Kyrgyzstan has failed to adequately address abuses in the south, in particular against ethnic Uzbeks, undermining long-term efforts to promote stability following inter-ethnic clashes in 2010. Despite an uneasy calm, ethnic Uzbeks are still subjected to arbitrary detention, torture, and extortion. Human rights defender Azimjon Askarov remains wrongfully imprisoned. Violence and discrimination against women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons remain serious concerns as do continued restrictions on media freedoms. Although authorities adopted new legislation to help prevent torture, ill-treatment and torture remain pervasive in places of detention, and perpetrators go unpunished.