Human Rights Ombudsman Arthur LASTAYEV met with members of the UN Committee against Torture

         From April 17 to May 12, 2023, the UN Committee against Torture holds the 76th session, where the fourth periodic report of Kazakhstan concerning the implementation of the conditions of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is considered.

         Within the framework of forthcoming protection of the Report in accordance with the UN procedures, the Commissioner for Human Rights Artur Lastayev together with the NPM participants met with the members of the UN Committee against Torture in Geneva (Switzerland).

         During the meeting the Commissioner provided information on the activities of the Ombudsman and NPM members in the sphere of revealing, combating and preventing torture, and on the adopted legislative amendments, including differentiation of the term «torture» from «cruel and inhuman treatment», introduction of electronic services for convicts, installation of continuous video monitoring systems in prisons and badges for staff, transfer of the prison medical care from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Ministry of Health etc.

        The members of the Committee assessed the reforms implemented in Kazakhstan, noting the coherence of the work of the Ombudsman's Office and the NPM participants, interaction with the UN Committee against Torture, and supported the civil society's proposal to adopt a separate law on NPM.