Uzbekistan: Human Rights

House of Lords written question – answered at on 4 December 2007.

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Photo of Lord Judd Lord Judd Labour

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have made an assessment of the report by Human Rights Watch Nowhere to Turn, published in November, concerning torture and ill-treatment in Uzbekistan; if so, what is their response; and what action they are taking.

Photo of Lord Malloch-Brown Lord Malloch-Brown Minister of State (Africa, Asia and the UN), Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Minister of State (Africa, Asia and the UN)

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, Nowhere to Turn, assesses Uzbekistan's record on torture, co-operation with the UN agencies and new legislation in preparation. It looks at the effectiveness of current legislation, the complaints mechanism and punishment for perpetrators, the criminal justice system and the actual behaviour of law enforcement and others. The report goes on to provide details of individual cases. These details tally with the reports that we receive in Tashkent from victims, their families and lawyers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and human rights defenders. We therefore share HRW's assessment that despite some positive steps in criminal justice reform, which we welcome, there has been no significant change in the widespread use of torture. Fundamental reform to policies and practices is needed if torture is to be eradicated.

The issue of torture continues to form part of our dialogue on human rights with the Uzbek authorities. During the EU-Uzbekistan Human Rights Dialogue in May 2007, the EU expressed its concern at persistent reports that torture continues to be widespread. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's 2006 annual human rights report also details our concerns. We stand ready to assist Uzbekistan to fulfil its obligations under the convention against torture. For example, our embassy in Tashkent funded the participation of an Uzbek human rights NGO at the UN committee against torture session on Uzbekistan. We will also continue to work with the Uzbek authorities towards improved respect for human rights in other areas, for example with the implementation of recent legislation on the abolition of the death penalty and the introduction of habeas corpus.

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