Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Kyrgyzstan (Ratification: 1999)

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Article 1(a) of the Convention. Sanctions involving compulsory labour as a punishment for the expression of political views or views opposed to the established political, social or economic system. The Committee notes that the United Nations Human Rights Committee, in its 2022 concluding observations, expressed concern about reports of undue government pressure on human rights defenders, lawyers, politicians, journalists and other individuals for expressing their opinion, including the initiation of criminal proceedings against bloggers and journalists (CCPR/C/KGZ/CO/3). The Committee also notes the statement of the United Nations Human Rights Office spokesperson of 26 October 2022 indicating the arrests and initiation of criminal charges against more than 20 people, including activists and bloggers, for organizing mass riots.

The Committee recalls that Article 1(a) of the Convention prohibits the use of forced or compulsory labour as a means of political coercion or education or as a punishment for holding or expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system. In this regard, the Committee has stressed that the range of activities that must be protected from punishment involving compulsory labour, includes the right to freedom of expression, which may be exercised orally or through the press and other communications media, as well as various other recognized rights, such as the right of association and assembly (see 2012 General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, paragraph 302).

The Committee therefore requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that in practice persons who peacefully express certain political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system are not punished with penalties involving compulsory labour.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.