On June 25, 2025, the Kyrgyz Parliament passed two controversial laws on media freedoms and protection against torture. The first law merges the National Center for the Prevention of Torture with the state-run Ombudsman’s Office, stripping the Center of its independence and narrowing its mandate. This undermines its ability to respond to gender-based violence and abuse in detention, where women require specialized and independent protection. Without a separate mechanism, survivors’ risk being ignored or silenced, in violation of international human rights standards. The second law gives authorities broad power to shut down media outlets, bans unregistered websites from publishing, and limits foreign ownership to 35% percent. These restrictions target independent and women-led media, threatening coverage of violence against women, discrimination, and other critical issues. Together, these laws restrict oversight, silence dissent, and endanger women most affected by violence and repression.
Compiled from: Kyrgyzstan: Parliament Weakens Torture Protection, Media Freedom, Human Rights Watch, June 27, 2025.