Kyrgyzstan -submission to the Supreme Court of Kyrgyz Republic, February 2024

Equality Now and its partner, Human Rights Movement Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan, submitted the information to the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic, asking the Supreme Court to ensure that until amendments are introduced to bring the definitions of sexual violence crimes in Kyrgyzstan in line with these standards, provide recommendations for ways in which the current provisions can be interpreted to bring criminal justice practice as close to international standards as possible.

What’s included in the submission?

• Draft Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic  ‘On Judicial Practice in Cases of Crimes against Sexual Inviolability and Sexual Freedom’ was published on the official website of the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic in January 2024.
• We welcome the Supreme Court of the KR’s initiative to clarify issues that have caused difficulties for lower courts while considering cases of this category. This may improve access to justice for victims and survivors of sexual violence. 
• Therefore, we provide recommendations to this Draft on how the current provisions can be interpreted to bring criminal justice practice as close as possible to international standards.

Who’s it for?

• The Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic 
• Law and policymakers 
• Legal professionals
• Government institutions

Key recommendations

• Until amendments are introduced to bring the Criminal Code of Kyrgyzstan in line with international standards, Equality Now provided recommendations for interpreting the current provisions to bring criminal justice practice as close as possible to international standards.