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.
