NDI - Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan: Women Leadership Advocates Win NDI Albright Grant | March 19, 2012

fgalleto — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:18:51 +0000

o support greater engagement for women’s leadership inside the expanding political terrain in Kyrgyzstan, the NDI – National Democratic Institute will be hosting a luncheon to celebrate the Albright grant award for supporting democracy in action to bring women into the process.

With celebrity studded hosts that include PBS News Hour moderator Judy Woodruff, former United States Secretary of State Madeline K. Albright, current Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues at the State Department Melanne Verveer and U.S. Congresswoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), the award ceremony will highlight the work of women in Kyrgyzstan, a region that is seldom covered by the western media.

Link to story »

Rep. Wasserman Schultz Says Women’s Voices Are Crucial to Democracy at NDI’s Madeleine K. Albright Awards Luncheon

rrunyan — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:51:52 +0000

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) delivered the keynote address at a March 22 luncheon honoring the Women’s Discussion Club of Kyrgyzstan, the 2012 recipient of the Madeleine K. Albright Grant awarded by NDI.

In her address, Wasserman Schultz challenged women to take the lead. “Too often, women don’t speak up,” Wasserman Schultz said. “But women's voices are crucial to democracy.”

The luncheon, hosted by NDI Chairman Albright, at the Ritz Carlton also featured remarks from Melanne Verveer, the State Department’s ambassador-at-large for global women’s issues.

“When women are discriminated against in the political arena, their experiences, talents and perspectives are shut out of policy decisions,” Verveer said. “Our democracies are worse off for it and the prospects for a better world are certainly short changed.”

Verveer presented the Albright grant to Dinara Aitkulova, chair of the Women’s Discussion Club of Kyrgyzstan, and introduced a short documentary detailing the work of the club.

The Discussion Club, launched with NDI support in 2006, was one of the first groups in Kyrgyzstan to bring together women from diverse backgrounds and political parties to defend the rights and interests of women nationwide. The women will use the award’s $25,000 grant to form a coalition of political party women’s wings to advocate on behalf of women’s rights within the legislature and their respective parties.

Watch the video from the luncheon

“The Women’s Discussion Group from Kyrgyzstan is precisely the kind of innovative and grassroots organization that can help to make real democracy possible,” Albright said. “When women have the power to make their own economic and social choices – the cycle of poverty can be broken, environmental awareness increases, rates of sexually-transmitted disease decline, and constructive values are more likely to be passed on to the young.”

The award luncheon was preceded by a panel discussion on women in politics featuring Albright; Winnie Byanyima, director of the gender team at the United Nations Development Programme; Donald Steinberg, deputy administrator at the U.S. Agency for International Development; and Anders B. Johnsson, secretary general of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. NDI Vice-President Shari Bryan moderated the panel.

The panelists shared their experiences that have demonstrated both the progress women have gained in politics and the room for growth. They agreed that political parties can be a vehicle for equal participation as long as the parties are internally democratic.

"We were talking to women, telling them to work harder, bang on more doors,” said Byanyima, a former member of parliament in Uganda who led its women’s caucus. “Now we're asking parties to open those doors."

At the event, NDI and the UNDP released a joint publication entitled "Empowering Women for Stronger Political Parties." The guide provides strategies for those who work in and with political parties to increase women's political participation as candidates, party members, leaders and office holders.

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Rep. Wasserman Schultz to Deliver Keynote Address at NDI’s Madeleine K. Albright Awards Luncheon

rrunyan — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:34:22 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

03/13/2012

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

Media Type:

PDF

English

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Women’s Discussion Club of Kyrgyzstan Awarded 2012 Madeleine K. Albright Grant

ntekeei — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:43:43 +0000

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) announced today that it will award its 2012 Madeleine K. Albright Grant to the Women’s

Discussion Club of Kyrgyzstan. The Discussion Club, launched with NDI support in 2006, was one of the first groups in Kyrgyzstan to bring together women from diverse backgrounds and political parties to defend the rights and interests of women nationwide.

NDI announced today that it will award its 2012 Madeleine K. Albright Grant to the Women’s Discussion Club of Kyrgyzstan.

In 2010, the club was instrumental in supporting women candidates for parliament, and it has organized citizens around key issues, including a successful campaign to halt the legalization of polygamy. The group plans to advocate for stronger quota laws that would increase the number of women in parliament and local government.

The Discussion Club will use the award’s $25,000 grant in these new initiatives and to form a coalition of political party women’s wings to advocate on behalf of women’s rights within the legislature and their respective parties.

“If Kyrgyzstan is to realize its full democratic potential, women must be equal and active partners in shaping society,” said Susan Markham, NDI’s director for women’s political participation.

The Madeleine K. Albright Grant supports community-based organizations that create greater roles for women in political and civic life. It is part of NDI’s Win with Women Global Initiative, which promotes women’s political leadership worldwide. The Albright Grant is made possible through the generosity of the Melvin and Bren Simon Foundation. NDI is deeply grateful to the foundation for its steadfast commitment to the Institute’s political participation programs for women.

Winners of the Albright Grant, which was established in 2005, are selected from a competitive pool of applicants seeking to promote women's participation in civic or political life. The 2011 grant was awarded to Appropriate Communication Techniques for Development (ACT), a women’s rights organization from Egypt, which is using the grant to help organizations and women leaders identify and advocate for women as Egypt works to develop a new constitution and transition to a democratic government.

Other past winners are the Departmental Network of Chocó Women of Colombia (Red Departmental de Mujeres Chocoanas), the Women’s League of Burma, the Indonesian Women’s Political Caucus (KPPI), the Mostar Women’s Citizen Initiative of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone.

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Published Jan. 26, 2012

Women’s Discussion Club of Kyrgyzstan Awarded 2012 Madeleine K. Albright Grant

ntekeei — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:38:05 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

01/26/2011

Resource Type:

Press Releases

Language:

English

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Preliminary Report of the Statistically-Based Observation of the Kyrgyzstan 2011 Presidential Elections

ntekeei — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:37:53 +0000

Author:

The Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

10/31/2011

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

English

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Third Preliminary Report on the Results of Long-Term Observation of the Election of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on October 30, 2011

ntekeei — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:45:24 +0000

Author:

The Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

10/23/2011

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

English

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Second Preliminary Report on the Results of Long-Term Observation of the Election of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on October 30, 2011

ntekeei — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:43:01 +0000

Author:

The Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

10/04/2011

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

English

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First Preliminary Report on the Results of Long-Term Observation of the Election of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on October 30, 2011

ntekeei — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:39:46 +0000

Author:

The Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

09/26/2011

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

English

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Importance of Authentic Elections and Unhindered Election Observation Stressed at OSCE Warsaw Meeting

fgalleto — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:03:47 +0000

Statements on the importance of genuine, competitive elections, the need for election observation and follow up were presented last week on behalf of the United States by Patrick Merloe, NDI’s director of electoral programs, at the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Warsaw, Poland.

At the opening plenary session of the Warsaw meeting. Photo by OSCE/Piotr Markowski

The gathering, which brings together hundreds of government representatives, human rights activists and international experts, is considered the most important human rights event of the year in the OSCE region. Merloe was a public member of the U.S. delegation, which was led by Ambassador David Johnson.

Merloe presented the two statements on Sept. 30. The first noted that “free and fair elections are a necessary part of a healthy democracy” but added that “technically well-run polling does not mean that the election process is democratic." He emphasized that “a genuine electoral process also requires an open pre-election environment in which citizens can participate fully, political parties can operate freely, independent media can flourish, and an independent judicial system operates effectively.” The statement assessed the character of recent elections in several OSCE countries, including negative elections in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan and generally positive elections in Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Macedonia.

The second statement addressed the importance of the overall election environment in determining whether an election meets OSCE standards and concluded by stressing that, "The United States supports OSCE election observation. ... We also believe that follow-up to recommendations made by the observer mission is very important."

Merloe also responded to a question from the chairman of Russia's Central Election Commission, who was speaking for the Russian delegation, about why observers are needed. "The Copenhagen Document [which contains OSCE commitments on democratic elections] and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provide a clear answer,” Merloe said. “They both say that the authority of government derives from the will of the people expressed in genuine elections. So, citizens, in effect, own elections, because that is where sovereignty truly resides. Citizens have the right to know that their elections are genuine. Hence, domestic observers are needed."

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Published Oct. 5, 2011

Citizens’ Attitudes in the Lead-up to the 2011 Kyrgyzstan Presidential Elections

fgalleto — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:49:13 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

10/03/2011

Resource Type:

Focus Group Report

Language:

English

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As Ethnic Tensions Decrease, Voters Worried About Jobs, Corruption in Kyrgyzstan

fgalleto — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:40:34 +0000

As Kyrgyzstan prepares for presidential elections Oct. 30, unemployment and corruption are top issues for voters in Central Asia’s first parliamentary democracy. According to recent focus group research, Kyrgyz generally have a positive view of the current government thanks to steps it has taken to improve living standards, including wage increases for teachers, doctors and civil service employees; lower utility costs; and lower interest rates for farmers.

The current government came to power last year, following the ouster of authoritarian President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Since then, the country has held a constitutional referendum, and parliamentary and local elections as it transitions to a democratic form of government. As stipulated in the constitutional referendum, President Roza Otunbayeva is not running for re-election, her government having served a transitional role.

In the south, where ethnic clashes between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz broke out after Bakiyev’s departure, people complimented the government for steps taken to improve relations between ethnic communities. Both Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in the region approved of the government’s quick reconstruction of damaged property, humanitarian and financial assistance for victims, and diversity campaigns. The groups continue to view the violence differently, however. Neither group takes responsibility for starting the conflict, and Kyrgyz believe no human rights violations occurred, a claim Uzbeks dispute.

The decrease in ethnic tension has allowed people to focus on the struggling economy, with many conceding there was little the transitional government could do with only a one-year term. The research found that people believe inflation and unemployment are to blame for workers going abroad to find jobs, separating families. Focus group participants believe the next president will play a critical role in the country’s economic development, and are evaluating candidates’ economic plans.

Most participants believe the elections will be fair and peaceful, and intend to vote. As they evaluate who should be their next president, they are considering prior leadership experience, political agenda and personality. Voters are following campaign news on television and online and plan to watch debates to learn more about candidates and how they behave in high-pressure situations. Most participants like the idea of candidates signing a code of conduct for the election, which some candidates did Sept. 26, with a minority believing that they should know how to act without a formal pledge.

Despite election excitement, people have negative opinions about the work of both parliament and political parties. They see parliament as ineffectual and self-serving and think there are too many political parties with too little emphasis on working together. They believe parties are focused entirely on winning upcoming elections rather than on issues of concern to citizens.

Corruption remains an aspect of daily life in Kyrgyzstan. Participants said they were certain it would take a long time to eradicate corruption, with some suggesting it will be impossible because corrupt practices are too deeply a part of politics, education, health care and other areas. The majority of participants thought the economic situation was to blame for corruption — low wages contributing to more people taking bribes, for example — but also that the people's mentality and the example government officials set for others contributed to the problem.

The focus groups were conducted July 27 to Aug. 3 by M-Vector, a Kyrgyz research and consulting firm. NDI is using the results, in addition to weekly telephone polls, to help political parties and candidates respond to citizen concerns. Before the election, the Institute is helping to produce a weekly television program on critical current topics, providing campaign training for candidates and partnering with the Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society as it organizes a country-wide election monitoring effort.

Related:

Published Oct. 3, 2011

Kyrgyzstan Presidential Candidates Sign OSCE-Supported Election Code of Conduct | Sept. 26, 2011

fgalleto — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:43:36 +0000

The Financial | Link to story »

Eight presidential candidates in Kyrgyzstan today signed a Code of Conduct for Elections that was developed with the support of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

The Code of Conduct outlines principles for candidates’ behaviour during the campaign ahead of the 30 October presidential election. The Code was elaborated with assistance from the OSCE Centre in Bishkek in co-operation with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, the International Republican Institute and the OSCE-supported non-governmental organization the Parliament of Political Parties.

Link to story »

Kyrgyzstan Officials Pledge Reforms to Encourage Ethnic Reconciliation

fgalleto — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:41:06 +0000

Violence between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz last June in the Kyrgyz cities of Osh and Jalalabad left 470 dead, thousands injured and 400,000 displaced. With the goal of deterring future violence, a delegation from Kyrgyzstan recently affirmed the government’s commitment to carry out the recommendations of an international commission to defuse tensions and promote reconciliation.

"There are systematic reforms that our government is ready to undertake," said Mira Karybaeva, head of the Department of Ethnic and Religious Policy and Interaction in the office of the president, at a May 24 roundtable discussion hosted by NDI. In the coming months, she said, the government will take a strong stand against extreme nationalism, impartially investigate all crimes, promote minority rights, provide access to media in multiple languages, and establish a truth and reconciliation commission to promote inter-ethnic dialogue.

The delegation, which included a member of parliament, Kyrgyz presidential advisors on legal policy and ethnic and religious policy, and a human rights expert, was in the U.S. to solicit feedback from nongovernmental organizations, academics, think tanks and the U.S. government on the recently released report of the Kyrgyzstan Inquiry Commission (KIC).

The KIC, an independent, international group, was created at the request of Kyrgyzstan President Roza Otunbayeva and led by Kimmo Kiljunen, special representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly for Central Asia. Its mandate was to investigate the facts and circumstances of the violence, determine responsibilities and make recommendations that contribute to peace and ethnic reconciliation.

The KIC report, based on hundreds of interviews and months of analysis, places significant responsibility on the interim government of Kyrgyzstan that came to power in April 2010. The government failed to prevent or swiftly respond to the violence, the report said, but it stopped short of blaming either ethnic group for starting the conflict. It also outlined a comprehensive set of recommendations for the government that, if implemented, would help to defuse tensions and deter future violence.

These recommended reforms would also strengthen democratic institutions and processes. A special intergovernmental commission has already been established to oversee the pursuit of judicial, cultural and political reforms. "The parliament is ready to look at any laws that improve our nation," said Ravshanbek Sabirov, head of the delegation.

While members of the delegation endorsed many of the report’s recommendations, they took issue with some of its findings. "This was not simply an ethnic conflict," said Karybaeva. "We must look at both the ethnic and political context of the situation," she cautioned, referring to the April 2010 ouster of authoritarian President Kurmanbek Bakiev, which led to the installation of a politically weak but democratically-oriented interim government. "The ethnic conflict was a tool implemented by political figures [who were hostile to the new government]," concluded Erkinbek Mamyrov, head of the Department of Legal Provision in the office of the president. "We are confident that the violence will not recur if we learn our lessons."

Related:

Pictured above: Ravshanbek Sabirov (l) and Laura Jewett (r)

Published June 9, 2011

Comments by the Government of Kyrgyzstan in Response to the Report of the Kyrgyzstan Inquiry Commission

fgalleto — Tue, 24 May 2011 21:37:40 +0000

Author:

Government of Kyrgyzstan

Publisher:

Government of Kyrgyzstan

Published Date:

05/24/2011

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

English

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NDI - Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan: Women Leadership Advocates Win NDI Albright Grant | March 19, 2012

Rep. Wasserman Schultz Says Women’s Voices Are Crucial to Democracy at NDI’s Madeleine K. Albright Awards Luncheon

Watch the video from the luncheon

Rep. Wasserman Schultz to Deliver Keynote Address at NDI’s Madeleine K. Albright Awards Luncheon

Women’s Discussion Club of Kyrgyzstan Awarded 2012 Madeleine K. Albright Grant

Women’s Discussion Club of Kyrgyzstan Awarded 2012 Madeleine K. Albright Grant

Preliminary Report of the Statistically-Based Observation of the Kyrgyzstan 2011 Presidential Elections

Third Preliminary Report on the Results of Long-Term Observation of the Election of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on October 30, 2011

Second Preliminary Report on the Results of Long-Term Observation of the Election of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on October 30, 2011

First Preliminary Report on the Results of Long-Term Observation of the Election of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on October 30, 2011

Importance of Authentic Elections and Unhindered Election Observation Stressed at OSCE Warsaw Meeting

At the opening plenary session of the Warsaw meeting. Photo by OSCE/Piotr Markowski

Citizens’ Attitudes in the Lead-up to the 2011 Kyrgyzstan Presidential Elections

As Ethnic Tensions Decrease, Voters Worried About Jobs, Corruption in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan Presidential Candidates Sign OSCE-Supported Election Code of Conduct | Sept. 26, 2011

Kyrgyzstan Officials Pledge Reforms to Encourage Ethnic Reconciliation

Comments by the Government of Kyrgyzstan in Response to the Report of the Kyrgyzstan Inquiry Commission

First Preliminary Report on the Results of Long-Term Observation of the Election of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on October 30, 2011