AKIPRESS.COM - The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek handed over video surveillance equipment to the National Security Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic on October 24, 2017 in the city of Os, the OSCE said in press release.

The video equipment consisting of 18 security cameras will enhance security in the remand prison as well as contribute to prevention of torture and other cruel and degrading treatment or punishment in penitentiaries.

“The hand-over of equipment is a part of the Programme Office’s long-term efforts to support on-going criminal justice reform in Kyrgyzstan aimed at enabling state actors to perform their duties transparently and in compliance with the human rights obligations,” said Kakhramon Sanginov, Acting Senior Human Dimension Officer of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

Video monitoring and digital verification of the detention process will allow the law enforcement bodies to effectively address citizen’s complaints about any cases of improper treatment and detect suspicious activities. Besides, surveillance footage is an effective monitoring tool to record cases of inmate and officer’s misconduct and resort to violence unfolding within the institutions in question.

“The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek has greatly assisted the SCNS in Osh province by providing modern video surveillance equipment. A productive collaboration of the SCNS with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek is not limited to the technical support. We are also actively engaged in capacity building initiatives that are supported by the Office”, said Idris Kadyrkulov, Head of the Main Department of the State Committee for National Security of Osh and Osh province.

The Programme Office has been steadfast in providing expert and technical support to law enforcement bodies in different areas. More recently, the OSCE Programme Office assisted the General Prosecutor Office and SCNS of Kyrgyzstan in development of the Manual on the effective mechanisms of torture investigation. The Manual will be lately included into the curricula of the SCNS Training Centre. The specialized video equipment was handed over within the framework of the OSCE Project on Promoting a Comprehensive Approach to the Rule of Law, Administration of Justice, Prevention of Torture and Penitentiary Reform.