Training on monitoring weapons and restraints for Kyrgyzstan’s national anti-torture mechanism

On 4 April 2022, ODIHR is organizing training on monitoring weapons and restraints for Kyrgyzstan’s National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), the National Center for the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The training is part of ODIHR’s continuous work on preventing torture and strengthening the independent monitoring of places of detention in the OSCE region.

The training aims to enhance the skills of human rights monitors in monitoring and documenting the use of law enforcement equipment during arrest, riot control activities and in detention settings that could be used to inflict torture or ill-treatment, such as projectile electric shock weapons and other restraints. The training will be tailored to the specific needs of the National Center, taking into consideration the composition of the teams and the national context such as national legislation and law enforcement equipment in use in the country. In addition, the training will provide the basis to further develop specific recommendations to Kyrgyz authorities in this area.

The training will be based on the ODIHR/PRI Guidance Document on the Nelson Mandela Rules and the Omega Research Foundation’s Practical Guide on Monitoring Weapons and Restraints in Places of Detention. This activity builds on training successfully delivered to the Polish, Slovenian and Austrian NPMs.