In Dialogue with Mongolia, Experts of the Human Rights Committee Commend Quotas for Women Parliamentarians, Raise Issues Concerning Corruption and Press Freedom
The Human Rights Committee today concluded its consideration of the seventh periodic report of Mongolia on how it implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, with Committee Experts commending quotas for the representation of women in Parliament, and raising issues concerning corruption and press freedom.
One Committee Expert expressed appreciation for the efforts being made by the State party to promote women’s representation in politics through quotas. What was the State party doing to prevent the harassment of women political candidates?
An Expert said Mongolia had dropped to 114th in the Corruption Perceptions Index in 2024, with corruption reportedly becoming pervasive in the State party. What measures were in place to combat corruption among State officials and to protect whistle blowers?
Another Expert expressed concerns regarding reported deterioration in freedom of expression in Mongolia. Many journalists reportedly engaged in self-censorship to avoid offending political or business interests, and there were several cases of threats and harassment of journalists. How was the State party ensuring that journalists could carry out their work free from harassment?
Introducing the report, N. Myagmar, State Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs of Mongolia and head of the delegation, said unprecedented quotas of not less than 30 per cent representation of both genders in 2024 elections, and 40 per cent in 2028 elections, had been introduced through the gender equality law. The 2024 elections resulted in 32 women parliamentarians, making the share of women 25.6 per cent, higher than the Asian region average of 21.2 per cent.
The delegation added that online defamation and discrimination against women were subject to criminal sanctions. The National Gender Committee worked on a national level to prevent discrimination against women, including women politicians.
The Government attached the utmost priority to improving the legal framework to effectively prevent and combat corruption, Mr. Myagmar said. Amendments to the Criminal Code in 2022 established stronger sanctions for corruption crimes, providing for the confiscation of crime proceeds regardless of the time of the offence. The Government introduced the national anti-corruption programme in 2023, followed by the anti-corruption action plan in 2024.
The number of corruption cases prosecuted was increasing each year, the delegation added. In 2020, 118 corruption cases were prosecuted, while 306 were prosecuted in 2024. More than 18 trillion tugriks had been recovered and repaid to victims in these cases.
The delegation also said the Government had drafted a revision to the law on press freedom, which aimed to eliminate Government censorship of the press and promote the media’s self-governance. The law also revised the definition of the crime of “spreading false information” in line with international standards. Trials of journalists protected the rights of defendants.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Myagmar expressed gratitude to the Committee for the frank and open dialogue and for the concerns and observations raised by Committee Experts. He expressed best wishes for the Committee’s future endeavours.
Changrok Soh, Committee Chairperson, in concluding remarks, expressed sincere appreciation to the Mongolian delegation for the dialogue, which highlighted the progress made by Mongolia and the remaining challenges. The Committee’s work would help the State party to better implement its obligations under the Covenant.
The delegation of Mongolia was made up of representatives of the Prosecutor General’s Office; Coordination Council for Crime Prevention; Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs; General Executive Agency of Court Decision; National Police Agency; Independent Authority against Corruption; Immigration Agency; Ministry of Environment and Climate Change; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; General Authority for Child and Family Development and Protection; Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Protection; National Committee on Gender Equality; and the Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Human Rights Committee’s one hundred and forty-third session is being held from 3 to 28 March 2025. All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.
The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. this afternoon, Tuesday, 11 March, to begin its consideration of the third periodic report of Albania (CCPR/C/ALB/3).
Report
The Committee has before it the seventh periodic report of Mongolia (CCPR/C/MNG/7).
Presentation of the Report
N. MYAGMAR, State Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs of Mongolia and head of the delegation, said Mongolia was making every effort to implement the Covenant, strengthening the necessary structures and institutional capacity through introducing relevant legislation. It had worked towards ensuring transparency and efficiency, launching open public discussion on progress and shortcomings in implementing the Committee’s recommendations.
The Government attached the utmost priority to improving the legal framework to effectively prevent and combat corruption. The 2024 amendments to the law on judiciary provided for the digitalisation of judicial functions to ensure transparency, and the 2022 amendments to the Criminal Code established stronger sanctions for corruption crimes, providing for the confiscation of crime proceeds regardless of the time of the offence. The Government had also drafted two laws to combat corruption by extractive State-owned enterprises, companies and public officials, and compensate for harm caused. It introduced the national anti-corruption programme in 2023, followed by the anti-corruption action plan in 2024, which focused on strengthening the national justice system and legal framework to prevent corruption.
The budget for judiciary institutions increased by 226.78 per cent from 2023 to 2025, while the prosecutors’ budget increased by 118.19 per cent and the National Human Right Commission’s budget by 195.58 per cent in the same period. To reduce delays in the administration of justice and the backlog of cases, amendments to the criminal procedure law had been drafted and submitted to Parliament in December 2024.
The 2023 amendments to the election law provided stronger guarantees for candidates, more transparency and accountability for election funding, and efficient regulation of election campaign donations and spending by State audit institutions. Unprecedented quotas of not less than 30 per cent representation of both genders in 2024 elections, and 40 per cent in 2028 elections, had been introduced through the gender equality law. The law mandated the Election Committee to reject nomination lists that failed to comply with the requirement. The 2024 elections resulted in 32 women parliamentarians, making the share of women 25.6 per cent, higher than the Asian region average of 21.2 per cent.
Citizens of Mongolia were constitutionally obliged to defend the country and serve the army. The law on military service, however, provided for alternative military service, including ad-hoc mobilisation in disaster emergency relief activities, assistance in border protection, and humanitarian services for a duration of 24 months.
The Constitution provided firm guarantees of religious faith and conscience. Citizens’ applications to establish religious institutions were considered by regional Citizens’ Representative Assemblies. The State had registered 619 religious organizations, including 261 Buddhist, 283 Christian, 58 Muslim and 17 other religious organizations.
The revised law on child protection, approved by the Parliament in 2024, provided the legal framework on child protection and promoted the best interests of the child and child-sensitive interviews. The law yielded tangible results, with the construction of 38 modern, child-friendly interview rooms. Enhanced regulations had been put in place to address the lack of family and social workers and the inaccessibility of child protection services. Most importantly, the Government established a new State budget expenditure item specifically devoted to child protection, in addition to local budget allocations in 19 provinces. The emergency hotline service had also been upgraded and the number of temporary shelters increased to 39.
The approval of the law on specialised family and juvenile court, which would enter into effect on 1 January 2026, was a major milestone. In addition, legislation had been enhanced with new sanctions in cases of violations of child rights in digital and cyber environments. The Government was in the process of revising the family law to ensure robust regulation of family matters and to protect the rights and lawful interests of family members.
Mongolia’s unwavering commitment and continuous efforts produced encouraging outcomes. Yet, challenges still existed. The State party was committed to improving its legal and judiciary system and legislature in conformity with Covenant principles.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said there had been several positive developments in Mongolia over the reporting period, but challenges persisted. The Committee welcomed resolution 11 on the non-retroactivity of offences in the Criminal Code. Was the resolution legally binding? What other legislation specifically implemented the Covenant? It was welcome that the Supreme Court had applied the Covenant in four cases. Which provisions did it apply? Could the delegation provide details about human rights training for public officials? Were there awareness raising campaigns for civil society and the general public that promoted the submission of communications to the Committee?
The Committee congratulated the national human rights institution on maintaining its “A” status for more than 20 years, and for recent increases to its budget. How did the State party promote nominations from a broad range of ethnic groups to positions on the institution? How did the State party ensure that the institution had the necessary resources to carry out its mandate? Legislation restricted the institution’s jurisdiction related to ongoing court procedures. Would the State party amend this legislation? How did the State party respond to non-compliance with the institution’s recommendations?
The State party planned to assess legislation on states of emergency. Would it consider Covenant provisions and prevent derogations? There had reportedly been numerous human rights violations during the COVID-19 pandemic, including restrictions on freedom of the press and freedom of movement. How did the State party ensure that emergency measures were strictly necessary, proportionate and temporary?
Another Committee Expert welcomed that several measures had been taken to combat corruption, including the anti-corruption campaign and national action plan, and the establishment of an interministerial working group on corruption. Mongolia had dropped to 114th in the Corruption Perceptions Index in 2024 and corruption had reportedly become pervasive in the State party. What measures were in place to combat corruption among State officials and to protect whistle blowers? Could the State party provide details on the draft whistle blower protection law? The anti-corruption agency reportedly lacked resources and the appointment process for its leaders lacked transparency. How would the State party ensure the agency’s effectiveness and improve transparency in corruption investigations?
Air pollution was a significant challenge in Ulaanbaatar, causing the death of an estimated 4,000 people. What measures would the State party take to regulate the use of fossil fuels and prevent air pollution? Mining activities affected traditional pastoral activities and decreased the State’s water resources. What measures were in place to provide local communities with the opportunity to participate in consultations regarding mining projects, and to provide reparations for communities affected by such projects?
There had been a decrease in the number of people detained in Mongolia over the reporting period, but judges were reportedly reluctant to provide alternatives to detention. Had the State party provided clear guidelines for judges on the use of alternatives to detention? There were concerns that pre-trial detention was sometimes used to deny defence lawyers full access to case file materials. How would the State party ensure that defence lawyers could access these materials?
One Committee Expert said that the number of corruption cases and convictions in the State party remained low, and there were reports that journalists had been detained and charged for investigating corruption cases. How did the State party protect journalists investigating corruption?
Discrimination against ethnic minorities persisted in Mongolia. How did the State party ensure that members of minorities had equal access to State services and were involved in decision-making? There was reportedly a high burden of proof in cases of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. How did the State party facilitate access to justice in such discrimination cases and combat negative stereotypes against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons? Was the State party considering adopting regulations on same-sex partnerships? Violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons was reportedly widespread, but there was a lack of reporting of such crimes due to fears of abuse and harassment by law enforcement. How would the State party enhance public trust in the legal system?
How was the State party promoting women’s representation in Government and public and private bodies, and how was it tackling harassment against women, including women political candidates?
A Committee Expert asked whether the bill amending the definition of torture in State legislation had been enforced, and whether it addressed all acts of torture and the responsibility of officials who ordered acts of torture. Were the penalties for torture proportionate to the seriousness of the crime? Did the statute of limitations apply for torture crimes? What was the time limit on solitary confinement in prisons? Did the State party intend to implement the procedures regulated in the Istanbul Protocol when investigating torture crimes? There were allegations of widespread torture in places of deprivation of liberty and a low rate of investigation of such cases. How was the State party addressing this issue? What progress had been made in setting up an independent body for investigating complaints of torture? How would the State party preserve evidence of torture and facilitate access to such evidence by lawyers and civil society organizations?
The State party welcomed measures to improve material conditions in prisons, including new pre-trial detention centres. However, there was still overcrowding in prisons, leading to poor conditions for inmates. What measures had the State party taken to improve conditions in prisons? How would the new law on juvenile justice promote access to justice for juveniles and prevent unnecessary deprivation of liberty? How would the State party protect the rights of women inmates?
Another Committee Expert cited reports that trafficking crimes had lenient penalties and that there were shortcomings in protection services for victims. How was the State party addressing these issues? How would the Government ensure stable funding for shelters for victims? There were reports of child labour trafficking cases not being prosecuted by officials. What measures were in place to ensure the effective prosecution of these cases?
The Committee was concerned by reports of labour trafficking within the mining sector. How would the State party protect workers and their families from exploitation? Sex workers who were victims of trafficking had reportedly been criminalised for acts directly linked to their exploitation. How would the State party prevent this? What measures were in place to prevent forced marriage and address trafficking risks related to these practices? The Committee was concerned by the dissolution of the labour investigation body, and the two-day advance notice required for inspections. How would the State party ensure appropriate labour inspections?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that the law on the National Human Rights Commission incorporated several measures to streamline the functioning of the institution. Its members were appointed by Parliament in a transparent, public process. The Chair of the Commission was currently being appointed. By 2028, new amendments to the law would be introduced to bring it in line with international best practices. The Commission’s budget was increased annually, and its staff had also recently been increased. The law stipulated that officials needed to implement the recommendations of the Commission within 30 days of their issuance and report on implementation within 60 days; officials who did not implement the recommendations could be fined and dismissed.
The Government was currently aligning its law on states of emergency with international practices. It took urgent measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, which the United Nations had assessed as being “highly satisfactory”. The Government had established a taskforce to investigate violations occurring in the response to widespread public demonstrations against coal mining activities in 2022. Parliament was currently considering a draft law on the protection of human rights defenders. The Government had investigated several cases related to the coal mining sector. Financial penalties had been imposed on 22 persons involved in these cases, and more than 30 persons were penalised with two to six years of imprisonment. Legislation was in place that regulated free, prior and informed consent from local communities for mining projects and reparation and compensation for violations.
Electoral quotas would be increased to 40 per cent representation of both genders in 2028. Political parties that breached this quota would not be able to participate in elections.
The Government was developing amendments to provisions on torture in the Criminal Code to address the criminal responsibility of persons who ordered crimes of torture, and to increase the penalty for acts of torture leading to death to up to life imprisonment. A reparations fund was being developed for victims of torture.
The national action plan on corruption for 2024 to 2028 included measures for the protection of witnesses and victims, and mandated the establishment of a special unit within the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate crimes committed by law enforcement officers and judges. The number of corruption cases prosecuted was increasing each year. In 2020, 118 corruption cases were prosecuted, while 306 were prosecuted in 2024. More than 18 trillion tugriks had been recovered and repaid to victims in these cases.
In 2024, the State party approved a law establishing a family and juvenile court. The Criminal Code addressed the retroactivity of laws, which varied based on the gravity of the crime and the legal status of the perpetrator. There were several court cases in which Covenant provisions were referenced. In addition to the Supreme Court, the Appeal Court and first-instance courts had also applied the Covenant. Judges received annual training on international law.
The Prosecutor’s Office partnered with civil society organizations and law enforcement to prosecute torture cases. Public dialogues had been held on preventing torture. The Government had recorded 22 torture cases involving 43 individuals, 31 of whom had been convicted for crimes of torture. Investigations into six torture cases were ongoing. The number of cases referred to courts had increased three-fold between 2022 and 2025. In one case, a person found guilty of torture had been issued the maximum penalty of 12 years of imprisonment.
Legal regulations were introduced in 2024 to prohibit the detention and arrest of suspects during weekends and after business hours. Investigations of suspects’ premises could only be conducted with a court order. The number of “arrests without delay” had decreased by 40 per cent in recent years.
The Chair and Deputy Chair of the anti-corruption agency were appointed by the President and Parliament in a transparent process that was observed by civil society. Courts could dismiss the Chair and Deputy Chair if they committed crimes. The nomination procedure was being streamlined, the staff of the agency was being increased, and branches of the agency were being established in local constituencies. Politicians could not interfere in the work of the agency.
Detainees’ security and personal safety was guaranteed by the Ministry of Justice, which issued orders on standards of treatment of detainees. The Ministry conducted visits to prisons and assessed detainees’ health conditions. The State party operated 28 pre-trial detention centres, 22 of which had recently been refurbished. Pre-trial detention facilities complied with international standards on space, temperature, humidity, ventilation and daylight. The Government was improving conditions in juvenile detention centres and was building a new centre that would open in 2026. Psychological and legal counselling was provided for women detainees, as well as paid job opportunities and medical services. State law regulated solitary confinement of detainees in necessary cases only. Judges could order the cessation of solitary confinement. Detainees in solitary confinement received counselling and reintegration services.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on plans to allow the National Human Rights Commission to investigate alleged violations related to ongoing court proceedings; how communities were made aware of the possibility of seeking reparations in court for violations of land rights by mining corporations; steps taken to improve the State’s response to corruption; actions to sustainably address air pollution; efforts to require officials to obtain warrants for all arrests; measures to enforce the prohibition of forced labour and trafficking in persons; whether the State party planned to remove the statute of limitations for torture crimes; and the conflict between the roles of the National Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Justice in investigating acts of torture.
One Committee Expert expressed appreciation for the efforts being made by the State party to promote women’s representation in politics through quotas. What was the State party doing to prevent the harassment of women political candidates?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that for cases of human rights violations, the National Human Rights Commission could request access to information before the case went to trial; after the trial commenced, it could not.
Local citizens’ assemblies needed to be consulted regarding mining projects, and these assemblies needed to provide consent for projects to commence. If communities were displaced as a result of these projects, they were provided with compensation.
Online defamation and discrimination against women were subject to criminal sanctions. All women who were victims of these crimes had the right to file legal complaints. Gender committees had been established within each Government institution. The National Gender Committee worked on a national level to prevent discrimination against women, including women politicians.
The Government had drafted a law on the confiscation and return of illegally obtained assets. It aimed to conclude mutual legal assistance agreements with other countries to combat corruption and enable the repatriation of former Government officials suspected of corruption who had fled to other countries.
An independent national preventive mechanism against torture had been established within the National Human Rights Commission. The mechanism had full access to all places of detention and had the right to involve law enforcement officers in its operations.
Between 2022 and 2024, the criminal procedural law was amended to implement alternatives to detention. The law had produced positive outcomes - the number of detentions had decreased by 33 per cent from 2022 to 2024. Police officers were required to make case files available to detainees and lawyers.
National minorities had full access to public services and social welfare. They had the right to vote and to be elected, and to receive information in their national languages. School textbooks in Kazakh language were produced and there were also television broadcasts in Kazakh.
The Police Department had investigated 19 complaints of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, one of which had been deferred to the courts. This case had resulted in 15 years imprisonment for the offender.
Police officers, attorneys and members of the judiciary had received training on addressing cases of child trafficking. The Criminal Code included sanctions prohibiting trafficking in persons. The Criminal Procedural Code included provisions that suspended the statute of limitations for cases of child trafficking until the victim turned 18. Sentences of up to life imprisonment could be imposed on perpetrators of trafficking in persons in serious cases. Non-governmental organizations received budgets from the Government to operate shelters for trafficking victims. The revised children’s law included provisions on services for the victims of child trafficking.
To mitigate the impacts of climate change, the Government had developed a climate change law, which aimed to reduce the consumption of solid fuels and switch to gas and electric heating systems. Households that switched to green heating technologies received energy price subsidies. The Government was also offering green bonds and green loans with favourable conditions.
Labour inspectors were able to carry out inspections without notifying employers. The State party employed 114 labour inspectors, including 34 child labour inspectors, and there were plans to employ an additional 92 child labour inspectors next year. State legislation prohibited the worst forms of child labour, including labour in the construction and mining sectors. All provinces needed to produce child protection policies and report on the effectiveness of these policies.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert highlighted progress made by the State party to strengthen the independence of judges and prosecutors, including the constitutional reform of the 2019 and the 2022 law on the judiciary. How were 2013 and 2019 cases of judicial misconduct, which allegedly had no legal basis, settled? What procedures did the Judicial Ethical Council follow and how were its members appointed? How did the State party’s mobile courts work and did they enjoy independence? How did the State party guarantee the financial autonomy of the courts?
Concerns had been expressed regarding the excessive use of force against protesters in 2021. Five protesters had been arrested and convicted for resisting law enforcement at these protests. There were also reports of restrictions on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons’ right to protest. How did the State party ensure access to justice for protesters? What amendments had been proposed to laws on policing protests and were they in line with the Covenant? How many demonstrations against mining projects had been denied registration over the reporting period?
A Committee Expert said the State party did not have domestic legislation on the protection of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Would it adopt such legislation? What steps had been taken to accede to the 1954 and 1961 conventions on statelessness? Asylum seekers did not have access to legal status, or to education, social services and employment. Would the State party grant them such access? Children born in the State party to stateless parents could not access Mongolian nationality until age 16 and State legislation also prohibited dual nationality, which could lead to statelessness for persons who revoked their foreign nationality. Would the State party address these issues and bring its legislation on nationality in line with international standards?
Another Committee Expert asked how the National Human Rights Institution and the State protected citizens’ data privacy. Were there incidents of unauthorised use of personal data over the reporting period? What efforts had been made to implement international treaties on data protection ratified by the State party? What remedies were available to persons who had had their data privacy violated? How had the State party disseminated information about the data privacy law?
The Committee commended Mongolia for enshrining freedom of religion in its Constitution and laws. However, local authorities reportedly unevenly applied laws on the registration of religious groups. What steps had been taken to ensure that the registration of religious groups was based on objective criteria, and would the State party create an appeals mechanism for religious organizations? State legislation imposed restrictions on the nationality of the members of religious organizations. How would the State ensure the right to membership of religious organizations for foreign nationals?
How many conscientious objectors had the State party provided alternative service for over the reporting period? How did the State party ensure access to alternative service on a non-discriminatory basis? The fee for alternative service was equivalent to 12 months of training and upkeep for one soldier; how did the State party ensure that this fee was in line with the Covenant?
One Committee Expert expressed concerns regarding the recent deterioration in freedom of expression in Mongolia. Many journalists reportedly engaged in self-censorship to avoid offending political or business interests. Would draft media legislation address concerns regarding freedom of the press? When would this legislation be adopted? The Committee was concerned that the law on State secrets was frequently used to restrict access to information. How would proposed amendments address these concerns?
There were several cases of threats and harassment of journalists. One notable case was journalist Unurtsetseg Naran, who was sentenced in July 2024 to four years and nine months in prison on multiple charges, including disseminating false information. Reports indicated that her trial and appeal were held behind closed doors. She had been investigating corruption.
Similarly, journalist Bayarmaa Ayurzana was arrested on 5 May 2024, detained for 48 hours, and later charged for “threatening to disseminate information that might cause serious damage” to the Deputy Prime Minister. Facing up to eight years in prison, she was still awaiting trial. She had also been reporting on corruption.
The Committee was concerned about the denial of voting rights related to intellectual disability and for prisoners. Were there plans to amend legislation on voting rights? What measures were in place to prevent the misuse of public resources in election campaigns, and strengthen campaign financing regulations? Five political candidates were arrested in 2020, with widespread concern that these arrests were politically motivated. Could the State party provide information on this matter? Could the delegation clarify the circumstances related to these prosecutions. How was the State party ensuring that journalists could carry out their work free from harassment?
A Committee Expert said that, despite serious efforts by the State party, approximately 18 per cent of children in Mongolia worked instead of attending school. Legislation prohibited child labour in sectors such as mining and construction but allowed light work from age 13. What measures were in place to protect children from child labour, ensure effective implementation of legislation on child labour, and train officials on the legislation? The Committee was very concerned by the participation of children in horse racing. The State party had increased labour inspections of the sector, but there were still thousands of young children taking part in these races. Would the State party prohibit the employment of children as jockeys?
The State party had taken various measures to prevent violence against children and to provide free legal aid for victims of violence. How was it raising awareness about the availability of free legal aid? A substantial amount of the support provided to child victims was provided by non-governmental organizations. What support was the State providing? There was insufficient training for officials on the identification of child trafficking victims. How would the State party bolster training and prevent the detention of victims of trafficking?
The Committee welcomed that there had been an increase in the number of street children reunited with their families over the reporting period, but was concerned that the number of such children remained high. How would the State party improve data collection on street children and implement measures to reduce the number of such children?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State party had revised the law on the judiciary to establish a disciplinary committee composed of judges that was solely responsible for the dismissal of judges. The budget for the judiciary had increased in recent years. Budget proposals were developed by the judiciary itself and submitted for approval in Parliament.
The Government had drafted a revised law on public assembly, which was publicly available and would be discussed in Parliament this year. The draft law removed the registration system for demonstrations and required only notification of demonstrations 48 hours before commencement. Police were able to restrict demonstrations that blocked traffic streams or dispersed illegal propaganda.
The National Human Rights Commission had the mandate to investigate the enforcement of the law on personal data privacy and the misuse of personal data, and to issue recommendations based on these investigations. The Digital Development Ministry was responsible for the safety and security of personal data. Misuse of personal data was considered as a crime and was penalised. All citizens had the right to file complaints on misuse of their data and to claim damages.
All citizens were obliged to serve the army, but the State party also offered alternatives to service. One alternative was in-person civil service for 24 months, and the other alternative was a monetary fee of around 4,000 United States dollars, which could be paid in instalments. Persons with health conditions or religious beliefs that prevented military service were not required to serve.
The Government had drafted a revision to the law on press freedom, which had been submitted to Parliament and would be considered in its spring session. Wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders had been conducted when drafting the law. The new law aimed to eliminate Government censorship of the press. It promoted the media’s self-governance and the right to hide the identity of sources of information. The law also revised the definition of the crime of “spreading false information” in line with international standards.
The Government promoted free elections and transparency in election campaign funding. All political parties had an obligation not to exceed the legally established threshold for election funding, and to report on all funding sources. Public officers were prohibited from being affiliated with political parties and from participating in election campaigns.
Citizens’ assemblies reviewed applications by religious organizations for registration. Some 175 organizations had been permitted to carry out their operations. The Government had established a working group to revise legislation on State monastic relations, which would address shortcomings in the current law. The permit of the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization had been suspended because its doctrine was contrary to the State’s law on military service.
Training was being conducted to strengthen the legal assistance provided to child trafficking victims. Some 486 minors had received free legal aid in 2024.
In 2022, national legislation had been revised to increase the minimum age that children could participate in horse racing to eight. Children were prohibited from participating in horse riding from November to May. Mongolia’s Naadam horse-riding festival had been registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage practice. Protective equipment and health and life insurance were provided to child jockeys and police oversaw races to ensure children’s safety.
In 2024, 222 street children were returned to their families. A comprehensive centre for the reintegration of children into their families had been established. Mongolia was recruiting social workers and promoting a healthy and safe family environment for children.
The State party had issued permits to 26 asylum seekers from six countries. The legal status law regulated the granting of residence permits to asylum seekers, which allowed them to access social services and employment. Children born to stateless parents could apply for Mongolian citizenship from age 16. There were 37 stateless persons recorded in the State party, of which 24 had applied for Mongolian citizenship. Mongolia did not allow dual citizenship; it had sped up the process of removing the Mongolian citizenship of persons with dual citizenship.
Persons accused in corruption cases were not allowed to be nominated as candidates in elections. The election law stipulated that persons with mental disabilities and inmates did not have the right to vote, but persons in alternate detention had voting rights.
Investigations had been carried out into 358 cases against journalists, around 250 of which had been dismissed due to lack of evidence. Six journalists had been found guilty by the courts of spreading false information. The trial of Unurtsetseg Naran was conducted behind closed doors as it concerned State secrets. The trial of Bayarmaa Ayurzana was still underway.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on the conflict between the State’s position on Jehovah’s Witnesses and its stance allowing for exemptions from military service based on religious beliefs; whether the State party would facilitate public debate on children’s participation in horse racing and work towards prohibition; efforts to increase trust in the judicial system among minorities and to increase their access to it; whether the State party had acceded to the 1951 Refugee Convention; whether asylum seekers not registered with the State were able to access basic services and whether the State party was considering implementing a law on the asylum assessment procedure; whether the notification process for demonstrations was in fact an authorisation process; how the State party ensured that journalists could work free from restraint; mechanisms for journalists to appeal decisions related to reporting on State secrets; and the criteria that determined the prosecution of journalists.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the draft law on freedom of assembly called only for notification of plans to hold demonstrations 48 hours prior to their commencement. Police ensured the safeguarding of citizens in their response to demonstrations.
Trials of journalists protected the rights of defendants. Persons found guilty in first-instance courts could lodge appeals in appellate courts. Journalists could access all information except for State secrets. Information on cases related to State secrecy were released by the State after a certain period by the Prosecutor’s Office. All trials related to personal information and State secrecy were conducted as closed-door trials.
Jehovah’s Witnesses’ teachings were contrary to the State’s military service law. This was why the registration of this group had been revoked. Every citizen had the obligation to serve the army, regardless of religious belief. The State’s actions related to Jehovah’s Witnesses were in line with the Covenant.
The Government had held discussions with an organization representing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons on supporting this group, and this organization had provided training for prosecutors.
The public supported the preservation of traditional horse-riding practices. The Government was holding public consultations regarding a draft law that would ban the participation of children and non-professionals in horse riding.
Mongolia was not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention but had signed memoranda of understanding regarding refugee reception. The State party did not see a reason to establish a separate law on asylum seekers as the State’s current laws sufficiently regulated the provision of residency permits to asylum seekers.
Closing Remarks
N. MYAGMAR, State Secretary, Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs of Mongolia and head of the delegation, expressed gratitude to the Committee for the frank and open dialogue and for the concerns and observations raised by Committee Experts. He expressed best wishes for the Committee’s future endeavours.
CHANGROK SOH, Committee Chairperson, expressed sincere appreciation to the Mongolian delegation for engaging with the Committee and providing detailed responses. He also thanked all those who contributed to the dialogue. Discussions covered a wide range of topics related to the implementation of the Covenant, highlighting progress made and the remaining challenges. The Committee’s work would help the State party to better implement its obligations under the Covenant.
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