The Institute of the Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic conducted a review of the rights of incarcerated women with children in the children's home of correctional facility No. 2.
During the visit, the institute's staff assessed the living conditions, held discussions with the women and representatives of the administration.
At the time of monitoring, there were three women with children under the age of one and a half years in the children's home.
According to Article 100 of the Criminal Executive Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, mothers have the right to keep their children until they are three years old.
The women expressed dissatisfaction with the low quality of food, insufficient medical care, and the lack of necessary hygiene conditions.
According to them, the food does not meet standards and is often inedible due to the poor quality of the products.
The monitoring revealed the presence of milk with an expired shelf life, as well as rotten potatoes in the kitchen.
Moreover, during the inspection, the sewage system in the colony was shut down, and mothers with small children were forced to use an outdoor toilet.
Additionally, there was no hot water in the bathroom due to a malfunctioning water heater.
The women also complained about the lack of personal hygiene facilities and insufficient clothing for newborns, and cleaning supplies were provided only once every two months. Therefore, they had to purchase them at their own expense.
The mothers noted that despite the presence of heating, it is very cold in the premises during winter.
“The windows are cracked, some are taped up, and some have no glass at all. We are forced to use electric appliances for heating, which leaves wires on the floor, causing concerns,” they reported.
The monitoring results revealed violations of women's rights and their living conditions in accordance with the UN Bangkok Rules and the Nelson Mandela Rules, as well as the Criminal Executive Code of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Jamilya Jamambaeva, the Ombudsman, sent a request to the State Service for the Execution of Punishments demanding the elimination of all identified violations and ensuring the rights of the incarcerated women and their children.
During a follow-up monitoring, the institute's staff checked what measures had been taken by the administration of facility No. 2.
As a result, it was found that the living conditions in the children's home had improved: the sewage system was repaired, a 100-liter water heater was installed, windows were replaced, and a washing machine and a new refrigerator were purchased.
