As of 1 April 2014, a coalition of three Central Asian NGOs and one European NGO began implementing a new project in support of fundamental rights and freedoms in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The project, entitled “A transnational civil society coalition in support of fundamental rights in Central Asia” is aimed at strengthening civil society action to hold the governments of the three countries accountable to their international obligations on freedom of expression and assembly, equality before the law and access to justice, as well as non-discrimination. These areas of human rights protection are currently characterized by serious and systematic violations in the target region.
The new project will be implemented by Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law together with its partner organizations Nota Bene (Tajikistan), Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (based in exile in Austria) and International Partnership for Human Rights (Belgium) with financial assistance from the European Union. The project will be carried out in the period April 2014-September 2016 in the following areas of activities: monitoring compliance with international human rights standards and assisting victims of violations; human rights campaigning vis-à-vis international institutions; as well as awareness-raising and capacity-building of civil society on issues concerning the international protection of human rights.
The implementing organizations have already previously worked together in different settings and will build on this experience when carrying out the new project. On 8-9 April 2014, representatives of the four organizations gathered for a kick-off meeting in Istanbul (Turkey) to discuss major aspects of the implementation of the project and elaborate a plan of action for the project period. In the realization of the project, the four organizations will also coordinate and cooperate with other human rights NGOs at the national, regional and international level.
For more information:
Roza Akylbekova, Director of Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, +7-727 2395345
Nigina Bakhrieva, Director of Nota Bene, +992 (44) 600-26-26
Farid Tukbatullin, Director of Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights, +43-699-1 944 13 27
Brigitte Dufour, Director of International Partnership for Human Rights, +32-473363891
The new project is implemented with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this press release are the sole responsibility of the implementing organizations and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.