Kyrgyzstan: Terms of Reference for organising a roundtable to discuss the compliance with the UN Convention against Torture

1. ORGANISATIONAL AND PROJECT BACKGROUND

A. The OMCT

The World Organisation Against Torture (Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture – OMCT) was founded in 1985. Based in Geneva but acting through its large and active SOS-Torture Network working in more than 90 countries, it is among the largest civil society coalitions fighting torture and all other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the world. The mission of the OMCT is to contribute to the eradication of torture, summary executions, disappearances, arbitrary detention and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to provide protection to victims and potential victims through its global network of civil society organisations (CSOs) working in partnership and solidarity. The OMCT is the CSO coordinator for the United Nations Committee against Torture (CAT) and provides support to civil society organisations engaging with CAT.

Further information about the OMCT and its activities with the UN CAT, as well as the OMCT's CAT blog, can be found on our website and on our social media channels.

B. The Project

Kyrgyzstan has ratified the Convention against Torture in 1997. The CAT reviewed the country's second periodic report at its 51stsession in 2013 and adopted concluding observations. It will review Kyrgyzstan’s 3d periodic report at its 72d session in November 2021.

For the review, the CAT welcomes written information (alternative reports) submitted by CSOs. Alternative reports supplement or present alternative information to reports by governments. Unlike government reports, that often highlight the progress of a State in implementing its treaty obligations, alternative reports often provide the CAT with crucial information about problems in implementation and non-compliance. For the review of Kyrgyzstan, alternative reports must be submitted to the CAT no later than 11 October 2021.

In order to mobilise CSOs in reporting to the CAT, the OMCT supports the organisation of a roundtable for CSOs in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to take place in September, that will provide information on the current state of implementation of the provisions in the Convention against Torture, as well as coordination on the alternative report and participation in the CAT review. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event could take place online or in a hybrid format.

The OMCT would also like to support civil society organisations for the drafting of alternative reports on Kyrgyzstan’s implementation of the Convention against Torture (including the implementation of previous CAT recommendations) and for the organisation of a public screening of the 72d CAT session at which Kyrgyzstan will be reviewed. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event could take place online or in a hybrid format.

Moreover, to help raise greater awareness and public attention in country of the CAT review of Kyrgyzstan and the recommendations provided by the UN CAT, the OMCT supports the organisation of a training for Kyrgyz journalists on UN Treaty bodies and in particular the CAT, as well as on the international standards in the field of torture. The training is to be organised before the CAT review. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this could take place online or in a hybrid format.

The OMCT contributes to the implementation of the Convention against Torture and CAT reporting, with support from the European Union (EU), and in cooperation with the global anti-torture movement. The total available amount for the preparation of the roundtable, the drafting of the alternative report, the training for journalists and the broadcasting of Kyrgyzstan's review by the CAT is EUR 9,000.

2. SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT AND METHODOLOGY

A. Roundtable to discuss the CAT alternative report and review

The roundtable will have to include the participation of independent human rights CSOs and activists, including those representing vulnerable groups such as children, minorities, and women. The discussions will have to be held under the Chatham House rule due to safety concerns.

• The aim of this roundtable is to strengthen knowledge about the Convention against Torture and its provisions among civil society in Kyrgyzstan, as well as about the work of the Committee against Torture;
• The roundtable should enable discussions on the national implementation of the Convention in Kyrgyzstan with a view to drafting the alternative report and participation in the CAT session;
• The roundtable should take place as a half or full day event and will have to be organised in a manner facilitating the free participation of all CSO representatives present at the event. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event could take place online or in a hybrid format.

B. Drafting of an alternative report

The drafting of the alternative reports will have to be finalised prior to the CAT deadline for submission of 11 October 2021.

In drafting the shadow report, it is recommended to include the following:

• Provide in a structured manner information on the implementation of the Convention against Torture in Kyrgyzstan;
• Pay particular attention to the implementation of the Convention against Torture with regards to vulnerable groups including children, minorities, and women;
• Sustain the information with reliable, precise and clear facts;
• Use concrete examples and statistics;
• Make constructive recommendations for the improvement of the implementation of the Convention against Torture in Kyrgyzstan;
• If relevant, refer to Concluding Observations, reports, statements issued by other UN treaty bodies and special procedures; and official reports by the government of Kyrgyzstan;
• Information should not contain names of victims, except if related to cases already in the public domain or if the consent of the victims or their families has been obtained.

Moreover, technical support and orientation will also be provided during the drafting of the shadow report. Organisations attending the roundtable are welcome to contribute information to the alternative report.

C. Training for journalists

The training for journalists will be organised before the CAT review and is aimed at raising awareness about international standards and obligations in the field of the fight against torture, as well as about the functioning of UN treaty bodies and the Committee against Torture in particular.

• The participants could include traditional and social media journalists and bloggers from Kyrgyzstan or working in/on Kyrgyzstan;
• The training is to be conducted by local and international experts. If needed, OMCT’s experts can conduct the training as well;

• The training should take place as a full day event; due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this could be online or in a hybrid format;
• The participants in the training are welcome to take part in the screening of the CAT review of Kyrgyzstan and in the preparation of related publications.

3. DURATION AND DEADLINES

The roundtable has to be organised in September 2021.

The research and drafting of the shadow report have to be undertaken between August and September 2021. A complete draft needs to be submitted to the OMCT by October 1st, 2021. A narrative and financial report of the activity will have to be submitted to the OMCT by November 1st, 2021.

4. REQUIREMENTS AND ELEGIBILITY

Organisations with the following profile and competencies are encouraged to express their interest:

• Kyrgyz civil society organisations - preferably coalitions - specialised in working on the prohibition against torture, including torture and ill-treatment in remand and detention, violence against women, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearance;
• Kyrgyz civil society organisations that have reported to United Nations treaty bodies (preferably) and/or Human Rights Council, including to the Universal Periodic Review and Special Procedures;
• Kyrgyz civil society organisations that have published reports on torture or other ill-treatment.

5. APPLICATIONS AND CONSIDERATION

Applications will be accepted up to August 30, 2021, via email, to ean@omct.org

In order for your application to be considered, please send an email indicating "Kyrgyzstan CAT review" in the subject line, with the following attachments:

• A short narrative application identifying the outline for the shadow report and the methodology for information collection;
• A budget specifying the different expenses related to the roundtable, report drafting, the domestic screening and the training for journalists;
• A timeline for drafting the shadow report and the organisation of the roundtable, the training for journalists and the domestic broadcasting.

This call is made possible with the financial support of the European Union, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Irish government, and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the OMCT and can in no way be taken to reflect the position of the European Union, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Irish Government, or the Federal Department of foreign affairs of Switzerland.