A/HRC/44/4 105. Tunisia commended Kyrgyzstan on the ratification of a number of international conventions and on amendments made to the Criminal Code regarding trafficking in persons. 106. Turkey welcomed the introduction of the Business Ombudsman and noted with satisfaction the progress made in the implementation of the two national action plans for achieving gender equality. 107. Turkmenistan commended Kyrgyzstan on the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and welcomed the adoption of the State programme for family support and child protection for the period 2018–2028. 108. Ukraine noted the elaboration of the national human rights action plan and the implementation of legislative measures to combat enforced disappearance and torture. 109. The United Kingdom welcomed the improvement of legislation on gender-based violence and on child, early and forced marriage and urged Kyrgyzstan to protect freedom of the media. 110. The United States of America urged Kyrgyzstan to release the human rights defender, Mr. Askarov, on humanitarian grounds and noted that the amendment made in 2019 to the law on extremism has helped to protect freedom of religion. 111. Uruguay recognized the legislative efforts of Kyrgyzstan to promote and protect women’s rights but was concerned about the persistent violations of the rights of minority groups. 112. Uzbekistan welcomed the reforms undertaken with regard to the independence of the judiciary, the social rights of vulnerable groups and gender equality. 113. During the interactive dialogue, it was reported that, since 2014, the Ministry of Health in Kyrgyzstan had been applying the Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Government had also adopted a plan of action to combat torture. 114. The delegation stated that there was no need to create an independent mechanism to investigate allegations of torture related to the violent events of 2010, given that all torture complaints had been considered and relevant decisions had been made. It was asserted that the complaints had been received long after the events – two to three years – and after the disappearance of the signs of torture. 115. To combat corruption, several legal acts had been adopted, and the national Security Council had developed action plans. The Government had also launched a nationwide programme of digital transformation to build an information society based on transparent public administration and universal access to information for citizens. 116. Measures had been developed to ensure unimpeded access to pretrial detention facilities for the Ombudsman and the national centre for the prevention of torture. Mandatory video surveillance had been introduced in all temporary holding facilities and unscheduled checks initiated. In 2019 and 2016, with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), temporary holding facilities had been constructed in line with international standards. 117. Kyrgyzstan had adopted a programme for combating trafficking in persons and an action plan for its implementation, as well as a national mechanism for the referral of victims. The Government was furthering cooperation with the law enforcement bodies of other States and conducting awareness-raising campaigns. 118. It was asserted that, according to the Constitution, everyone had the right to peaceful assembly and that there was no ban or restriction on organizing and conducting peaceful assemblies. It was prohibited to adopt by-laws restricting the right to peaceful assembly, and legislation was envisaged on liability for hindrance to peaceful assembly. 119. The representative office of the Ministry of the Interior operated in the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan to protect the rights and interests of citizens of Kyrgyzstan. 120. Laws established administrative and criminal liability for the destabilization of interethnic relations. Legal amendments had been made on local State administration to ensure 8