HRW Advocates for Human Rights in Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Border Agreement

Human Rights Watch urges Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to prioritize human rights in their border agreement, stressing the need for justice for war crime victims from the 2022 conflict. Both nations face serious allegations while navigating a new deal that aims to resolve longstanding disputes. UN Secretary-General António Guterres commends the agreement as historic, emphasizing the need for implementation that benefits local populations.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called upon Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to prioritize human rights within their agreement aimed at resolving the enduring border crisis. The organization emphasized the importance of ensuring justice for victims of war crimes from the 2022 conflict, which left many affected by human rights violations.

HRW urged both nations to support thorough investigations into alleged violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, while also advocating for long-term initiatives to foster respect for human rights. Hugh Williamson, HRW’s Europe and Central Asia director, stated, “long-lasting peace will require rebuilding trust based on respect for human rights between border communities and reckoning with the injustices committed during past conflicts.”

Allegations of war crimes have emerged against both nations due to the 2022 conflict, which claimed the lives of at least 37 civilians and displaced thousands in just four days. Previous clashes in 2021 also resulted in civilian casualties, underscoring the intensity of ongoing tensions. Both countries are parties to Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibits the deliberate killing of civilians and indiscriminate attacks.

A new agreement was signed on March 13, 2025, and ratified by both parliaments, effectively reopening the 1,000 km border and resolving a long-standing dispute. The deal outlines mutual resource sharing, including water, a commitment to demilitarization, and an exchange of equal territory sections. HRW has urged both governments to uphold the agreement and ensure that local communities have access to essential services like education, water, and housing.

In support of this agreement, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has lauded it as a “historic achievement.” The border between the two nations, not formally demarcated after their independence from the Soviet Union, has been the site of sporadic skirmishes, particularly over vital agricultural resources, with significant violence erupting only in 2021.

In summary, Human Rights Watch underscores the necessity of prioritizing human rights in the recent border agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Ensuring justice for past conflicts and promoting ongoing human rights initiatives are vital for fostering trust and establishing a sustainable peace. The agreement’s successful implementation is crucial for improving the lives of local populations, with the international community, including the UN, recognizing the importance of this development.

Original Source: www.jurist.org