CAT/C/UZB/CO/3
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The State party should ensure the protection of women in places of detention and
elsewhere, and the establishment of clear procedures for complaints as well as
mechanisms for monitoring and oversight. The State party should ensure protection
of women by adopting specific legislative and other measures to prevent in practice
domestic violence in accordance with the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence
against Women (General Assembly resolution 48/104) and provide for protection of
victims, access to medical, social and legal services and temporary accommodation.
Perpetrators should also be held accountable.
22.
The Committee remains concerned at trafficking in women for purposes of sexual
exploitation.
The State party should adopt and strengthen effective measures to prevent and
combat trafficking in women.
23.
The Committee is concerned about reports about inter-prisoner violence, including sexual
violence, in places of detention.
The State party should take prompt measures to protect detainees in practice from
such inter-prisoner violence. Further, the State party should collect information on
such incidents and provide the Committee with its findings and measures taken to
prevent, investigate, and prosecute or punish persons found responsible.
Non-refoulement
24.
The Committee is concerned at the allegations received that individuals have not been
afforded the full protection provided for by article 3 of the Convention in relation to expulsion,
return or deportation from another country. The Committee is particularly concerned at reports
of forcible return of recognized refugees and/or asylum-seekers from neighbouring countries and
the unknown conditions, treatment and whereabouts since their arrival in the State party, some of
whom were extradited from neighbouring countries. Although the State party’s representatives
stated that there is no longer a need for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to
be present in the country, the Committee is concerned that at least 700 recognized refugees are
resident in the State party and are in need of protection and resettlement.
The State party should adopt a refugee law that complies with the terms of the
Convention. The State party should invite the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees to return and to assist in providing protection and resettlement for the
refugee population. It is encouraged to consider becoming party to the 1951 Refugee
Convention and its 1967 Optional Protocol.
Other ill-treatment
25.
The Committee reiterates its concern with the delay in transferring the prison system
from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Ministry of Justice and notes that insufficient
explanation was provided.
The State party should consider the transfer of the prison system from the Ministry
of Internal Affairs to the Ministry of Justice without delay, with the aim of
institutionalizing oversight and accountability for executive decisions in the judicial
branch of Government.