Experts of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Commend Kyrgyzstan on Harm Reduction Measures for Drug Users, Raise Questions on “Bride-kidnapping” and the Situation of Schools
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today concluded its review of the fourth periodic report of Kyrgyzstan, with Committee Experts commending the State for harm reduction measures for drug users, while asking questions about the practice of “bride-kidnapping” and forced marriage, and the situation of schools in the country.
Seree Nonthasoot, Committee Expert and Cluster Leader, said the Committee was delighted to receive information on a number of harm reduction measures being implemented in and by the State party, especially the methadone treatment programmes for intravenous drug users, thanks to the Global Fund.
Mr. Nonthasoot also said the Committee wished to raise the issue of prevalence of domestic violence and harmful practices against women and girls, including cases of early marriage, forced marriage, and so-called bride-kidnapping. The Committee members were dismayed to learn that women in unregistered marriages could not benefit from the protection of the law, as they could not request alimony or other benefits stipulated in the Family Code. Could this be explained?
Aslan Abashidze, Committee Expert and Cluster Leader, asked what the Government was doing to improve the educational infrastructure? Did the Government have a concrete plan to provide free school buses and meals to all children without exception? What was the situation of drinking water in schools? Were there central heating systems in schools?
Kiyal Znanuzakova, Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Security and Migration of Kyrgyzstan and head of the delegation, presenting the report, said more than 85 per cent of new legislative initiatives in Kyrgyzstan were aimed at protecting the rights of women and children. Kyrgyzstan had made significant progress in the field of health and social protection, including an 18 per cent reduction in maternal mortality in 2022, the introduction of unified rules for medical documentation of violence, improved access to subsidised medicines for socially vulnerable groups, and the expansion of therapeutic programmes for the treatment of substance dependence.
The delegation said the abduction of women for marriage was a severe form of violence against women. Under law, this was a criminally punishable offence. Provisions prohibiting forced marriages had been strengthened. There had been a recent trend in the reduction of these cases. In 2021 there were 251 cases of kidnapping or abductions and in 2024 there were only six cases of abduction for purposes of marriage and no cases of forced marriages reported. This reflected the work carried out over the past three years, which had resulted in a significant reduction of these numbers.
The delegation said there were 2,300 schools in the country; around 200 were private schools and the rest were run by the State. In 2022, the wages of teachers were increased by 18 per cent. Heating in schools was fully funded from the State budget. The State had developed a sustainable mechanism for hot meals in schools. A menu had been developed and the calories in school meals had been increased. There were some schools which still did not have access to clean drinking water. Schools without drinking water received special allocations to buy dispensers or containers.
In concluding remarks, Asraf Ally Caunhye, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Kyrgyzstan, said the Committee members had been provided with a wealth of information from the State party, for which they were grateful. The enriching discussion had highlighted material aspects which were necessary to further strengthen the implementation of the Covenant in Kyrgyzstan. Mr. Caunhye expressed gratitude to the delegation of Kyrgyzstan and wished them a safe return home.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Znanuzakova thanked the Committee and hoped the delegation had been able to provide adequate responses.
The delegation of Kyrgyzstan consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration; the Ministry of Internal Affairs; the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Economy and Commerce; the Office of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic; and the Permanent Mission of Kyrgyzstan to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. on Monday, 16 September, to begin its consideration of the fourth periodic report of Albania (E/C.12/ALB/4).
Report
The Committee has before it the fourth periodic report of Kyrgyzstan (E/C.12/KGZ/4)
Presentation of Report
KIYAL ZNANUZAKOVA, Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Security and Migration of Kyrgyzstan and head of the delegation, said Kyrgyzstan pursued a purposeful policy to fulfil all its international obligations, with particular attention being paid to the observance of human rights. The current situation in Kyrgyzstan was characterised by comprehensive positive achievements and transformations aimed at the well-being of the people of the country.
More than 85 per cent of new legislative initiatives were aimed at protecting the rights of women and children. In 2023, a significant increase in the number of rehabilitation and integration programmes for persons with disabilities was registered. Kyrgyzstan was actively working to improve employment, paying special attention to women, persons with disabilities and youth within the framework of the law on promoting employment of the population and the programme for 2022-2026.
As a result of the introduction of the labour market information system and other measures, the unemployment rate had decreased to 5.3 per cent. In February 2024, Kyrgyzstan ratified the International Labor Organization's Convention No. 190 aimed at eliminating violence and harassment in the workplace.
Kyrgyzstan had made significant progress in the field of health and social protection, including an 18 per cent reduction in maternal mortality in 2022, the introduction of unified rules for medical documentation of violence, improved access to subsidised medicines for socially vulnerable groups, and the expansion of therapeutic programmes for the treatment of substance dependence.
Since January 2022, the amount of monthly social benefits for children and persons with disabilities had significantly increased. To support low-income families, the Social Contract Project was being implemented, providing more than 6,000 families, with financial assistance to develop small businesses, significantly improving their financial situation. Through State housing programmes, the State Mortgage Company was created, through which 2,805 mortgage loans worth 6.7 billion Som were allocated.
Kyrgyzstan had implemented a food security programme covering 40 per cent of the population, and significantly increased access to healthcare for vulnerable groups, including low-income families and persons with disabilities.
Kyrgyzstan had achieved significant success in supporting women's entrepreneurship; the Support and Development Programme for 2022-2026 had been adopted and was being implemented. More than 1,600 women had been trained in in-demand professions, and four modern training and production complexes had been created.
In 2023-2024, with the support of international partners, Kyrgyzstan successfully repatriated 59 citizens from Syria as part of the Aikol humanitarian mission, provided the comprehensive medical examination and rehabilitation of 79 children from the conflict zone of Iraq, and repatriated six citizens from Turkey and Syria. The State strove to implement a balanced linguistic policy to form a new trilingual generation of Kyrgyz citizens who spoke the official State language and one of the foreign languages, while ensuring the preservation of the native languages of ethnic communities.
Kyrgyzstan was strictly committed to the policy of non-discrimination and implemented the national concept of civil identity "Kyrgyz Jarany", supported by international organizations, to strengthen inter-ethnic harmony and preserve cultural diversity. In this area, five legal acts were developed, more than 600 seminars and trainings were held with the participation of over 20,000 people, more than 150 live broadcasts were organised, and 1,042 appeals were considered through public receptions on interethnic issues, which contributed to strengthening the unity of the people and preventing interethnic conflicts. The fight against corruption remained a key priority. In 2023-2024, 55 pre-trial proceedings in corruption cases were registered, of which six cases were sent to court. Damages in favour of the State had been recovered to the amount of 5.4 billion Som.
Kyrgyzstan was committed to the principles of gender equality, supported by several legislative acts, including the laws on State guarantees of equal rights and opportunities for men and women, and on protection from domestic violence. The 2021 local elections confirmed the importance of the 30 per cent gender quota set for parliamentary and local elections. As a result of these elections, 22 per cent of members of the national parliament were women, and among local parliaments, the share of women reached 38 per cent. Active work was being carried out to combat domestic violence. There were 19 crisis centres in the country to provide assistance to victims, and the State annually allocated financial resources to support them. These steps reflected the State's commitment to ensuring the security and rights of citizens, especially women, at the national level.
Questions by Committee Experts
ASRAF ALLY CAUNHYE, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Kyrgyzstan, welcomed the various measures taken for the implementation of the Covenant rights in Kyrgyzstan. Were there concrete measures being taken to ensure the primacy of the Covenant rights over any national legislation of the State party? Were mechanisms in place that would enable citizens to obtain effective remedial action through the courts for the protection of their Covenant rights? In which cases had the Covenant rights been applied and enforced by the courts?
There had been various reports of cases of harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and detention of human rights defenders, climate activists, journalists and agents of civil society organizations. What measures had been taken to stop and prevent human rights defenders, journalists and non-governmental organizations from being subjected to any undue harassment, intimidation or reprisals? What measures were in place to promptly investigate and prosecute such cases? What steps were envisaged to repeal legislation, in particular the so-called law on foreign representatives and the law on non-commercial organizations?
The President was empowered, by virtue of the new Constitution, to make appointments in the judiciary. What measures were being taken to ensure the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers between the judiciary and the executive? What was being done to ensure that the security of tenure of judges and their method of appointment was free from any political influence or other interference?
The Akyikatchy, which was the national human rights institution, had since March 2012 been accredited with “B” status by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions as it was not fully compliant with the Paris Principles. What was being done about the adoption of an Ombudsman law which included all the legal and institutional safeguards for the Ombudsperson to discharge the mandate in an independent and effective manner and in full compliance with the Paris Principles?
What were the steps being taken for the adoption of a comprehensive legal framework and a national action plan which ensured that all business entities exercised human rights due diligence in the conduct of their operations? In June 2024, Parliament adopted a law to lift the moratorium on the exploration for and development of uranium and thorium deposits. There had also been new legislation enforced for the development of mining. What measures were being taken to protect biosphere zones from mining and to address the negative effects of mining operations on the environment, health and living conditions of communities affected by such activities? Funds allocated to climate change policies were extremely low, accounting for 0.4 per cent of total expenditure for 2024. What specific measures were being taken to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change? How was the State strengthening the national response for national disasters?
According to statistical data submitted, the proportion of the population living below the poverty line had increased from 22.4 per cent in 2018 to reach 33.3 per cent in 2023, which meant that nearly 2.5 million people were living below the poverty line. What steps were being taken for the eradication of poverty and for increasing public expenditure and budgetary resource allocations in respect of health, education and social security benefits? What measures had been taken to rationalise State fiscal policy and to reduce the widening income disparities?
Although the Constitution and the criminal law prohibited discrimination, there was no comprehensive anti-discrimination law in Kyrgyzstan. What steps were being taken to establish a comprehensive anti-discrimination legal framework which prohibited discrimination on all the grounds listed in the Covenant, including sexual orientation and gender identity. What measures were being taken to provide effective protection against, and to combat all forms of discrimination, stigmatisation, hate crime and hate speech against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, migrants and refugees, persons with disabilities, women and religious minorities. How were equal rights ensured to same sex couples? What steps had been taken to strengthen and enforce gender parity at all levels of government and decision-making bodies, and address any barriers preventing women from attaining these positions?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Ombudsman was currently carrying out work, which included introducing amendments to Constitutional law. The legislation for non-governmental organizations aimed to ensure transparency and to determine which organizations were funded from abroad. The State wanted to know what the organizations were doing and ensure the funds were not being used for interference in internal affairs. No rights were being limited for the media operating in the territory of Kyrgyzstan. The law on mass media was currently under consideration for adoption by the Parliament.
The Kyrgyzstan Republic had ratified key international covenants which enshrined the need to ensure the rights of all citizens on an equal basis. The law on peaceful assembly stated that local authorities should respect the right to peaceful assembly for all persons.
The State had a water and land code, a law on the environment, a law on natural resources, and general regulations relating to environmental safety. Kyrgyzstan was adopting a national resources plan and had invited organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme, to collaborate on it. Kyrgyzstan was committed to reducing risks related to bio-waste on the territory of the country. A programme had been developed focusing on the rehabilitation of land where enterprises were located. The State had also rehabilitated industrial sites in certain villages. Laws provided for civil society monitoring and environmental impact assessments.
To implement obligations to protect people from poverty, the necessary resources were provided. More than half of the State revenue was allocated to ensure sports, leisure, and social protection of the population. Kyrgyzstan tax policy aimed to improve the population’s wellbeing. Money received from taxes supported vulnerable populations. Tax preferential measures aimed to reduce the level of poverty in the country.
This year, the State had adopted a programme to support women in leadership. There were several priorities, including training to support women in leading positions and upskilling. There was around a 31 per cent representation of females in Government.
The President did not necessarily appoint judges himself, he appointed them following a nomination. They were appointed for a certain duration. Local judges were appointed by a Constitutional Act.
Questions by Committee Experts
ASRAF ALLY CAUNHYE, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Kyrgyzstan, said there had been no direct answers on whether the State party was contemplating introducing legislation to regulate business entities, to ensure they exercised human rights due diligence. There was a rule that at least 30 per cent of the Government needed to be women. What was being done to tackle the underrepresentation of women in politics? Were appointments being made to reflect parity at decision-making levels?
Some information had been provided about measures to assist vulnerable persons. What was the impact of the measures being taken to enable Kyrgyzstan to meet the nationally determined contributions for reducing gas emissions to reach the targets set under the Paris Agreement?
A Committee Expert said the State party was developing the National Development Strategy 2030. Had it provided civil society organizations with full and meaningful participation in the development of such a strategy? The Committee had learned that there were 37 countries listed in the Kyrgyz stock exchange and 136 State-owned enterprises. To what extent had the Government required these companies to undertake human rights due diligence in their business conduct?
An Expert said there were norms which prohibited discrimination; was there a law under preparation which would constitute a comprehensive piece of legislation against all forms of discrimination, and include a definition of direct and non-direct discrimination?
A Committee Expert said the 2021 Constitution introduced activities deemed to be contrary to the moral views of the State, allegedly designed to protect younger generations. In August 2023, a law was passed which prohibited the dissemination of information which denied traditional family values. This law could exacerbate already high levels of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. Did Kyrgyzstan envisage reviewing the law to bring it in line with national obligations, or would the State consider repealing this law? The State party was making efforts to allocate resources to healthcare and education incrementally. Could the State provide specific statistics in this regard?
Responses by the Delegation
In response to these questions and others, the delegation said a programme on women and leadership was being implemented to ensure increased representation of women. The Coordinating Council of Human Rights had been created and had 23 members. Anti-discrimination legislation had been reviewed before Parliament. Work would be carried out to improve this further. A programme was in place which provided poor families with financial assistance to open businesses. More than 12,000 women took part in this programme.
Since 2021, Kyrgyzstan had been working towards decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. The State was also developing a national programme for helping the most vulnerable sectors and an action plan for the mitigation of climate change. The State was fostering a shift towards gas-based heating rather than coal, and had introduced electric buses. These were among the measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A gold mining company donated a certain amount of its profits to local communities.
The new Tax Code was adopted in 2022. Amendments were usually made once per year. A working group was working on revisions to the taxation system. A new law would be submitted to Parliament. A law had been adopted in Kyrgyzstan which ensured that television, radio and social networks were subject to monitoring. In one case, a television channel had shown a cartoon at 7 a.m. with improper content. The Government had discussed the issue with the company and the company was fined. Salaries were paid in line with the quality of the work carried out, regardless of gender.
Questions by Committee Experts
JULIETA ROSSI, Committee Expert and Cluster Leader, said the State party reported that as a result of the measures taken since 2015, unemployment had been reduced from 8 per cent to 5.3 per cent in 2022. However, according to the International Labour Organization report, the number of unemployed had been decreasing, but the population was increasing, highlighting the shortage of jobs in Kyrgyzstan. What measures were being taken to deal with the situation? How were the 2015 Promotion Act and the plan to promote employment contributing to the creation of jobs? How had COVID-19 impacted the employment of the most vulnerable groups, including migrants and those working in the informal sector? What had been done to recover the employment of these groups?
What had been done to reverse the gender roles which assigned the majority of unpaid care roles to women? What measures had been implemented to generate better employment opportunities for persons with disabilities? What measures had been taken to deal with the scourge of trafficking in children? Poor working conditions had been reported in the agricultural industries and the informal sector. How was the State working to improve the situation? What laws and practical measures had been adopted to protect trade union members and their leaders, particularly those working to protect employees in the mining sector? Were measures being adopted to deal with the situation of pensions in the informal sector?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the number of people in the active workforce had increased from 2.5 million to around 2.6 million. The level of unemployment had fallen from around 7 per cent to 4.9 per cent. To increase the labour competitiveness of individuals, the State had provided vocational training to unemployed persons. Around 80,000 jobs had been created in 2024, with plans in place to add an additional 12,000. A programme had been designed called “accessible country” for persons with reduced mobility. In 2022, a body was created for persons with disabilities. It was headed by the President of the Cabinet of Ministers. There were 15 leaders of Government bodies who formed part of this body.
Since 2022, labour inspectorates had carried out over 1,000 inspections to detect violations of labour laws. There were over 170 industrial accidents, of which 81 were fatal. Several judicial hearings had been undertaken with experts and consultants of third parties. The number of people with disabilities in the workplace had increase by 112 per cent, but only 30 per cent of persons with disabilities were employed. It was also difficult for persons with disabilities to access the workplace on public transport. A law was before parliament to try and address these issues.
A law had been implemented to ensure that the purchasing power of pensions matched inflation and real prices. The State had lowered the period for pension contribution which had enhanced access. The introduction of digital technologies was an important step, facilitating access for citizens to social services. Digital passports and birth certificates had been introduced which lightened the burden for the pension system.
Kyrgyzstan had an act on preventing human trafficking and a system which provided protection to victims; 14 trainings had been organised on human trafficking and how to combat it. Laws were in place on migrant workers and employment. In 2024, an intergovernmental commission met, and 13 sessions were held to focus on the hiring of foreign workers. A quota of 16.45 per cent of foreign workers had been established. Kyrgyzstan was a party to the United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees and had provided asylum to over 20,000 asylum seekers. The number of refugees in Kyrgyzstan had decreased in recent years due to successful measures to intergrade them into society. Attracting foreign workers was regulated by an act. Over the past year, there had been a stable influx of people seeking asylum in Kyrgyzstan.
Questions by Committee Experts
JULIETA ROSSI, Committee Expert and Cluster Leader, said information had been received that the minimum salary had only been raised by a very low level and was not sufficient to ensure adequate living conditions. Was any action being implemented to raise the minimum wages? What was the percentage of the employed population who only received the minimum wage? How was it ensured that this population could receive access to other services to ensure they could have living conditions at a dignified level? Did social allowances cover all families in situations of poverty?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said support for children from low-income families was based on a monthly allowance for citizens in need. The State was planning to raise the minimum wage. From 2020 to 2023, pensions had increased by more than 20 per cent. All children below the age of 18 were insured by the State and received all necessary medical assistance free of charge. All children received State allowances. Recently, significant work had been carried out in recognising non-documented children to ensure they could receive all social benefits by the State.
Questions by Committee Experts
SEREE NONTHASOOT, Committee Expert and Cluster Leader, said the Committee wished to raise the issue of prevalence of domestic violence and harmful practices against women and girls, including cases of early marriage, forced marriage, and so-called bride-kidnapping. The Committee members were dismayed to learn that women in unregistered marriages could not benefit from the protection of the law, as they could not request alimony or other benefits stipulated in the Family Code. Could this be explained?
What was the policy trajectory of the State party on the mitigation, prevention and prosecution of economic exploitation of children? The Committee took note and appreciated the efforts of the State party in addressing adequate housing, including the adoption of the “affordable housing programme 2015-2020”, and the “my home programme 2021-2026”. However, there was still insufficient availability of affordable housing and inadequate development of social housing. Could this issue be clarified? Could the State party provide policy direction on making safe drinking water available to everyone?
Approximately one in three persons in the State party lived in poverty. The problem was further exacerbated by global and regional crises affecting remittances from abroad. How did the State party plan to mitigate the disproportionate impact of rising poverty on disadvantaged and marginalised populations? Since the economic model of the State party relied on the extractive and tourism sectors and on remittances from migrant workers, what were the short- and medium-term responses in this regard? Could a policy response be provided on the growing problem of food insecurity? The Committee had received information that almost half of the 7 million population could not meet their daily nutrition requirements despite spending most of their income on food. How did the State party plan to manage the issue of climate change?
The Committee was alarmed by the very high maternal mortality rate in the State party. There were also challenges for adolescents up to age 18 seeking confidential reproductive health information and services without parental consent. Could information be provided on these issues?
The Committee was delighted to receive information on a number of harm reduction measures being implemented in and by the State party, especially the methadone treatment programmes for intravenous drug users, thanks to the Global Fund. There were also non-profit organizations providing relevant services to persons released from prison, sex workers, and women victims of gender-based violence. Harm reduction programmes were funded by international donor organizations. To what extent did the State party plan to utilise its own expenditure to sustain these programmes?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the rights of citizens could only be protected if judges were independent. To create conditions for independence, the State had increased salaries for judges and was making efforts to ensure the adequate funding of the judiciary. Norms in the Constitution regarding transparency did not apply to journalists and the mass media, but to political parties.
The Social Fund for Kyrgyzstan carried out ongoing work for citizens to ensure their pensions abroad. An agreement had entered into force for countries of the Eurasian economic union, where 81 citizens were receiving their pensions. Payments were also carried out as part of a memorandum of understanding with the Republic of Korea, where 110 individuals had requested one-term payments.
Any interference which limited the rights of trade unions was prohibited.
The abduction of women for marriage was a severe form of violence against women. Under law, this was a criminally punishable offence. Provisions prohibiting forced marriages had been strengthened. There had been a recent trend in the reduction of these cases. In 2021 there were 251 cases of kidnapping or abductions and in 2024 there were only six cases of abduction for purposes of marriage and no cases of forced marriages reported. This reflected the work carried out over the past three years, which had resulted in a significant reduction of these numbers.
The law provided for fines related to drug use. Kyrgyzstan had had a law on domestic violence since 2017, which provided for special temporary protection for victims and punishment for those who carried out such crimes. Fifty-nine mobile units had been established to help prevent domestic violence. An order was adopted by the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health related to complaints and trauma as a result of domestic violence.
A special State programme “My House” had been established to provide housing to more than 9,000 citizens. The programme covered all the regions of the Kyrgyz Republic and issued a variety of mortgages. There was also an accessible mortgage for people working in the private sector, and special mortgages for migrants. A programme beginning in 2023 had focused on building housing and was carrying out the construction of 435 multistorey buildings and more than 20,000 apartments. In 2024, construction had begun on 126 houses.
Kyrgyzstan had a law which played an important role in managing and regulating water resources. A water strategy was in place which looked at current and future needs when it came to drinking water. A law stipulated the role played by the authorities in the management of water resources.
In 2023, several hundred raids were carried out on businesses to detect people hiring children. They found 236 children employed in these circumstances. However, no cases of slavery had been detected in the country.
There were numerous measures in place to support the agricultural sector, including drips in place to make areas more arable. Due to the situation of the glaciers, financial means were allocated to the improvement of the irrigation system to minimise the loss of water in order to improve food security. Several dams and other water related infrastructure had been built, and the State was carrying out special awareness raising events on water-related incidents. Measures had been taken to protect livestock and cattle from natural disasters, and the State provided financial compensation for significant losses. Twenty-seven families had received compensation for living in flooded areas.
In Kyrgyzstan, there were programmes for the treatment of HIV, 90 per cent of which were funded by the State budget. Treatment began as soon as a person tested positive, regardless of their viral load. Treatment was conducted through the hospitals and drugs were issued for up to six months at a time. A self-testing mechanism was being promoted. The tests could be obtained free of charge.
A monitoring system was in place where civil society organizations could visit hospitals and assess the levels of treatment provided. Wages for medical staff had been increased.
A development programme for the green economy had been approved, which set out seven target industries to facilitate the transition to a green economy. In Kyrgyzstan, one of the key thrusts of the green development was the active promotion of green transport and renewable energies. The State was actively working to promote electric transport and had introduced the necessary changes into legislation.
Recently in Kyrgyzstan, the indicators of maternal mortality had been on a downward trend. However, the State recognised that they were one of the countries with the highest levels of maternal mortality in the region and was taking steps to address this. Every death was investigated by a Commission. A system was in place for a referral of pregnant women, and a system had been developed for issuing pharmaceuticals for women in at-risk groups so they could plan their pregnancies. Assistance for drug addicts was provided by specialists and there were rehabilitation programmes for those suffering from drug addictions.
A plan had been adopted on emergency measures following the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a gross domestic product growth of 120 per cent. To support businesses in the manufacturing industry, the State allowed them to convert loans in foreign currency into the national currency. In 2020, the level of poverty increased by 5.2 per cent compared to the previous year, reaching 25.3 per cent and then reaching 29.8 per cent in 2023.
Kyrgyzstan had acceded to the Convention on the Protection of Migrant Workers and their Families and had submitted their second periodic report in 2023. There were around 334,000 migrants currently working in the Russian Federation. Refugees were entitled to receive medical services as Kyrgyz citizens. There were currently 150 refugees in the country.
Questions by Committee Experts
SEREE NONTHASOOT, Committee Expert and Cluster Leader, said the Committee had received information that despite the decriminalisation of drugs in Kyrgyzstan, there was a lack of distinction between social distribution of drugs and wholesale drug trafficking. A person could be charged with wholesale trafficking despite only engaging in personal use. Was there any training for law enforcement officers, particularly in drug policy? The Committee was alarmed that in the State party, gender affirming health care was only available to those above the age of 25. Why was this the case? Why, after the year of 2021, did gender recognition have to go through court procedures?
Was there a time-bound policy towards making water available to the entire population? The Committee appreciated that Kyrgyzstan had ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2023. When would the State party fully implement the obligations of the Convention, including by passing legislation?
JULIETA ROSSI, Committee Expert and Cluster Leader, said regulation on abortion in the State party was quite free compared to other countries. Unfortunately, information showed that women seeking abortions still faced obstacles, particularly those in rural areas. What measures were being taken by the State party to ensure effective access to safe abortion services?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Kyrgyz legislation provided a clear separation between the consumption of drugs and the wholesale possession of drugs. There was no criminal punishment for drug use; however, the manufacturing of drugs was criminally punished. Training activities were carried out by officials from law enforcement agencies. Refresher training was carried out to combat illegal drug trafficking. Today there was a law on the rights of persons with disabilities in line with the Convention. This draft law was being reviewed and finalised.
The age for gender affirming health care was raised to ensure certainty in decisions. More than 800 localities had access to drinking water and soon an additional 200 would also have it. The State was working with partners such as the World Bank to ensure the remaining 700 localities had access to clean drinking water. Urgent measures were being taken to train specialists and provide quality services in health care, including in the area of abortion.
Questions by Committee Experts
ASLAN ABASHIDZE, Committee Expert and Cluster Leader, asked what the Government was doing to improve educational infrastructure, and to reduce the number of students per class to bring it in line with international standards? Did the Government have a concrete plan to provide free school buses and meals to all children without exception? What was the situation of drinking water in schools? Were there central heating systems in schools? Could the delegation show the progress of children's school attendance and improvement in the level of mastery of the school programme in general and, in particular, in categories such as girls, children with disabilities, and children from poor families?
Much had been done in the area of multicultural and multilingual education. Nevertheless, there was uneven progress on this issue among the main ethnic groups. Could statistics be provided on the number of schools over the last five years and the number of children from the Uzbek ethnic group, the second largest ethnic group in Kyrgyzstan, enrolled in them? What was the situation of teachers’ salaries and what were the budgetary allocations? Could more information be provided on measures to ensure the cultural rights of ethnic groups? How were any discriminatory provisions against religious minorities being eliminated? Had the draft law on religion and religious associations been adopted? What was the situation of preschool education and the budgetary allocation for it?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Kyrgyzstan’s multi-lingual education programme helped to boost the linguistic skills of pupils. Education was a key factor which helped overcome cultural isolation and ensured the rights of citizens to a comprehensive education. It also ensured the competitiveness of graduating pupils within the labour market. There were 602 educational establishments in Kyrgyzstan where education was provided in two or more languages. Every year, there were two classes per week for the studying of Uzbek literature. Every year, Kyrgyzstan had a national day of the mother language.
There were 2,300 schools in the country; around 200 were private schools and the rest were run by the State. In 2022, the wages of teachers were increased by 18 per cent. Heating in schools was fully funded from the State budget. The State had developed a sustainable mechanism for hot meals in schools. A menu had been developed and the calories in school meals had been increased. Every year, the State provided the necessary infrastructure for school canteens and provided training for school chefs and cooks.
There were some schools which still did not have access to clean drinking water. Schools without drinking water received special allocations to buy dispensers or containers. Preschool education covered around 30,000 children. Additional kindergarten spaces were being prepared which would cater for over 2,000 children.
Special public secretaries worked in multi-ethnic communities, closely coordinating with civil society. In recent years, measures had been taken to improve conditions for inclusive education. The Government was promoting the notion of inclusive education, which gave the possibility for all children to participate in education on an equal footing. Preschool education funding was provided from the State budget. Ninety-six per cent of facilities had internet coverage.
Questions by Committee Experts
ASLAN ABASHIDZE, Committee Expert and Cluster Leader, asked if the State was monitoring the situation of girls and school dropouts?
JULIETA ROSSI, Committee Expert and Cluster Leader, asked if efforts had been taken to comply with the recommendations from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to create a system of care? According to information, the Ministry of Justice had recently included the Business Association in the list of foreign agents. Since it had been registered as a foreign agent, it should provide additional reports to the Government. This would run against the relevant Conventions on the freedom of trade unions. Could the delegation comment on this?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said any non-profit organization which was fully or partially funded by foreign funds and engaged in political activity, was required to report this to the Government. If a trade union organization or business association was included on this register, they needed to provide a declaration of their funds or else they could face liquidation.
Several programmes had been introduced for supporting education for girls in rural areas. The vast majority of girls attended primary and secondary school; in fact, there was barely any difference between the attendance of girls and boys in the lower grades. There was no major issue between the enrolment in and attendance of school by girls. A committee was being established to monitor the implementation of recommendations by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
Concluding Remarks
ASRAF ALLY CAUNHYE, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur for Kyrgyzstan, said the Committee members had been provided with a wealth of information from the State party, for which they were grateful. The enriching discussion had highlighted material aspects which were necessary to further strengthen the implementation of the Covenant in Kyrgyzstan. Mr. Caunhye expressed gratitude to the delegation of Kyrgyzstan and wished them a safe return home. The Committee was also grateful for the contributions of non-governmental organizations.
KIYAL ZNANUZAKOVA, Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Security and Migration of Kyrgyzstan and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee and hoped the delegation had been able to provide adequate responses. She extended special thanks to the interpreters for all their assistance.
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CESCR24.012E
CESCR24.011E