human rights
Over the past three years, dozens of bloggers known for their critical materials have been arrested and sentenced to long prison terms in Uzbekistan. Their arrests testify to the deteriorating situation with freedom of speech in the country.
As Kyrgyzstan ushered in a new political post-COVID era, two striking narratives have unfurled: the rise of an assault against independent media and civil society and the fervent espousal of ‘traditional values’. This cocktail of socio-political dynamics has led to an unparalleled squeeze on the LGBT+ community and associated activists. Such domestic strife threatens to upend years of Kyrgyzstan’s democratic progress and freedoms, sacrifices many citizens have fiercely fought for. The increasing vilification of LGBT+ individuals, coupled with a polarising categorisation of citizens as ‘acceptable’ and ‘unacceptable’, sets the stage for heightened societal fissures and burgeoning conflict potential. It is crucial, now more than ever, for civil society and media to forge a robust solidarity front, rallying behind the banner of collective rights and freedoms. (more…)
CABAR.asia talked with the esteemed UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Ms Mary Lawlor, to explore potential avenues for safeguarding and upholding human rights in Central Asia. The rapporteur emphasized her people-centred approach, focusing on the most vulnerable defenders. The rapporteur encouraged anyone with reliable information about human rights defenders’ rights violations to contact her office. We discussed the importance of UN mechanisms in protecting human rights and holding governments accountable, despite the challenges of “democratic backsliding” in some countries of the Central Asian region.
An analysis of reports by international organisations over more than 20 years has shown that the situation regarding human rights in Tajikistan has severely deteriorated. Mentions of arrests and torture have increased by hundreds of per cent, the rights of journalists have been violated more often, and organisations pay more attention to women’s rights. (more…)
“What we have seen over the past year is that violence has broken out in all Central Asian countries, but Turkmenistan. Even though many of the early warning signs were there, we were caught partly by surprise”, – Teri Hakala, EU Special Representative, on massive violations of human rights and freedoms in Central Asia. (more…)
In Kazakhstan, participants of peaceful protests fear prosecution and crackdown, while experts predict tightened censorship. (more…)
According to experts, the practice of transnational repressions used by the regional regimes strengthens, improves and legitimises every time. The leader of Belarus opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, delivered a special speech in this regard. (more…)
Formally, law-enforcement and security officers may be imprisoned for torture during detention and custody of a citizen. In practice, the victims can hardly reach it as it is almost impossible. (more…)
Some human rights defenders and lawyers state about high level of corruption in the amnesty and pardon procedure. (more…)
The Tajik court sentenced Doniyor Nabiev, 80, former member of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party (IRPT), to seven years of imprisonment. Experts and human rights organisations expressed their concern, considering this sentence as inadequate and tantamount to the death penalty.