In a recent development that has stirred international concern, the United Nations Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, has openly condemned Kyrgyzstan's decision to dissolve its National Center for the Prevention of Torture (NCPT). This pivotal body was instrumental in overseeing the prevention of torture within the nation. The move involves transferring these responsibilities to the Ombudsperson’s Institute, which Türk asserts lacks the necessary independence to fulfill this role effectively.

Türk's criticism came on the heels of legislation signed by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on September 23, which mandates the closure of the NCPT and the transfer of its functions. This decision is seen as a direct violation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT), an international treaty to which Kyrgyzstan is a signatory. The protocol mandates member states to establish and maintain independent National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) for torture prevention, a criterion the new arrangement fails to meet.

“The decision to abolish the independent torture prevention monitoring body and give its mandate to the Ombudsperson’s Institute, which is not yet fully independent, flies in the face of Kyrgyzstan’s human rights obligations,” Türk stated. He emphasized the urgency for Kyrgyz authorities to set up a new structure within the Ombudsperson’s Institute that adheres to the country’s treaty obligations, stressing the need for it to be functionally, operationally, and financially independent.

This legislative change has not only drawn criticism from the United Nations but also from various human rights organizations. They argue that merging the NCPT with the Ombudsperson’s office significantly undermines the independence required to monitor and prevent torture effectively. Previously, the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture had warned against such a move, stating it would fail to meet the standards set by the Paris Principles, which outline the framework for national human rights institutions to operate independently.

This incident marks yet another contentious issue in Kyrgyzstan’s human rights record, following closely after international condemnation for the jailing of two Kyrgyz journalists and the introduction of penalties for publishing "false information" earlier this year. These actions collectively signal a troubling trend towards diminishing media freedom and undermining mechanisms established to safeguard human rights within the country.

The international community, led by voices like Türk’s, calls for immediate action by Kyrgyzstan to realign its legislative framework with international human rights standards, ensuring that efforts to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment are both effective and independent.