Human Rights
The FCO’s mission statement is Better World, Better Britain. The Embassy has identified project priority areas, which are aimed primarily at Human Rights, Democratisation and Good Governance - to promote advocacy and respect for human rights, the rule of law and democratic norms on the one hand, and stability, economic prosperity and progress on the other. LIST OF FCO BILATERAL PROGRAMME FUNDED PROJECTS IN 2008-2009 Project name Name of implementing organisation and grantees Purpose
(1 April 2008 – 31 March 2009) “Promoting multi-party dialogue on transparency in extractive industries” UNDP in Astana To foster inclusive participation through building a political culture of dialogue and negotiation. “Contribution to changes in electoral legislation through participation in Helsinki OSCE Civil Society Forum on 2-3 December 2008” Republican Network of Independent Monitors (RNIM) in Almaty To increase international awareness on the fulfilment of Kazakhstan’s OSCE commitments on the electoral legislation through promotion and distribution of conceptual recommendations, prepared by the Regional Network of Independent Monitors (RNIM), at Helsinki OSCE Civil Society Forum. "National HR Commission Report on “Compliance with Human Rights in Kazakhstan in 2007” UNDP in Astana and National Human Rights Commission under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan To increase awareness of public on the progress Kazakhstan made in 2007 on key human rights issues. “National Human Rights Action Plan 2009/11” UNDP in Astana and National Human Rights Commission under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan To increase awareness of local and internationally represented public in Kazakhstan and Central Asia on Human Rights priorities and action plans in 2009/11. “Strengthening women’s movement in Central Asia – AWID conference” INTRAC in Bishkek and Centre for Gender Studies in Almaty To strengthen the skills, strategies and campaign alliances of women activists from Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states through attendance of a group of Central Asian women’s organisations at the Association of Women in Development (AWID) conference in South Africa in November 2008.
“Radio/TV Journalists Consulting in North Kazakhstan” NGO “North Kazakhstan Legal Media Centre” in Astana To improve capacity of North Kazakhstan TV and radio journalists for more independent, objective and professional content of news broadcasts through training of journalists at two Radio/TV organisations and production of editorial guidance for all North Kazakhstan Radio/TV outlets.
“Kazakhstan Open Budget Initiative – Budget Pilot Training Modules” EFCA in Almaty and Petropavlovsk Regional Association of the Cooperatives of Housing Proprietors (PRACHP) Petropavlovsk used as a pilot for training local authorities on new budgeting regulations, to allow for greater local government transparency and NGO involvement in the budgeting process. “Supporting the Working Group on investigation and consideration of facts of torture under the Office of the Ombudsman in Kazakhstan” Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (KIBHR) in Astana To contribute to combating of torture in Kazakhstan through organising public investigation and consideration of torture allegations by leading NGOs and the Ombudsman office whilst strengthening the effectiveness of the Ombudsman institution as an independent body charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints reported by individual citizens.
Priority areas for project funding in 2009-2010 are:
- Projects to support awareness amongst Kazakhstani population of the role of the OSCE as an organisation;
- Projects supporting progress made on democratic reform and human dimension agenda in Kazakhstan, including freedom of information, criminal justice, disability and the media, alongside support for a comprehensive UN Periodic Review in 2010.
LIST OF FCO STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FUND PROJECTS IN 2008-2010
(1 April 2008 – 31 March 2010)
Project name | Name of implementing organisation and grantees | Purpose |
| “Improving expert examinations over information disputes to defend journalists’ right to free speech” – completed | NGO “Adil Soz” in Almaty | To improve the quality of expert examinations over information disputes providing for fair trial for journalists to defend their rights for free speech. |
"Monitoring Kazakhstan’s OSCE Commitments through Analysis and Civic Engagement” – ongoing | Freedom House in Almaty Sub-grant to Legal Policy Research Centre in Almaty | To provide support to Kazakhstan’s efforts to adopt new legislation on media, political parties, elections and self-governance in line with OSCE standards, to ensure civil society involvement in the legislative process and to monitor implementation of the newly adopted laws. |
“Technical assistance to Kazakhstan in its preparations to chair OSCE in 2010 by effectively implementing electoral reform” – ongoing | UNDP in Astana Sub-grants to Republican Network of Independent Monitors (RNIM) in Almaty, NGO “Pavlodar Regional Governance School”, NGO “Lawyers for just election” in Almaty | To strengthen the capacity of the Government of Kazakhstan and all relevant stakeholders to carry out an effective OSCE chairmanship in 2010 by ensuring that the Central Election Commission plays a more effective role in delivering elections in line with OSCE norms, including on gender participation. |
| “Combating torture: establishing a National Preventive Mechanism in Kazakhstan (2008-2010)” – ongoing
| Penal Reform International in Almaty Sub-grant to Legal Policy Research Centre in Almaty Sub-grants to six public monitoring commissions in Almaty and Almatinskaya oblast, North Kazakhstan, South Kazakhstan and Pavlodarskaya, Akmolinskaya and Dzhambylskaya oblasts | Prevention of Torture: facilitation of establishment of an independent and efficient National Preventive Mechanism in Kazakhstan. |
| “Lobbying for ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR and abolition of the death penalty in Kazakhstan” – ongoing | Charter for Human Rights (CHR) | To contribute to the abolition of the death penalty (in peace times) in the Criminal Legislation and signature of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR through joint work with the Lower Parliament (Majilis) Committees for Legislation / Judicial-Legal Reform and International Affairs, Defence and Security. |
| “From exclusion to equality: realising the rights of persons with disabilities” – ongoing | UNDP in Astana | The project will mainstream disability issues across public institutions and promote the process of signing and ratification the International Convention on the Right of Persons with disabilities and its Optional Protocol in Kazakhstan. |
| “Access to Information and Freedom of Expression from Government to Society in Kazakhstan” – ongoing | UNDP in Astana | To strengthen the capacity of government and all relevant stakeholders to realise the right to access to information in Kazakhstan in line with international standards. |
LIST OF FCO BILATERAL PROGRAMME FUNDED PROJECTS IN 2009-2010
(1 April 2009 – 31 March 2010)
Project name | Name of implementing organisation and grantees | Purpose |
| “To Kazakhstani population about OSCE” | “Republican Network of Independent Monitors” | To increase understanding of Kazakhstani citizens on the international standards to which Kazakhstan has committed itself through membership and chairmanship of the OSCE. |
For further information please contact:
Alison Wilmshurst, Third Secretary (Political), at +7 7172 556229
Leila Iyldyz, Human Rights Projects Officer, at +7 7172 556230
E-mail: britishembassy@mail.online.kz
