Our work in Kyrgyzstan is currently focused on the prevention of torture in places of detention through engaging civil society, judicial authorities and law enforcement bodies. Through building professional relationships with authorities we have been able to increase awareness of and participation in preventing torture.
In 2016, we developed a toolkit for working with violent prisoners in crisis situations and preventing radicalisation in prisons in Kazakhstan. This project raised awareness at a national level of the importance of the role of prison staff in preventing radicalisation and countering violent extremism and terrorism in prisons.
We started working in Uzbekistan in 2017, and have supported the establishment of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). The NPM allowed us to develop training programmes for the Ombudsman office and prison service representatives (GUIN) on conducting monitoring visits to closed facilities. We’re now working with the GUIN to provide training for probation officers and General Prosecutor’s office representatives on probation development.