Central Asian Ombudspersons reiterate dedication to the Paris Principles with a study visit to Finland

Central Asian Ombudspersons from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, visited Finland on 27–28 November to discuss pathways toward advancing the Paris Principles. The visit was organized in the auspices of the Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship, together with the Rule of Law Centre and the University of Helsinki Centre for Continuing Education.

In addition to the Ombudspersons, the meeting was attended by representatives of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. 

The aim of the meeting was to gain a concrete overview of each country's plans for implementing the Paris Principles, which set the international standards for the functioning of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). The meeting contributed to goal-oriented follow-up work in this regard.

The study visit built on the Ombudspersons’ previous meeting in Helsinki in spring 2024, where they exchanged valuable insights and best practices on issues such as the independence of the Ombudsperson, relations with the judiciary and court‑related complaints, and healthcare in closed institutions. This week’s discussions built on these, focusing on topics including integrity in reporting and case handling, as well as the criteria of the Istanbul Protocol, a set of international guidelines for investigating and documenting torture and ill-treatment.