Implementing organisation(s): Lead applicant: NGO "Taldykorgan Human Rights Center" (THRC;); Co-applicants: NGO "Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law"; PRI (International Prison Reform).

Duration: January 8, 2024 – 07 January 2027

Project budget: 

Total budget in €768490

EU contribution in € 730000

Location: Kazakhstan

Contract number: NDICI HR INTPA/2023/451-235

Project Description

Goal: To contribute to the eradication of torture in Kazakhstan.

Objectives:

1. Contributing to the eradication of torture in Kazakhstan by ensuring more effective investigation of cases of torture.
2. improving torture prevention mechanisms.
3. proposal of rehabilitation and compensation mechanisms for victims of torture.
4. Raising awareness of national and international actors to promote measures aimed at eliminating torture.

Main target groups

1. victims of torture.
2.  Human rights defenders and civil society organizations,
3. law enforcement and judicial officials.

Expected results

1. Adoption by the authorities of evidence-based recommendations on combating torture in Kazakhstan.
2. A more effective NPM mechanism to prevent torture and ill-treatment.
3. Developing models of effective mechanisms to provide rehabilitation, compensation and protection to victims of torture, including access to legal aid.
4. A successful awareness-raising campaign involving senior government officials, members of Parliament and the general public aimed at intensifying efforts to eliminate torture in Kazakhstan.

Achievements to date:

●           On January 9, 2024, a Steering Committee was elected to make decisions on the project and transparency of decision-making.

●           On April 8-10, 2024 in Astana a series of meetings were also help with Mariya Kvitsinskaya, OMCT Human Rights Officer for Europe and Central Asia Programme, during which an agreement was reached to assist in organizing an international advocacy campaign in Brussels and Geneva.

●           On April 8-10, 2024, a meeting was held with an international expert, a member of the UN Subcommittee on Freedom from Torture, Mr. Viktor Zakharia, during which an agreement was reached on his full assistance in the implementation of the project

●           Experts have been selected to prepare:

- Analysis of national legislation in order to identify the regulatory reasons that contribute to the ineffective investigation of cases of torture;

- analysis of law enforcement practice in the investigation of torture, to study what is enshrined in legislation and how it actually works in practice;

●           analysis of the legislation on detective (operational) activities in the Republic of Kazakhstan and relevant subordinate legal acts.