Rus

 

Programme Components

  • Legislative reform
  • crime prevention
  • police reform
  • forensic services
  • prison reform

 

News

 

NEW SECURITY SYSTEM INTRODUCED TO THE PILOT DETENTION FACILITY IN KYRGYZSTAN

The opening ceremony of the renovated checkpoint and transmission room in the detention facility number 21 (SIZO-1) of the State Service of Execution of Punishment (SSEP) under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic took place on April 27, 2016 in Bishkek.

The facility is now equipped with modern X-ray system designed for inspecting packages for prisoners, and personal belongings of visitor in order to detect dangerous and prohibited objects and substances at the checkpoint of the detention facility. In order to improve the effectiveness of security in the facility SSEP has aslo created a special inspection group directly subordinate to the management of the facility.

Mr. Orozbek Enteriev - First Deputy Chairman of the SSEP and Ms. Ashita Mittal - Resident Representative of the UNODC Regional Office in Central Asia in their speeches noted the importance of these innovations to provide security in prisons as well as to preserve human rights in accordance with international conventions of the United Nations through strengthening the capacity of staff and introduction of modern technical means of surveillance and control in the practices of the personnel of the penitentiary system.  

The furnishing and equipping of the checkpoint and transmission room with modern equipment gear is a result of a research conducted in pilot prisons, both carried out with the support of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

UNODC is providing support to the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in implementing the National Development Strategy of penitentiary system of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2012-2016 and the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules).

 

GROUNDBREAKING OF NEW FORENSICS LAB – LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR ENHANCED RULE OF LAW

The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Embassy of the United States of America marked a new milestone in their partnership to improve the rule of law at a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new forensics laboratory in the Kyrgyz capital on March 10, 2016.

Head of the Government Administration, Mr. Nurkhanbek Momunaliev, Member of the Parliament, Mr. Almambet Shykmamatov, Minister of Justice, Ms. Zhyldyz Mambetalieva, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Mr. Alan Meltzer, and UNODC’s Regional Representative for Central Asia, Ms. Ashita Mittal, laid the foundation stone for new premises of the State Forensics Center (SFC) designed to significantly improve the quality of forensic services during the years to come.

UNODC is executing the refurbishment works worth approximately 48 million Kyrgyz Soms (or 630,000 U.S. Dollars) with financial support provided by the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). “Impartial data provided by forensic science laboratories is crucial to ensure fair trials and uphold the rule of law,” said Alan Meltzer, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. “That is why the US Government is committed to helping the people of the Kyrgyz Republic increase their access to professional forensic services.”

The State Forensics Centre under the Ministry of Justice is the main provider of forensic services in the Kyrgyz Republic, handling over 80% of all cases requiring forensic evidence.  Jyldyz Mambetalieva, the Minister of Justice, noted that construction of the new office and laboratory space is only the first step towards enhancement of this institution’s capacity: “The SFC is currently located in an old building dating back to the 1940s, which is unsuitable for a forensic science laboratory. Thanks to the U.S. funded UNODC project we are now better placed to establish a proper quality management system and gradually align our forensic services with international standards,” Ms. Mambetalieva stated.

UNODC provides guidance to UN Member States on forensic science through best practice manuals, training and testing, thus contributing to the worldwide availability of quality forensic services. “During the past two years we have been supporting professional development of forensic experts also here in Kyrgyzstan”,– UNODC Regional Representative in Central Asia, Ms. Ashita Mittal noted. “With the modernization of the SFC’s infrastructure, we’re taking another step in a joint endeavor to promote high quality expertise that will help Kyrgyzstan to attain international accreditation for its forensic services in the future,” Ms. Mittal added.

The U.S./INL funded forensics project is implemented within the framework of the UNODC Criminal Justice Program in the Kyrgyz Republic. This Program is part of the UNODC Integrated Country Program of Assistance for Kyrgyzstan 2014-2016 and the UNODC Program for Central Asia 2015-2019.

 

STATE SERVICE OF EXECUTION OF PUNISHMENT AND STATE SERVICE ON DRUG CONTROL SUM UP THE RESULTS OF JOINT WORK IN 2015

Following the results of the joint work in 2015, a Working Group Meeting took place on January 28th, 2015 over the implementation of the Project on Strengthening Efficient Cooperation between State Service of Execution of Punishment (SSEP) and State Drug on Control Service (SSDC) of the Kyrgyz Republic.

At the meeting featuring Vice-Chairmen of both services, the results of cooperation between SSEP and SSDC in 2015 were discussed, specifically in two areas: efficient cooperation in the field of combating and suppressing the illegal drug trafficking in the prison system, as well as strengthening the capacity of employees of the two services in this area.  Strengthening efficient cooperation between SSEP and SSDC is an important focus of both services, supported by UN Office On Drugs And Crime in KR (UNODC) to improve the efficiency of joint investigations of criminal cases, related to illegal drug trafficking; security procedures in correctional institutions to prevent illegal drug trafficking in the penal correction system; as well as improving the efficiency of the development and implementation of long-term programs for the control of drugs in the correctional facilities.

There has been an increase in the amount of narcotic drugs withdrawn during joint operations of SSEP, SSDC and other law enforcement agencies, which confirms the effectiveness of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between SSEP and SSDC, which is an important foundation for further strengthening of inter-agency approach to drug control in the penal system.

According to the operational services of SSEP the Interior Ministry and SSDC withdrew 140.9 kg of narcotic drugs in 2015 (119.9 kg - in 2014).

Since 2012, UNODC has been providing assistance in the implementation of the National Strategy for Development of the Penitentiary System of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2012-2016, the Joint Project on Strengthening Security in the Prison System, including strengthening inter-agency approach to drug control in prisons of the Kyrgyz Republic with the financial support of the U.S. Government, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

 

ENHANCINGSAFETY PROCEDURESIN PRISONS

 

On January 12-15, the staff of Pre-Trial Detention Center №1 in Bishkek are receiving training on new x-ray screening equipment at detention center checkpoints.  This training will strengthen the ability of prison staff to prevent the spread of drugs and other prohibited items inside prisons.  The United States provided this equipment through a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) project to strengthen prison security.  The total cost of reconstruction of the Pre-Trial Detention Center checkpoint and the equipment was 100.000 USD (7.8 million soms).  

Prisons are an important nexus in drug interdiction. Of the total prison population, about 5 percent are registered drug users[1].  Given the important role of the penitentiary system in the fight against drug trafficking, strengthening cooperation between the State Penitentiary Service and the State Service on Drug Control is crucial to combatting the proliferation of drugs.  UNODC has provided assistance to penitentiary institutions under the Criminal Justice Program since 2009.


[1] Anti-drug programme of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, approved by the Decree No.54 of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic as of January 27, 2014.

 

More news

 

programme overview

 

Duration: 2009-2016

Overall budget: USD 8,5 million

Objective: To promote the rule of law through strengthening the capacity of the criminal justice system of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Partners: Parliament, Presidential Administration, Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and civil society.

Donors: United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, European Union, United States of America, Sweden, and Turkey.


 
 

contact information

Address: 31-2 RAZZAKOV STREET, BISHKEK 720040, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

TEL: + 996 312 32-17-32, 32-17-33

FAX: + 996 312 32-18-93

WEBSITE: www.unodc.org