This submission reiterates the concluding observations issued by this Committee at its last review of Kyrgyzstan and specifically focuses on the State’s obligations under Articles 2, 19, 23, 37 and 39. It relies on the report issued in May 2023 by Equality Now and two Kyrgyzstan NGOs, the Union of Persons with Disabilities “Ravenstvo” (Equality) and the Bir Duino Human Rights Movement, entitled “Sexual Violence and Disability in Kyrgyzstan: Law, Policy, Practice and Access to Justice”.
Recommendations:
- Oppose the restrictive draft legislation affecting NGOs, including those working on children’s rights. The draft law contradicts the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), is unreasonable and hasty, and does not comply with the rule of law. The proposed law would strengthen the control of the Ministry of Justice and supervision of the General Prosecutor’s Office over the activities of civil society, which is an attempt to interfere with the right of everyone to freedom of association and ability to support people, including children, which is unacceptable in a democratic state.
- Address sexual violence against girls with disabilities:
- Support girls with disabilities in reporting and navigating the justice process.
- Prioritise social service visits to families of girls with disabilities to detect abuse.
- Initiate legal proceedings even without victim complaints.
- Ease burdensome evidentiary standards that hinder proving sexual violence.
- Develop victim-centric support services, shelters and rehabilitation.
- Safeguard girls with disabilities in institutions, ensure reporting of violations and hold perpetrators accountable.
- Collect disaggregated data on violence against girls, considering sex, age and disability, as well as other grounds.
- Launch awareness campaigns against negative myths and stereotypes.
- Train justice personnel on international standards for survivors of sexual violence, particularly girls with disabilities.
- Adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation.
These recommendations aim to enhance support, protection and justice for girls with disabilities who are victims of sexual violence.