, and to facilitate the immediate removal of all images of the concerned women.
Earlier, the press center of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan reported that brothels operated in Bishkek and the Chui region under the guise of karaoke clubs. It was noted that ten brothels were detected in the capital that worked under the guise of massage parlors. The state committee distributed video and photographs in which the faces of the detainees were not hidden. Some photographs clearly show the personal information of women brought to law enforcement agencies.
The Ombudsman’s Institute of Kyrgyzstan called on government agencies to ensure compliance with the rights of women detected by the State Committee for National Security in brothels. It recalled that the publication of photos of women and the disclosure of their personal data are a violation of their rights established by law.
