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Kazakhstan Letter to Finnish Foreign Minister Regarding Upcoming Trip to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan We are writing in advance of your upcoming trip to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, which we believe provides a unique opportunity to discuss the state of human rights in both countries and press for concrete improvements. We hope you will make full use of the opportunity of your trip to make clear to the governments of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan that enforcing universal human rights principles is a core component of OSCE policy in the region. July 8, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Human Rights in Kazakhstan: The Madrid Promises and Beyond May 2008 Kazakhstan’s chairmanship risks undermining the integrity of the OSCE’s human rights principles. Therefore we urge you to hold Kazakhstan to its public pledges to implement reforms. In doing so the OSCE would be helping the pro-reform forces within Kazakhstan and protecting the integrity of the OSCE. May 29, 2008 Memorandum Printer friendly version Letter to Kazakh Government against Extradition of Asylum Seeker I am writing to urge that the government of Kazakhstan refrain from extraditing to Uzbekistan Rafik Rakhmonov, an Uzbek asylum seeker. Extraditing Rakhmonov to Uzbekistan would violate Kazakhstan’s international obligations as a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1984 United Nations Convention against Torture. May 7, 2008 Letter Also available in 
Printer friendly version Letter to Foreign Minister Kouchner on the EU Central Asia Strategy In recent months there have been a few positive human rights developments in the region, including notably in Uzbekistan the release from prison of a half-dozen wrongfully detained human rights defenders and an agreement granting ICRC access to prisons. While these developments are to be welcomed, they should not eclipse the overall abysmal state of human rights in the country, and indeed in the region as a whole. April 8, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version EU: Urge Rights Reform in Central Asia EU and Central Asian Leaders to Discuss Strategy at Ashgabat Meeting The European Union should establish human rights benchmarks for Central Asian governments and make their fulfillment a core objective of its Central Asia Strategy, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. April 8, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Benchmarks, Consultations and Transparency Making the EU Central Asia Strategy an Effective Tool for Human Rights Improvements This 15-page briefing paper proposes specific benchmarks for each Central Asian country, and urges the EU to clearly link progress on the goals with possible future benefits. A similar position was also taken by the European Parliament in its February 20 resolution, which called for the strategy to include a “definition of clear objectives and priorities for the EU’s relations with each of the five countries,” including in human rights. April 8, 2008 Background Briefing Also available in
Letter to the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Urging the Organisation to Improve and Strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, we urge the OIC to consider two amendments to the Convention in order to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and to make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications. March 11, 2008 Letter Also available in 
Printer friendly version Kazakhstan: Investigate Attack on German Journalist Kazakh authorities need to conduct a thorough investigation into last weekend’s attack on a German journalist and bring the perpetrators to justice, Human Rights Watch said today. January 23, 2008 Written Statement Also available in
Printer friendly version Kazakhstan: OSCE Chairmanship Undeserved Kazakhstan’s Chairmanship for 2010 Places OSCE Human Rights Principles at Risk Kazakhstan should not have been named chair-in-office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch said that Kazakhstan’s chairmanship risks undermining the integrity of the OSCE’s human rights principles. November 30, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version SCO Summit: Crackdown Highlights Failings on Human Rights Shanghai Cooperation Organization Should Not Undermine Rights in Name of Security Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization missed a key opportunity to implement the organization’s human rights principles when they met on August 16 at the SCO summit in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, Human Rights Watch said today. August 16, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version The EU Central Asia Strategy An essential opportunity for human rights In this 10-page briefing paper, Human Rights Watch articulates how the European Union should make respect for human rights an integral part of its new Central Asia strategy. The strategy, an initiative of the German EU Presidency, replaces years of an uncoordinated approach by the European Union to the five Central Asian countries, which were once part of the Soviet Union. Human Rights Watch urges the EU to incorporate benchmarks for progress in priority human rights areas into the strategy. April 19, 2007 Background Briefing Also available in
EU: Put Rights at Heart of Central Asia Strategy Ignoring Abuses Will Not Bring Reform With repressive governments ruling over Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and their neighbors, the European Union should make respect for human rights an integral part of its new Central Asia strategy, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. EU foreign ministers are scheduled to review a first-ever Central Asia strategy at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in Brussels on April 23-24. April 18, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version EU: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Must Protect Uzbek Refugees New Harassment and Threats of Forced Returns in Both Countries The European Union must stress the protection of Uzbek refugees when it meets with the foreign ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan tomorrow, Human Rights Watch said today. July 17, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version Kazakhstan Must Not Send Back Uzbek Refugee The government of Kazakhstan must not return to Uzbekistan an Uzbek refugee currently in custody in the Kazakh city Almaty, Human Rights Watch said today. Gabdurafih Temirbaev, who fled religious persecution in Uzbekistan, would be at risk of torture and persecution if he were forcibly returned. July 6, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version Letter to President Nazarbaev We write to express profound concern about the recent detention of Gabdurafih Temirbaev, an Uzbek national recognized as a refugee by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) who, according to unconfirmed reports, is in the custody of the Committee for National Security (KNB) in Almaty. June 27, 2006 Letter Printer friendly version Eurasia: Uphold Human Rights in Combating Terrorism Shanghai Cooperation Organization Must Not Punish Peaceful Dissent Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) should commit to adhering to international standards on human rights when they meet to discuss joint counterterrorism measures on June 15, Human Rights Watch said today. June 14, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version Kazakhstan: Investigate Forced Return of Uzbeks New Eyewitness Details of November Returns The government of Kazakhstan must investigate the forced return of Uzbek nationals who sought refuge in Kazakhstan, and hold accountable the officials responsible, Human Rights Watch said today. March 29, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version Kazakhstan: Letter Details Kazakh Involvement in Forced Return of Uzbeks In late November 2005 at least nine Uzbek nationals, fleeing persecution, were forcibly returned from Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan. Four of the men were formally registered with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as asylum seekers and were therefore already within the asylum process. March 28, 2006 Letter Printer friendly version Kazakhstan: Uzbeks Sent Back At Risk of Torture Abuses Mount Ahead of Kazakh Elections Kazakh authorities have forcibly returned ten persons who had fled persecution in Uzbekistan, in violation of Kazakhstan’s international commitments, Human Rights Watch said today. A second group of Uzbeks missing in Kazakhstan are feared to be at risk of “disappearance” and forcible return. December 3, 2005 Press Release Printer friendly version Kazakhstan: New Restrictions Put Election at Risk The presidential election scheduled for December 4, 2005 will be an important test of Kazakhstan’s commitment to democracy, and a factor in determining your country’s place in the community of rights-respecting nations and in international bodies like the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Human Rights Watch values its dialogue with the government of Kazakhstan on critical issues relating to human rights and the need to initiate reforms. We would like to express our strong concern over moves by your government to restrict fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of Kazakhstan, and to offer concrete recommendations for improving human rights in advance of the upcoming election. October 12, 2005 Letter Printer friendly version |
 
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