Current programmes in the Central Asia region include:
Breaking the Cycle: a multifaceted approach to combat torture in Kazakhstan
With the support of the European Union, PRI joins lead organisation, Taldykorgan Human Rights Centre and partner, the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, to implement an ambitious 3-year project to combat torture in Kazakhstan (launched in February 2024). Using a collaborative and practical approach, the project will seek to improve the effectiveness of the National Preventive Mechanism, develop models for effective mechanisms to provide rehabilitation, compensation, and protection to victims of torture, including access to legal advice, and advocate to reach highest levels of government and the public at large to enhance efforts to eradicate torture in the country.
Previous programmes included:
Promoting human rights-based approach in reforming prison system in Tajikistan
Funded by European Union, this project seeks to promote human rights-based approach in reforming prison system in Tajikistan through strengthening capacity of prison service, judiciary and development of rehabilitation programmes in detention and after release for vulnerable people in detention, those who have been released and torture victims.
Strengthening the Rule of Law in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan
This project aims to support initiatives in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to reform prison systems, building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. It will help develop probation services in the three countries as a key tool to increase resilience and stability in communities. It will also conduct local baseline research on criminal justice system issues, addressing the problems of women and children in conflict with the law, and providing adequate trainings for prison services in all project countries. This project is funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund.
Strengthening the engagement of judicial authorities to take concrete actions on torture prevention
Funded by U.S. Embassy Democracy Commission in Kyrgyzstan, this project seeks to strengthen the independence and capacity of the judicial system to hold torture perpetrators to account, thus preventing torture and ill-treatment in places of detention. Analysis of torture cases will encourage judicial officials to better address instances of torture and ill-treatment in places of detention, resulting in the creation of a working group on the development of a Special Decree to bring the handling of torture cases in line with international human rights standards. Judges will have better knowledge of such standards and the capacity of judges to comply with those will be strengthened.
Strengthening the capacity of specialists on children’s access to justice and monitoring the situation of children’s rights in closed institutions
The programme, which was initially scheduled to run from August to December 2022, was later extended to 28 February 2023, with the support of the UNICEF Kazakhstan office, the Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Commissioner for Children’s Rights. Under this framework, we developed evidence-based recommendations to address gaps in the administration of child justice and strengthen independent child rights monitoring during emergency crisis contexts. We also provided training to NPM members, representatives of law enforcement agencies, and justice on child justice international standards and procedures. Additionally, legal assistance was provided to over a hundred children and their parents/legal representatives who were in contact with justice and administrative bodies for four months.
Greater resilience to radicalisation and violent extremism in selected Central Asian prisons through faith-based dialogue and rehabilitation programmes
The aim of this project is to build an effective prison system that reduces radicalization. PRI assisted in drafting effective national countering violent extremism strategies, training prison staff on identifying and managing violent extremist offenders and developing effective rehabilitation/reintegration programmes for them. The project builds cooperation between CSOs and prison administration to facilitate appropriate rehabilitation activities. This project was implemented in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. This project was funded by UK Conflict Stability and Security Fund.
Reducing prison population of Kyrgyzstan. Development of employment of ex-prisoners and reintegration of prisoners after release.
This project aims to develop re-integration of ex-offenders in Kyrgyzstan by strengthening the work of local state authorities and civil society organisations. The project is designed to support ex-prisoners by creating work places and supporting them to establish small businesses. In addition, the project seeks to establish a sustainable methodology for local state authorities for re-integration of ex-inmates through development of employment processes.
Supporting regional efforts to address torture in places of detention across Central Asia
This project seeks to address the problem of widespread torture in places of detention, limited or non-existent independent monitoring mechanisms, lack of accountability of officials, and a lack of regional cooperation and shared learning to tackle the issue across five countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan).
Support of judicial reform in Kazakhstan: empowering CSOs to improve access to justice for vulnerable groups
The aim of this project is to build the capacity of civil society organisations (CSOs) to monitor and report on the work of judicial authorities and raise awareness of key justice issues for vulnerable groups; support CSOs to deliver key services to vulnerable groups; and strengthen coordination and networking between CSOs working in the criminal justice system.
Support to strengthen child-friendly social environments in Kazakhstan (justice for children, transformation of special schools for children with offending behaviour, and independent monitoring)
This project is funded by UNICEF. It aims to strengthen independent monitoring systems for childcare institutions, transform schools for children with offending behaviour, and improve justice for children in Kazakhstan.
Development of human rights courses for higher education institutions in Kazakhstan (Capstone Projects for students in Atyrau Oblast)
Funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kazakhstan, this project aims to improve human rights education for students in Kazakhstan, in line with the educational goals and principles of the Capstone Project. This includes increased awareness of human rights courses and improved capacity of national professors to mentor students carrying out human rights research and projects.
Read an article from media portal Caravan, describing how Capstone Project participants went to the Netherlands in June 2018 to meet with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and human rights NGOs and visit detention centres (Russian language only).
Development of central and regional government accountability and good governance in law enforcement systems to combat corruption in Kazakhstan
Funded by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office/British Embassy in Astana, this project aims to improve mechanisms for increasing government accountability and anti-corruption and building interaction between the government and civil society in Kazakhstan. This project takes a holistic approach to tackling corruption in law enforcement, improving the knowledge and skills of all stakeholders to tackle corruption and improve government accountability, from the level of government (Ministry of Interior, Anti-Corruption Agency) to civil society organisations and citizens.
Humanisation of the criminal justice system in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
This project was supported by the UK Government (DFID). Its objective was to strengthen the criminal justice systems in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan through establishing criminal legislative codes that comply with international standards, and to ensure greater compliance with and application of standards in the justice and security sectors.
Greater adherence to international human rights standards by the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in Kazakhstan
This project was funded by the British Embassy in Kazakhstan and was designed to support the effective implementation of the new National Preventive Mechanism (NPM). The project aimed to support the development of an effective and transparent NPM, improve approaches to monitoring pre-trial detention and police custody, and ensure professionalism of NPM staff.
Reducing violence against children in detention
This three-year project was funded by the European Commission and worked towards progressive abolition of violence against children in detention in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan through the prohibition of solitary confinement and ensuring the effective separation of children from adults while deprived of their liberty.
Read about the project in more detail here.