A/HRC/20/12 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 3 April 2012 Original: English Human Rights Council Twentieth session Agenda items 2 and 10 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Technical assistance and capacity-building Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on technical assistance and cooperation on human rights for Kyrgyzstan Summary The Human Rights Council, in its resolution 17/20 of 17 June 2011, requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue providing technical assistance, through her Regional Office in Bishkek, and to work with the Government of Kyrgyzstan and other actors, as needed, to identify additional areas of assistance that will aid Kyrgyzstan in fulfilling its human rights obligations, to brief the Council on progress and to submit a report thereon to the Council for consideration at its twentieth session. The present report covers the period from June 2011 to February 2012. It identifies and reviews the main human rights developments, and describes the technical assistance provided by OHCHR to the Government of Kyrgyzstan. The report describes, inter alia, the legislative changes as well as the ongoing selection of judges, which should be done in a transparent manner in line with international human rights standards. The report also notes that serious institutional deficiencies have hampered the delivery of justice and undermined the rule of law, and points out that the lack of progress in addressing these matters impacts on reconciliation and peacebuilding efforts between the ethnic communities, as well as between civil society and authorities, with serious risks for the long-term stability of the country. The report further describes the ongoing practice of arbitrary detention and torture and continued discriminatory patterns based on ethnic grounds. In this context, it highlights institutional shortcomings, lack of capacity and, in some instances, lack of political will to take necessary measures. The High Commissioner acknowledges the spirit of cooperation between the Government and her Office and proposes recommendations to further the promotion and protection of human rights in Kyrgyzstan. GE.12-12626