Bakhytzhan Toregozhina

Bakhytzhan Toregozhina was born on 23 March 1962 and is a Kazakhstan national.{{Cite web |title=Communication No 2137/2012: Views adopted by the Committee at its 112th session (7-31 October 2014) |url=https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CCPR/C/112/D/2137/2012&Lang=en |access-date=2023-03-12 |publisher=United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies}}

Toregozhina is a human rights activist on the rule of law and worked to assist victims, document human rights violations, and defend people persecuted for expressing their rights. She began promoting the development of NGOs in 1999 and in the following years, she worked on fundraising activities for a network of human rights organizations and peaceful assemblies. She has been a member of councils that oversee the status of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. Alyan Tirek was reported as another effort that she worked on which provided humanitarian and legal assistance to prisoners. In 2017, she gave a press conference on Iskander Erimbetov's torture in custody.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-15 |title=Kazakhstan: Businessman Alleges Torture |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/02/15/kazakhstan-businessman-alleges-torture |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=StackPath |url=https://www.gherson.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/PROGRAMME_PERSECUTION-OF-LAWYERS.pdf |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=www.gherson.com}}{{Cite news |date=2018-01-25 |title=U.S. Lawyer To Defend Jailed Kazakh Businessman 'Tortured' In Custody |language=en |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-jailed-erimbetov-us-lawyer/28997977.html |access-date=2023-03-12}} For nearly 25 years, she has been a voice against torture and campaigned for the release of political prisoners.

Toregozhina founded or co-founded various human rights organizations. She has been serving as the head of the Qantar 2022, and another Public Foundation known as Ar. Rukh. Khak.{{Cite web |date=26 April 2015 |title=REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN EARLY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION |url=https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/d/b/144871.pdf |access-date=2023-03-12 |publisher=Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights}}{{Cite web |date=2015-11-15 |title=Bakhytzhan Toregozhina |url=https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/profile/bakhytzhan-toregozhina |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Front Line Defenders |language=en}} In 2004, she initiated Kahar,{{cite web |date=2006-03-20 |title=Parliamentary Assembly |url=https://assembly.coe.int/committee/POL/2006/POL028E.pdf |access-date=2023-03-12 |publisher=Council of Europe}} a popular youth movement that served as an inspiration for the formation of other youth groups. In 2005, she organized NGOs to monitor parliamentary elections. Toregozhina also mobilized students and youth through summer schools of democracy and served as a liaison for the implementation of jury laws and related topics in higher education institutions. In 2012, she co-founded Sailau, a coalition of NGOs that monitored elections. She also participated in the drafting of alternative laws on elections.

In 2020, Toregozhina raised concerns about Kazakhstan's repressive system against activists during COVID-19 global pandemic. The restrictions were on freedom of speech, access to information, compliance with and exercise of human rights including treatment of people, supply of medications, and restriction on the rights of peaceful assemblies behind the scene.{{Cite web |title=Pandemic and Human Rights: Only Repressive System is Functioning in Kazakhstan |url=https://school.cabar.asia/en/articles/pandemic-and-human-rights-only-repressive-system-is-functioning-in-kazakhstan/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Cabar School |language=en-US}}

Mass arrest of protestors prompted the 5 January 2022 unrest in major cities across Kazakhstan.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-21 |title=Kazakh police raided hospitals to round up victims of protest crackdown - report |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/central-asia/kazakhstan-protesters-hospital-police-raid-b1997866.html |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=The Independent |language=en}} Toregozhina described the situation as a political puzzle and as a populist measure taken to score political points ahead of the election. On 1 September 2022, President Tokayev announced an amnesty for the protesters but this raised controversies about whether the amnesty protects most peaceful demonstrators, human rights defenders, and civil activists from “extremist” charges, and its limitation to acquit those convicted.

Police entered a youth group office with parents compliant against Toregozhina for allegedly recruiting children for political activity, and for rewarding the youth with money from abroad. Human Rights Watch reported that large numbers of police broke up a peaceful demonstration (involving releasing balloons) sponsored by Kahar on April 12 and its concern on governments' measure to discourage youth activism.{{Cite news |date=2008-04-08 |title=Police In Kazakhstan Raid Youth Group Office |language=en |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1061880.html |access-date=2023-03-12}}{{Cite web |date=2005-10-11 |title=Kazakhstan: New Restrictions Put Election at Risk |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2005/10/11/kazakhstan-new-restrictions-put-election-risk |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Human Rights Watch |language=en}}

On 16 March 2010, police entered Toregozhina's office, arrested and convicted her for organizing an “art-mob” event during civil disobedience Commemoration day which she presented a legal case against the government for the violations of her constitutional rights.{{Cite web |title= Human Rights Committee Communication No 2137/2012 |url=https://docstore.ohchr.org/SelfServices/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=6QkG1d/PPRiCAqhKb7yhsukPtYsnxNH1DBeueuCbK4heuakPqXozlECb4l21ioAB3mr/HBNRNld58Zu+KMN6QRJ9rT/iQfBCN7mwlgCUWSAOLFd7EXcNvaguHTxb/ks/4akWWjKKXyeEdbXBXfKZtw== |access-date=2023-03-12 |publisher=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights}}

At least 33 people, including Toregozhina, were detained between 16 and 20 May 2016, due to reported violations related to Facebook posts on a demonstration and land issues.{{Cite web |title=Kazakhstan: Think before you post: Closing down social media space in Kazakhstan |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur57/5644/2017/en/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Amnesty International |language=en}}

Toregozhina was listed as one of the human rights defenders who are subjected to political persecution related to the January 2022 unrest.{{Cite web |last=Melnychenko |first=Natalia |date=2022-10-20 |title=KAZAKHSTAN: The List of Political Prisoners and Other Victims of Political Persecutions |url=https://en.odfoundation.eu/a/426901,kazakhstan-the-list-of-political-prisoners-and-other-victims-of-political-persecutions/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Open Dialogue Foundation |language=en-US}}

OCCRP reported that Toregozhina was among the Pegasus targeted politicians, journalists, and human rights activists for wiretapping or surveillance. Pegasus was developed by the Israeli company, NSO Group and used to spy on various politically active groups.{{Cite web |title=Bakhytzhan Toregozhina |url=https://jfj.fund/jfj/bakhytzhan-toregozhina/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Justice for Journalists |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Kazakhstan Uses Spyware Against Its Own Citizens |url=https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/16477-kazakhstan-uses-spyware-against-its-own-citizens |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=www.occrp.org |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Tokayev, Mamin and Sagintayev became objects of spyware surveillance |url=https://kaztag.kz/en/news/tokayev-mamin-and-sagintayev-became-objects-of-spyware-surveillance |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=kaztag.kz |language=en}}

Toregozhina received the 2023 International Women of Courage Award which recognized those who demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership. Her contributions were applauded as vital human rights defenders' role in holding governments accountable and encouraging respect for basic rights and freedoms. The ceremony was hosted by the U.S. Department of State.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-08 |title=11 women, girls and women protesting Iranian morality police, honored at IWOC Awards |url=https://www.abc27.com/hill-politics/11-women-girls-and-women-protesting-iranian-morality-police-honored-at-iwoc-awards/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=ABC27 |language=en-US}}

• International Women of Courage Award
• List of women's rights activists
• Human rights in Kazakhstan

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Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:Kazakhstani human rights activists

Category:Kazakhstani women activists

Category:Women human rights activists

Category:Recipients of the International Women of Courage Award