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Association for Human Rights in Central Asia (AHRCA)

Website:

www.ahrca.org
Type:

Human Rights Organization
Founded:

2006
President:

Nadejda Atayeva
Headquarters:

16 rue de Docteur Leroy
Location:

Le Mans, France

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Association for Human Rights in Central Asia (AHRCA) is a human rights organization focusing on Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. AHRCA monitors events and advocates for political prisoners, torture prevention, the rule of law, labor rights, internet and human rights, and art and human rights. AHRCA works with the United Nations, European Union (EU), and United States to pressure governments on human rights and help victims. AHRCA publishes reports, conducts petitions, and cites examples of human rights abuses in the five countries it monitors.

History

Association for Human Rights in Central Asia is an independent human rights organization founded in 2006. 1 AHRCA was formed following the 2005 Andijan massacre in Uzbekistan, where government troops fired into protesters killing hundreds of people. 2 Appeals were made for help from the United Nations, European Union, and United States to help victims and pressure the government. 3

Following the event, Andijan became a closed city, travel throughout Uzbekistan was restricted, human rights activists and journalists were arrested, and Uzbekistan rejected an EU proposal to install international experts to investigate the matter. 3 As a result, the European Union imposed sanctions on Uzbekistan. 3

From this tragedy the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia was formed. 3 AHRCA also cites incidents from other central Asian nations as inspiring its founding, including the president of Tajikistan removing opponents of any dissent and ethnic conflict and suppression of journalists and human rights workers in Kyrgyzstan. 3 The five central Asian countries of AHRCA’s focus are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. 4

Issues

The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia authors report on human rights abuses, circulate online petitions, and send letters to political prisoners. 5 AHRCA focuses on six main issues: political prisoners, torture prevention, rule of law, labor rights, internet and human rights, and art and human rights. 6

AHRCA tracks prisoners in the region noting many are accused and imprisoned members of the opposition party to the government. 7 AHRCA seeks to prevent torture, noting past uses of pouring hot water on prisoners, beatings with rubber truncheons, electric shocks, and food deprivation. 8 AHRCA monitors rule of law rights including access to an attorney, prosecution of human rights activists, and government confiscation of property. 9 The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia advocates against forced labor alleging that Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan employ two of the world’s largest systems of state-sponsored forced labor. 10

AHRCA monitors internet freedoms and was formed after Uzbek authorities threatened a blogger regarding the Andijan massacre. 3 The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia sponsors an Art and Human Rights project that releases art based on letters from prisoners and produces art on the political conditions in the five Central Asia countries. 11

Countries

In Kazakhstan, AHRCA raised concern over the taxation of three human rights nonprofits contrary to Kazak law that imposes no tax liability on noncommercial organizations. 12 In 2022, AHRCA and other organizations called for peace and nonviolent protests against rising fuel prices leading to police clashes and the country’s leader stating he would use the harshest possible measures against the protesters. 13 In 2011, AHRCA called for transparency after a protest against the oil and gas industry in Kazakhstan resulted in protesters committing arson and police response leaving 14 dead and 86 injured. 14 In 2016, AHRCA called for the release of activists arrested prior to protests over new land reforms. 15

The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia has worked in Kyrgyzstan on torture prevention, to support refugees, to endorse freedom of expression, and to oppose ethnic conflicts. 16 AHRCA cited torture to obtain coerced confessions, refugees to Kyrgyzstan who had been taken prisoner or were missing, mass arrests of government critics, and attacks on ethnic Uzbeks in the country. 17

AHRCA monitors Turkmenistan but has published little information. 18 Amnesty International notes that Turkmenistan continues serious human rights violations and has strict control over information and the media. 19

In Tajikistan, AHRCA called for the reversal of the Justice Ministry’s forced closure of the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan and revocation of its status as a national political party. 20 At the time, the party was the second-largest in the country and faced increased scrutiny and intimidation from the government. 20 Thirteen members of the party were arrested and the party leader fled the country. 21 AHRCA cites multiple instances in which refugees from Tajikistan were forcibly returned to the country to face alleged charges. 22

In Uzbekistan, the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia cites human rights violations including police violence, restrictions on freedom of assembly, harassment of journalists and bloggers, restrictions on access to the internet, and torture and ill-treatment of prisoners. 23 AHRCA cites a July 2022 protest over amendments to the constitution that led to 21 deaths, over 270 injuries, and over 500 people arrested. 23 Protesters were accused of attempting to storm government buildings and the government of Uzbekistan declared a month-long state of emergency and suspended internet access. 23 The first criminal trial was broadcast live but abruptly stopped airing when defendants claimed being tortured while in custody. 23 From 2020-2022, international observers state more than 20 bloggers were arrested for criticizing the government and receiving penalties from house arrest to 16 years in prison. 23 Internet access in Uzbekistan blocks sites from international human rights groups and restricts information leading up to presidential elections or during civil unrest. 23

Leadership

Nadejda Atayeva has been president of the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia since 2006. 24 Atayeva, her father, and brother left Uzbekistan in 2000 after harassment and threats by the government over refusing to cooperate with the government on the falsification of grain production statistics. 25 She was granted political asylum in France in 2002. 26

References

  1. “Who Are We?” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. Accessed June 25, 2023. https://ahrca.org/about-ahrca; “Association for Human Rights in Central Asia.” Twitter. Accessed June 25, 2023. https://twitter.com/ahrca.
  2. “The Andijan Massacre.” Human Rights Watch. 2006. Accessed June 25, 2023. https://www.hrw.org/legacy/campaigns/andijan/; “Who Are We?” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. Accessed June 25, 2023. https://ahrca.org/about-ahrca.
  3. “Who Are We?” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. Accessed June 25, 2023. https://ahrca.org/about-ahrca
  4. “Region.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. Accessed June 25, 2023. https://ahrca.org
  5. “Publications.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/publications.
  6. “Issues.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. Accessed June 25, 2023. https://ahrca.org.
  7. “Tajikistan: Release Gravely Ill Activist.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. March 20, 2019. Accessed June 25, 2023. https://ahrca.org/tadjikistan/151-torture/1012-tajikistan-release-gravely-ill-activist; “U.N. Human Rights Committee 128th Session – Uzbekistan.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. March 2, 2020. Accessed June 25, 2023. https://ahrca.org/130-report/1065-at-the-128th-session-of-the-un-human-rights-committee-the-human-rights-situation-in-uzbekistan-was-discussed. “Uzbekistan: Political Prisoner Murad Djuraev Is Forced to Backbreaking Labour.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. October 16, 2013. Accessed June 25, 2023; https://ahrca.org/uzbekistan/92-political-prisoners/467-uzbekistan-political-prisoner-murad-djuraev-is-forced-to-backbreaking-labour.
  8. “Arrested Human Rights Activist Agzam Turgunov is Tortured With Hot Water.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. Accessed June 25, 2023. https://ahrca.org/uzbekistan/91-defenders/474-arrested-human-rights-activist-agzam-turgunov-is-tortured-with-hot-water; “Endemic Torture in Uzbekistan.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. September 21, 2015. Accessed June 25, 2023. https://ahrca.org/130-report/814-endemic-torture-in-uzbekistan.
  9. “Rule of Law.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia.” Accessed June 25, 2023. https://ahrca.org/tags/rule-of-law; “Rule of Law.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia.” Accessed June 25, 2023. https://ahrca.org/tags/rule-of-law?start=40.
  10. “Trafficking In Persons Report.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. June 2016. Accessed June 25, 2023. https://ahrca.org/uzbekistan/94-exploitation/901-united-states-takes-strong-stand-against-forced-labor-in-cotton.
  11. “Art and Human Rights.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. Accessed June 25, 2023. https://ahrca.org/art-and-human-rights.
  12. “Statement About Prosecution of Human Rights Activists.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. January 19, 2017. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/kazakhstan/166-defenders/918-statement-about-prosecution-of-human-rights-activists.
  13. “Joint Statement By Members of the Civic Solidarity Platform and Other NGOs On the Alarming Situation in Kazakhstan.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. January 6, 2022. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/kazakhstan/166-defenders/1117-joint-statement-by-members-of-the-civic-solidarity-platform-and-other-ngos-on-the-alarming-situation-in-kazakhstan.
  14. “We Condemn Kazakh Authorities For the Excessive Use of Force Against Civilians.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. December 20, 2011. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/kazakhstan/168-torture/697-we-condemn-kazakh-authorities-for-the-excessive-use-of-force-against-civilians.
  15. “Kazakhstan: Free Activists and Allow Peaceful Protests To Take Place.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. May 20, 2016. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/kazakhstan/171-freedom-to-express/896-kazakhstan-free-activists-and-allow-peaceful-protests-to-take-place.
  16. “Kyrgyzstan.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia.” Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/kyrgyzstan.
  17. “Kyrgyzstan: Drop Charges Against Human Rights Defender.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. June 12, 2020. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/kyrgyzstan/160-torture-prevention/1119-kyrgyzstan-drop-charges-against-human-rights-defender; “Kyrgyzstan: Mirzakhid Vakhabdjanov Denied the Right To A Fair Trial.” December 9, 2011. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/kyrgyzstan/160-torture-prevention/524-kyrgyzstan-mirzakhid-vakhabdjanov-denied-the-right-to-a-fair-trial; “Refugees.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/kyrgyzstan/162-refugees; “Freedom to Express.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/kyrgyzstan/163-freedom-to-express; “Ethnic Strife.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/kyrgyzstan/172-kirghizistan-june-2010.
  18. “Turkmenistan.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/turkmenistan
  19. “Turkmenistan 2022.” Amnesty International. 2022. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/europe-and-central-asia/turkmenistan/report-turkmenistan/#:~:text=Turkmenistan%202022,of%20information%20and%20all%20media.
  20. “Tajikistan: Reverse Political Party Closure.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. September 14, 2015. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/tadjikistan/147-religion/815-tajikistan-reverse-political-party-closure.
  21. “Trial Against 13 Members of the Islamic Renaissance Party Begins in Tajikistan.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. February 8, 2016. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/tadjikistan/147-religion/880-trial-against-13-members-of-the-islamic-renaissance-party-begins-in-tajikistan.
  22. “Tajikistan.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/tadjikistan.
  23. “Uzbekistan: Briefing for Visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.” Association for Human Rights in Central Asia. March 14, 2023. Accessed June 26, 2023. https://ahrca.org/uzbekistan/91-defenders/1141-uzbekistan-briefing-for-visit-of-un-high-commissioner-for-human-rights.
  24. “Nadejda Atayeva.” LinkedIn. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadejda-atayeva-04128438/.
  25. “Uzbekistan: Sentencing in Absentia of Ms. Nadejda Atayeva.” International Federation for Human Rights. August 16, 2013. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://www.fidh.org/en/region/europe-central-asia/uzbekistan-sentencing-in-absentia-of-ms-nadejda-atayeva-13826.
  26. “Sentencing in Absentia of Ms. Nadejda Atayeva.” World Organization Against Torture. August 16, 2013. Accessed June 24, 2023. https://www.omct.org/en/resources/urgent-interventions/sentencing-in-absentia-of-ms-nadejda-atayeva.
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