SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON TORTURE COMPLETES MISSION TO UZBEKISTAN

11 December 2002



The Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on the question of torture, Theo van Boven, has completed a two-week fact-finding mission to Uzbekistan.

During the mission, conducted from 24 November to 6 December at the invitation of the Government, the Special Rapporteur visited the IVS/SIZO of the Ministry of the Interior in Tashkent, the Andijan Prison, the District IVS/SIZO of the National Security Services (SNB) of the Ferghana Oblast in Ferghana, the Jaslik Colony, the main Psychiatric Hospital in Tashkent, and the Zangiota Colony. These visits included meetings with officials of each institution as well as with some detainees and persons deprived of their liberty. The visits allowed the Special Rapporteur to enhance his understanding of the legal and administrative processes leading from arrest to conviction, and thereafter, he said.

Due to adverse weather conditions, the Special Rapporteur was unable to carry out visits to Navoi and Karshi regions, as originally planned.

The Special Rapporteur said he regretted not having been able to visit Jaslik colony in a satisfactory and comprehensive manner. He is also seriously disturbed about the fact that he was denied access to the SNB lock-up in Tashkent, he added.

During the mission, Mr. van Boven met with the country’s Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Justice, the General Procurator, the Deputy Head of the National Security Service, two Deputy Chairs of the Supreme Court, the Ombudsman, the Head of the National Centre for Human Rights, and the State Secretary on Law Enforcement Agencies at the Presidential Office.

The Special Rapporteur said he noted the intentions and willingness expressed by many of the officials he met to carefully take into account and follow-up on his recommendations which will be included in the report to the forthcoming session of the Commission on Human Rights.

The Special Rapporteur also met with local non-governmental organizations and a large number of alleged victims of torture and their relatives. He said he appreciated the commitment and efforts demonstrated by vibrant sectors of civil society in the country.

The report of the mission (future document E/CN.4/2003/68/Add.2) is expected to be made public by the end of March 2003 and will be presented formally by the Special Rapporteur during the fifty-ninth session of the Commission on Human Rights next spring.



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