Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

115th session

Summary record of the 3154th meeting

Held at the Palais Wilson, Geneva, on Friday, 2 May 2025, at 10 a.m.

Chair:Mr. Balcerzak

Contents

Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted by States Parties under article 9 of the Convention (continued)

Combined eleventh and twelfth periodic report s of Kyrgyzstan (continued)

The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m.

Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted by States Parties under article 9 of the Convention (continued)

Combined eleventh and twelfth periodic reports of Kyrgyzstan (CERD/C/KGZ/11‑12; CERD/C/KGZ/Q/11-12) (continued)

At the invitation of the Chair, the delegation of Kyrgyzstan joined the meeting.

Mr. Guan (Country Rapporteur) said that he would be grateful for disaggregated data on the socioeconomic situation of the ethnic groups in Kyrgyzstan and detailed information on the progress and achievements made in the areas of particular importance highlighted in the Committee’s previous concluding observations (CERD/C/KGZ/CO/8-10), especially with respect to the Mugat and Uzbek ethnic minorities. He would welcome updated information on the participation of representatives of minority ethnic groups in public and political life and wondered in particular what had been the impact of the reduction of the number of seats in the Zhogorku Kenesh, the State Party’s legislature, set aside for representatives of such groups. He would also like further information on the representation of ethnic minorities in the police and security forces and in the judiciary.

He wished to know whether minority mother tongues were classified as foreign languages under the Education Act of 2023, which permitted the provision of educational services in a foreign language. He would like to know, too, how the State Party intended to ensure that schools had the human and financial resources they needed to offer comprehensive multilingual education. It would likewise be of interest to hear why so few ethnic minority students studied in their mother tongues.

He would like to learn more about the nature, mandates and organizational structure of the institutions established to address inter-ethnic tensions, including the public advisory councils on inter-ethnic relations, the community liaison offices for inter-ethnic issues, the monitoring centre of the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sport and Youth Policy and the inter-agency commission established to coordinate the steps taken to implement the Concept for the Development of the Civic Identity of the Kyrgyz Zharany (Citizen of Kyrgyzstan) for the period 2021–2026. He wished to know what role each of those institutions played in the implementation of the Concept, especially in relation to addressing inter-ethnic tensions. In addition, he would like updated information on the suspension of nearly 4,000 of the 5,642 criminal cases initiated by national law enforcement agencies in connection with the 2010 ethnic violence in Osh and Jalalabad Oblasts.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the legislative amendments that had been adopted to protect children from harmful information reflected the Government’s commitment to protecting children from negative influences in the information space. Under the amendments, the promotion of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, violence, non-traditional sexual relations, taboo language and other content that could harm the physical, psychological or mental health of children and adolescents had been prohibited. Public hearings had been held to discuss the bill containing the proposed amendments.

An action plan comprising 65 measures had been developed to combat ethnic and religious discrimination. As part of awareness-raising campaigns, over 300 training sessions had been delivered to more than 30,000 participants, including public officials, local authorities, teachers and civil society representatives. Furthermore, television programmes, publications in Kyrgyz and Russian and radio broadcasts had been produced as part of a special communications and media strategy. The small number of complaints of ethnic or racial discrimination submitted by ethnic minorities was a reflection of their successful integration into the country’s socioeconomic life.

The implementation of the Kyrgyz Zharany Concept would require long-term, systematic efforts. There were 23 multi-ethnic jurisdictions with community liaison offices and committees focused on inter-ethnic relations, conflict prevention and early warning systems. The public was involved in conflict prevention through meetings, consultative councils and an interactive map tracking potential future conflicts. Over the previous four years, more than 3,000 communications had been considered. Such measures had led to a fourfold reduction in disputes related to ethnic issues.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan, noting that a research centre attached to the State Commission on Religious Affairs was responsible for annual studies and surveys, said that, according to a nationwide social survey conducted in 2024, 80 per cent of respondents felt they enjoyed complete religious freedom. There was no direct prohibition of any kind of religious clothing; however, there was a general legal requirement that clothing should not prevent people from being identifiable in public, which indirectly restricted the use of the niqab. There were more than 4,400 religious organizations in Kyrgyzstan, including Islamic, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Baha’i organizations.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that bride kidnapping was a punishable offence under the Criminal Code. The abduction of a person for the purpose of forced marriage was punishable by 5 to 7 years’ imprisonment, or 7 to 10 years if the individual abducted was a minor. Criminal proceedings could be initiated regardless of whether the victim lodged a complaint.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that there had been 22 convictions on charges of bride kidnapping in 2019, 15 in 2020, 25 in 2021 (along with 5 acquittals) and 42 in 2022.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the law guaranteed equal access to education for all citizens. Annual home visits were made by teachers, social inspectors and local police officers to monitor school attendance. Administrative penalties could be issued for poor attendance without a valid reason. In 2025, 90 per cent of children were enrolled in school, equivalent to more than 1.5 million children.

Children were taught about the dangers of kidnapping at school, and teachers had access to relevant training and materials. Kyrgyzstan was a leader in multilingual education in Central Asia and strived to ensure proficiency in the native languages of the country’s minorities, Kyrgyz, Russian and foreign languages to promote intercultural dialogue and acceptance of diversity.

In the small town of Myra-Ake, more than 1,000 Mugat children were enrolled in secondary school; elsewhere, more than 4,000 Uzbek children were being taught in their mother tongue. There were also multilingual schools where children were taught in several languages.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that, according to figures from 31 December 2024, a total of 1,552 persons from ethnic minority groups, 35.6 per cent of them women, were employed as civil servants; they accounted for 7.2 per cent of all his country’s civil servants. The 90 members of the Zhogorku Kenesh included three Dungan members and a Kazakh, while a former lawmaker of Tajik origin was now the Minister of Labour, Social Development and Migration. Following recent territorial reforms, 264 local administrative units, in which more than 6,000 people, 40 per cent of them women, had been elected to office, had been created. Those elected representatives included members of the country’s Uzbek, Dungan, Russian and Kazakh communities.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that monetary allowances were disbursed without discrimination, irrespective of the ethnicity of the recipient.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that all court proceedings instituted in the wake of the violence of June 2010 had been conducted in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure and in a manner fully compatible with the human rights of the persons concerned, some of whom had been convicted for crimes such as incitement to inter-ethnic hatred and murder. At least one life sentence had been handed down. The authorities had explained their approach to the June 2010 events in detail before the Human Rights Committee.

An investigation into the case of Azimjan Askarov had revealed that his death had been unrelated to his conditions of detention. He had been hospitalized with pneumonia but had resisted treatment, even removing his oxygen mask. His death had been caused by the pneumonia, aggravated by cardiovascular disease.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the case against the person charged with assaulting a participant in an event organized to combat homophobia in 2015 had been dropped, as the parties had reached a settlement. Prostitution was illegal under Kyrgyz law, and offenders could incur administrative penalties. However, prostitution involving minors and incitement to such prostitution, including on the Internet, constituted a criminal offence.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that, in the 2018 lawsuit brought by a transgender woman against a television station that had broadcast a video of her without her consent, the court had found in the woman’s favour and, in line with article 16 of the Civil Code, had awarded compensation that accurately reflected the degree of moral suffering she had endured.

Mr. Guan said that he would welcome detailed information about developments that appeared to reveal shortcomings in the implementation of the Convention. In particular, he wished to learn more about large-scale public works projects that were apparently being undertaken without consultation or adequate compensation in predominantly Uzbek areas of the city of Osh. The delegation should also inform the Committee about the discrimination reportedly faced by ethnic Tajiks in Batken Province following the border conflicts with Tajikistan in May 2021 and September 2022. Lastly, he hoped to hear more about the situation of Mugat families who had been relocated from their homes following flooding in Osh Oblast in July 2024.

Ms. Stavrinaki said that, in its general recommendation No. 37 (2024), the Committee had established that racial discrimination was a structural and social determinant of health. In that light, she hoped that the delegation could provide the Committee with detailed information about the healthcare services available in the State Party, in particular to the Mugat community. She also wished to know whether health policies were tailored to the needs of that community and what action was taken to accommodate the specific requirements of Mugat women and children.

Mr. Amir said that he wondered whether parents were obliged to send their children to school and, if so, whether the parents who disregarded that obligation faced prosecution.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that, of the 342 persons held to account by the criminal courts in connection with the events of June 2010, 87 had been of Kyrgyz origin, while 165 had been persons of Uzbek or other origins. In other cases, it had not been possible to determine the ethnicity of the offender. In no case, however, had ethnicity had any bearing on the outcome of the proceedings, and all those brought to justice had been held responsible only for the acts they had actually committed.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the events of June 2010 had involved violence, including killings, and the destruction of public and private property. The damage caused to State property alone had amounted to around 3 billion soms. A total of 133 persons had been sought in connection with the events; most of them had been apprehended, although some remained unidentified. In some cases, criminal investigations were still ongoing.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that two men who had been sought in connection with crimes committed during the unrest of June 2010 had recently been given long prison sentences by a district court in Jalalabad Oblast.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that a digital birth registration project had been launched to ensure that all births in Kyrgyzstan were duly recorded. Under the project, information could be transmitted directly to the Ministry of Digital Development from the maternity facility where a child was born. Parents who then failed to request a birth certificate would receive an intimation to do so from social workers at the Ministry of Labour, Social Development and Migration. The project was applicable on a basis of equality to everyone. Ninety-five per cent of the population had reliable access to safe drinking water, and a $4 million programme was being rolled out to reach the remining 5 per cent, including in areas that had large populations of ethnic minorities.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that all Kyrgyz citizens had an inalienable right to healthcare irrespective of their gender, race, language, ethnic origin, social status, place of residence, religion, criminal record or any other circumstance. That right was enshrined in law and annually endorsed by a decree of the Cabinet of Ministers.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that parents had an obligation under the Constitution to send their children to school. They could choose what kind of establishment to send them to – whether State-run or private – and what language they should be educated in. In all cases, however, school attendance was closely monitored, with establishments being required to report three times a year to local authorities, who then relayed the information to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Under new legislation, parents who failed to fulfil their obligation to educate their children would face fines.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that infrastructure projects in Bishkek and Osh, such as the widening of roads, had required demolition works. All operations took place in full compliance with the law, and owners of the affected assets were duly informed and could contest any decision before the courts. No particular ethnic group was targeted by the demolitions; in fact, the aim of the projects was to improve the well-being of all citizens.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the process of building a multi-lane highway from Osh to Bishkek necessarily entailed expropriation. Before work had begun, a full survey had been conducted and funds had been allocated to compensate persons affected by evictions or home demolitions.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the Coordinating Council on Human Rights, which had been operational since 2012, was a consultative and advisory body that aimed to improve human rights protection mechanisms, assist in the drafting of periodic reports to treaty bodies and guide State institutions in the implementation of international human rights obligations. The Council included representatives of the Office of the Ombudsman (Akyikatchy) and the national mechanism for the prevention of torture.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the Supreme Court had a total of 35 judges in its administrative, civil and criminal divisions. The judges included one of Russian descent and two Tatars. A further 470 judges, of whom 180 – or 38 per cent – were women, worked in courts across the country.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that, subject to medical and psychological tests, gender reassignment surgery could be performed at public healthcare facilities at the request of the person concerned, who had to be over the age of 25. Guidelines for healthcare professionals on the treatment and care of transgender and gender nonconforming persons had been issued in 2017. Up to September 2024, 61 people had applied for gender reassignment surgery. A number of organizations active in the country represented the interests and protected the rights of LGBTQI persons.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that ethnic minority members of the Zhogorku Kenesh were fully involved in the legislative process. Moreover, prospective legislation was first published on an online portal where all citizens, including members of ethnic minorities, could familiarize themselves with its contents and make any comments they wished.

The meeting was suspended at 11.15 a.m. and resumed at 11.35 a.m.

Ms. Tebie (Country Task Force) said that she would like to know what measures had been taken to address the challenges faced by refugees and asylum-seekers, such as language barriers and discrimination, and to ensure the effective application of the laws and regulations relating to their status. She wondered what progress had been made towards establishing a legal framework for the recognition and regularization of the status of mandate refugees that would ensure that they had access to residency and legal rights on an equal basis with other long-term foreign residents. It would be helpful if the delegation could provide recent data on the number of refugees and asylum-seekers in the State Party, disaggregated by origin and sex.

She would like to know what measures had been taken to improve living conditions for refugees, especially in Osh and Jalalabad Oblasts, and what was being done to protect asylum-seekers, especially Uighurs, Uzbeks and Chechens, and to enable them to obtain refugee status. In the light of reports of violence against migrants during protests in May 2024, she would be interested to know what support had been provided to the victims, what mechanisms had been established to prevent violent protests and what safeguards were in place to protect migrants in an irregular situation from violence and discrimination.

It would be helpful if the delegation could describe the strategies in place to support and protect migrant workers, many of whom were in precarious and degrading situations; the legislative or other measures taken to promote the organized and regular migration of workers to Kyrgyzstan; and the efforts made to set clear standards for companies that employed migrant workers. She wondered whether there were any bodies responsible for monitoring the conditions in which migrants worked and, if so, whether they had the resources they needed. She would welcome information on any measures taken to facilitate the social integration of migrants, as well as recent data on migrant workers, disaggregated by sex, age and national origin.

It would be interesting to know what factors contributed to the high rate of emigration among women. She would also like to know whether the State Party had signed bilateral agreements relating to migration with the Russian Federation and other countries of destination; and whether it had strengthened or adapted its consular services to ensure that migrants from Kyrgyzstan received adequate support. It would be helpful if the delegation could provide data, disaggregated by age, sex and ethnicity, on migrants from Kyrgyzstan in the Russian Federation and other countries. She wondered what was being done to facilitate the return and reintegration of migrants living in precarious situations in Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic. In the light of reports of refoulement of asylum-seekers, refugees and migrant workers, especially Uighurs, Uzbeks and Chechens, by the Kyrgyz authorities, she would like to know how many people had been forcibly returned or extradited to their country of origin and what measures had been or would be taken to prevent refoulement and ensure access to protection and security for people who had been forced to flee their countries of origin.

It would be helpful if the delegation could clarify the wording of the proposed amendment to the Kyrgyz Citizenship Act concerning the acquisition of Kyrgyz citizenship by children born in Kyrgyzstan to foreign parents, especially the meaning of the phrase “circumstances beyond their control”; and comment on the concern that the amendment would increase the risk of statelessness. She wondered whether the State Party had established a formal statelessness determination procedure, as recommended by the Committee in its previous concluding observations (CERD/C/KGZ/CO/8-10, para. 30 (a)), what measures had been taken to fully align national legislation with international standards, particularly when it came to the establishment of independent mechanisms to monitor the application of legislation on the removal of citizenship, and how the statelessness situation had changed since 2019.

She would be interested to know what measures had been taken to ensure that procurators, judges and lawyers were provided with in-service training on human rights issues, the prohibition of discrimination and the application of the Convention; and how many professionals had received such training. She would welcome clarification as to whether a jury system had been introduced and if so, how it operated and whether the main actors involved received training on racial discrimination.

It would be helpful to know whether the National Education Development Programme for 2021–2040 and the related action plan for 2021–2023 covered the issue of human rights education, including the fight against racial discrimination, racism and xenophobia, what the impact of the action plan had been and what measures had been taken to incorporate human rights education, including education on the Convention, into school curricula and in-service training for teachers. She would appreciate information on any awareness-raising that had been conducted with a view to eliminating all forms of discrimination based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin and promoting a culture of respect and tolerance. Lastly, she wondered how the Government evaluated the effectiveness of its programmes to combat stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that refugees enjoyed the right to asylum and protection from persecution, as well as the rights to education, medical care, employment and freedom of movement. Kyrgyz citizenship, for which refugees could apply after just four years in the country, had been granted to thousands of people since the entry into force of the Refugees Act. The Government worked with various intergovernmental and non‑governmental organizations to provide legal assistance and other services to refugees.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the principle of non-refoulement was enshrined in national legislation. Deportation was carried out in accordance with the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and was prohibited in cases where the persons concerned were at risk of being subjected to torture upon return to their country of origin. His country was proud of its progressive legislation on the protection of refugees. Nevertheless, it continued to work with its international partners to improve the situation. The information regarding Uighurs and Chechens that had been received by the Committee did not match the Government’s official records. Any cases of suspected torture of members of those communities would be investigated by the procuratorial service. In 2024, the Kyrgyz authorities had extradited 49 foreign nationals – none of whom had applied for refugee status – to various countries, including the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that applications for refugee status were processed in accordance with the Constitution, the Refugees Act and the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, among other laws and regulations. Between 2019 and 2024, around 270 requests for refugee status had been rejected by courts of first instance. Some of those court decisions had subsequently been overturned on appeal, while others had been upheld on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence of a risk of persecution in the country of origin, in accordance with the Handbook on Procedures and Criteria for Determining Refugee Status under the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the events of May 2024 had led to the prosecution of 37 criminal cases and the conviction of 43 persons. Information and awareness-raising activities were conducted by police officers in workplaces and educational institutions to prevent violations of the rights of foreign nationals temporarily living in Kyrgyzstan. The local population had become more respectful of the rights of foreign nationals, and the situation was considered stable.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that migrant children in an irregular situation could be enrolled in school at the request of their parent or guardian. Human rights issues had been incorporated into school curricula and teacher training programmes. Special training documents had been developed for out-of-school educational activities, with support from international partners. All teaching materials were reviewed by an oversight body for the prevention of discrimination.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the situation of stateless persons was regulated by various laws, including the Legal Status of Foreign Nationals Act. In 2024, the country had had a stateless population of 1,225 persons, 413 of them women. In February 2025, new legislation on the procedure for issuing identity documents to stateless persons had been adopted.

Consular services were available to citizens of Kyrgyzstan who were living abroad, including labour migrants. Efforts were focused on places with large numbers of migrants, such as Russia and Kazakhstan. There were more than 300,000 migrants from Kyrgyzstan in Russia, around 40,000 in the United States of America and around 17,000 in Germany. Migrants who believed that their rights had been violated could submit a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman (Akyikatchy).

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that, since 2019, around 430 judges had received training on international human rights standards and their application in court decisions.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that, since 2019, more than 3,100 law enforcement officers had received training on constitutional law, the protection of human rights and the elimination of all forms of discrimination. Experts from various organizations were periodically invited to run human rights training for law enforcement officers.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that 470 citizens of Kyrgyzstan, including around 220 children, had been repatriated from Iraq and Syria since 2021. Efforts were being made to reintegrate returnees into society and, in particular, to protect child returnees and prevent their stigmatization. An inter-agency plan on repatriation, which included the provision of training to relevant actors, had been drawn up with the support of international partners, and a five-year programme for the rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees had been adopted.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that migrant children in the Russian Federation could not attend school unless they had a basic grasp of Russian. The Government had therefore signed an agreement with a university in the Russian Federation on the provision of language courses for migrant children and had opened an online Russian language school for such children.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the Russian Federation and Kyrgyzstan were States members of the Eurasian Economic Union, within which citizens of Kyrgyzstan, including labour migrants, enjoyed a number of rights, including the right to freedom of movement.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the law on the establishment of jury trials had been suspended while steps were taken to ensure the effective functioning of the jury system, identify sources of funding and develop the necessary infrastructure.

Ms. Tebie said that she wished to know whether only foreign nationals who did not have refugee status were subject to extradition. She wished to know, too, whether foreign nationals who acquired Kyrgyz nationality through marriage would have that nationality withdrawn in the event of divorce. She wondered how the State party justified its policy of requiring foreign nationals who wished to return to Kyrgyzstan to undergo mandatory screening for HIV/AIDS and what measures were taken to ensure that the policy was in compliance with the principles of non-discrimination and the fundamental rights of the individual, as established in the Convention.

It would be useful to have more information on the status of the holders of the newly introduced cards that facilitated administrative procedures for foreign nationals resident in the State Party and on the results of the measures taken under the migration management action plan for the period 2022–2025.

Ms. Tlakula (Follow-up Coordinator) said that the State Party had failed to provide an adequate response to the Committee’s recommendation that it should set up a hybrid national/international mechanism to review all cases of persons convicted in connection with the ethnic violence that had occurred in June 2010 (CERD/C/KGZ/CO/8-10, para. 22 (a)). It was still not clear what budgetary resources had been allocated to the reintroduction of Uzbek language instruction in schools. As students at 161 schools in Kyrgyzstan, including 22 Uzbek-only schools, had the option of studying in the Uzbek language, she would appreciate the delegation’s comments on the claim made in the State Party’s periodic report that conducting examinations in the Uzbek language was not economically viable or justified. Was the State Party implying that children could study in the Uzbek language but not take their examinations in it?

Ms. Esseneme said that she wished to know whether judicial officers, particularly judges, received training in the Convention and its application in court proceedings. She wondered what mechanisms judges used to apply the Convention in civil and criminal court proceedings and how judges dealt with situations in which national law conflicted with the provisions of the Convention. It would be useful to have examples of any court decisions in which the Convention had been applied.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that 164 persons were officially registered as refugees, in line with national law, and could not be extradited or deported under any circumstances. The rights of asylum-seekers who had not yet been officially recognized as refugees were also protected. If a person suspected of having committed an offence under the laws of another country applied for refugee status in Kyrgyzstan, no decision on his or her extradition was taken until after the completion of the status determination procedure.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that, in Kyrgyzstan, a person could change his or her nationality only once. Persons who changed their nationality on entering into marriage could not do so again if they divorced. Applicants for visas were required to undergo screening for HIV as part of the Government’s efforts to curb the prevalence of the virus and reduce the number of infected persons in Kyrgyzstan.

Children who had one parent who was a Kyrgyz national were entitled to become Kyrgyz nationals with the written agreement of their parents, irrespective of their place of birth. That rule also applied to children whose non-Kyrgyz parent was stateless or of unknown nationality. Kyrgyz nationality could be granted to children born in Kyrgyzstan to parents who lived in the country but were stateless or of unknown nationality. It could also be granted to children found in Kyrgyzstan to parents whose identities were unknown.

Kyrgyz nationality could be withdrawn from persons who served in the armed forces or the intelligence services of another State or who undertook training outside the country with a view to committing terrorist offences. It could also be withdrawn from persons who participated in armed conflicts or military actions in a foreign State, unless they were members of international peacekeeping forces. Persons who acquired Kyrgyz nationality on the basis of false information or forged documents could also have their nationality withdrawn.

A person’s nationality was specified on his or her birth certificate and could be changed, once only, by applying to the civil registry office and presenting the relevant documentation. A person’s nationality was determined on the basis of the ethnic origin of his or her parents and did not change automatically upon marriage. Women did not acquire the right to change nationality solely because they had married.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that a number of basic school curricula were developed every year. The basic curriculum for Uzbek-language schools was developed by the Kyrgyz Academy of Education and published on government websites and in relevant newspapers. Basic curricula made it possible for schools that taught in Uzbek, Russian and other minority languages to function. All children sat their final examinations in the language in which they had been instructed.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that high school graduates who wished to enter university were required to sit a nationwide test in either Kyrgyz or Russian. The test was made available in Russian for the benefit of students attending schools in which Kyrgyz was not the language of instruction.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the Act of the Kyrgyz Republic of 13 January 2024 set out the rights and obligations of persons living with HIV/AIDS. Under the Act, such persons had the right to be treated equally and must not be subjected to any degrading treatment. They were entitled to receive counselling to obtain reliable information about their rights and the nature of the procedures to be followed. Screening for HIV/AIDS was either voluntary or mandatory. Voluntary tests took place in a confidential manner, with the written approval of the person being tested or a guardian. Information relating to the test was not made public or conveyed to any third party without written approval. Mandatory tests were also carried out in a confidential manner, in some cases on the orders of a court or a procurator.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the courts upheld the rights of all persons under the jurisdiction of the State, irrespective of their race, skin colour or national or ethnic origin. International law was applied alongside national law in cases relating to discrimination. All persons subjected to discrimination resulting from the application of national law could file a complaint with a court. The Constitutional Court was empowered to repeal any national laws found to be inconsistent with the Constitution. International treaties, including the Convention, could be applied directly by the courts.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that the persons convicted in connection with the events of June 2010 had the right to have their cases reviewed on the basis of newly discovered circumstances, either in cassation or on appeal. The Government did not hold precise data on those reviews but all the relevant cases had been reviewed in open court hearings and matters relating to compensation had been resolved.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that, in 2023, the Government had begun accepting applications from foreign nationals with ties to Kyrgyzstan or from their children and grandchildren for a special identity document that would give them the right to enter and move around Kyrgyzstan without a visa, to reside permanently in the country without a residence permit and to engage in remunerative activities without a work permit, in accordance with the procedure established for nationals.

A representative of Kyrgyzstan said that his delegation had appreciated the constructive dialogue, which would provide the Government with guidance in improving national policies for protecting human rights, upholding the principle of equality and preventing discrimination.

The meeting rose at 12.55 p.m.