Kyrgyzstan

Civic Youth Movement "KelKel-Vozrojdenie"
$18,381*
To protect students' rights and promote their interests in Kyrgyz universities. KelKel will analyze the legal foundation and current practices of student self-government, inform students about their rights, and develop recommendations to improve the available mechanisms of student self-government. KelKel will implement this pilot program in three universities in Bishkek and Osh.

Independent Human Rights Group
$38,673
To provide quality legal representation to people whose human rights have been violated. The Group will receive clients and lawyers in its offices and offer consultations on a wide range of human rights issues. IHRG's priorities will be strategic litigation to bring government officials to court for violations of the law, mass violations of human rights, and human rights violations of a political nature.

Institute for Constitutional Politics
$30,000*
To inform the citizens of Kyrgyzstan of their legal and constitutional rights. The Institute will analyze Kyrgyzstan's legislation on elections and its practice, prepare and lobby corrections to election legislation and relevant criminal legislation, create precedents to acknowledge unconstitutional elements of legislation, and prepare and lobby normative acts to increase the responsibility of local government in the compilation of voter lists.

Institute for Public Policy
$31,896*
To train a select group of 80 students from rural regions who will participate in a week-long seminar and weekly workshops, as well as bi-weekly roundtable discussion with prominent speakers from the political, NGO, and diplomatic communities. The students will hear different views on the political process and may voice their concerns directly to policymakers. A final publication will contain transcripts of the workshops.

Jalalabad Regional Human Rights Organization "Spravedlivost"
$44,423*
To support its network of human rights NGOs in southern Kyrgyzstan. Spravedlivost will continue to coordinate the activities of the human rights network, serve as a resource center, and offer free legal services. Spravedlivost will administer a small grants program, train activists and lawyers on preventing torture, and organize a working group on rights of citizens to public services.

Kylym Shamy
$24,960*
To promote the understanding of civic freedoms and human rights, and to inform the public and government officials about the rights and responsibilities of each party in holding public meetings in Kyrgyzstan. The program will include ten roundtable discussions, eight seminars, monitoring, and an informational campaign. The primary focus of the project will be the freedom of association and assembly.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
$130,000
To conduct trainings, seminars, and consultations with select MPs, committees, and deputy groups. NDI would assist ten leading MPs in forming a group to advance reform, conduct a series of trainings on oversight for two committees, and train select MPs on improving constituent outreach. NDI will work with parliament to encourage dialogue among MPs, parties, civil society, and the executive branch on reforming the election law before the parliamentary elections in 2007.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
$256,544
To assist reform-minded MPs to strengthen the parliament. NDI will conduct a series of trainings, seminars, and consultations with select MPs, committees, and deputy groups. NDI will hold regular workshops and consultations with two select deputy groups. NDI anticipates that leading MPs will take steps to help parliament become a more representative and independent institution that could play a critical role in consolidating Kyrgyzstan's transition to democracy.

Osh Media Resource Center (OMRC)
$21,266*
To support the activities of a resource center for journalists in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. The Center will provide computer and technical resources and will conduct educational seminars for journalists and media professionals. The OMRC will also organize roundtables for media, civil society, and government representatives.

Public Association "Shoola-Kol,"
$32,000
To support a network of human rights and political activists in Issyk-Kul oblast. Shoola Kol will maintain its network of six centers, offer free legal services, publish a bulletin, assist in the creation of a teachers and youth association; provide training for teachers, youth, and local officials; and organize hearings with elected officials.

Youth Human Rights Group (YHRG)
$43,595*
To establish a civil society network focused on youth issues and youth policy. The YHRG will conduct seminars in four regions in Kyrgyzstan-Chui, Issyk-Kul, Osh, and Jalal-Abad. In each region, 25 active university students will participate in the seminars. Students will apply for internships at the YHRG main office. The YHRG will publish 800 copies of an educational aid for the NGO community.