Possible ways to create a death penalty free in Central Asia and Mongolia discussed in Geneva

Geneva, February 28, 2023 - the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the United Nations in Geneva together with the Permanent Missions of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and with the assistance of the International Commission against the Death Penalty (ICDP) co-hosted a hybrid meeting of the Central Asian states and Mongolia (extended Central Asian region) to discuss the best ways for the extended Central Asia region to move towards becoming the region officially free of the death penalty. The meeting was held on the margins of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The round table was attended by the Permanent Representatives of Central Asia and Mongolia, as well as heads of the Departments of the Ministries of the countries of the region. Minister for Human Rights of Uzbekistan Akmal Saidov, ICDP President Navi Pillay and Vice-President Ruth Dreifuss delivered their remarks during the opening of the meeting. Kazakhstan delegation was led by Mr. Didar Temenov, Director of the Multilateral Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Participants discussed measures taken to abolish capital punishment and further ways forward towards proclaiming the extended Central Asia region as officially the world’s first death penalty-free zone.

ICDP is an independent organization working to free the world from the death penalty. Currently, more than 100 countries have abolished the death penalty at the legislative level. Our country is a member of ICDP Support Group. Following the referendum in June 2022 to implement the reforms initiated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the death penalty is prohibited by Constitution of Kazakhstan. Universal abolition of death penalty is one of the priorities of Kazakhstan in the Human Rights Council.