Statement of the European Union Delegation in the Kyrgyz Republic

The European Union Delegation in the Kyrgyzstan welcomes the 2022 Annual Report of the Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic, which is in line with the country’s pledges in the UN General Assembly (resolution 60/251), related to the Human Rights Council. The commitments to strengthen and build the potential and capacity of national human rights institutions to carry out their mandates effectively and independently, as well as to strengthen the independence of the office of the Ombudsman, in line with the Paris Principles, once again illustrates the leading role that Kyrgyzstan holds in the region in terms of open public discussion on human rights challenges in the country.

The European Union Delegation commends the work of the Ombudsman on a robust report, which also identifies the root causes of human rights violations. Thus further demonstrating the importance of the role of the Ombudsman Office in maintaining rule of law and strengthening the further development of human rights in society as a whole.

The European Union Delegation encourages Kyrgyzstan to in line with its pledges and commitments in the Human Rights Council, continue to strengthen the independence of national human rights institutions, like the Ombudsman’s Office, and to ambitiously pursue status A of this vital institution, according to the Paris Principles.