Central Asian Partnership Group

This project aimed to promote human, refugee and migrants’ rights in Central Asia. Objectives were to enhance the capacity of Central Asian national governments and NGOs, and to strengthen the state-civic dialogue.

Main Achievements:

• IOM rendered support to the Centre for Socio-Economic Development and Human Rights Protection IMRAN for providing legal assistance to a total of 187 beneficiaries
• 6 NGOs (3 from Tajikistan and 3 from Kyrgyzstan) were awarded small grants. Tajik TV Company “CM-1” and the Kyrgyz Tele/radio-station «Dastan-TV» developed and produced a total of 12 special reports on labor migrant issues. Tajik Association of the Young Lawyers «Amparo» and broadcasting company «Salam» in Kyrgyzstan developed and published informational materials, and distributed them in air and rail stations and through mobile consultations to 2975 beneficiaries in Tajikistan and 3,400 in Kyrgyzstan. Tajik NGO “Youth and Civilization” and Kyrgyz Center for “Human Rights and Democracy” conducted capacity building trainings and workshops, research programs and International Youth Debates on “Labor Migration” and Model UN for students of Tajik and Kyrgyz universities
• IOM developed tools in partnership with NGO “Human Rights Center” to conduct a survey on migration data sharing mechanisms. The results were presented in the roundtable held in Dushanbe in May, 2009
• Technical support was delivered to the Migration Service to assist in data sharing (including 5 sets of computers, 5 scanners, 5 printers and an internet connection server)
• A state-civic expert group was established between Tajikistan government offices and local NGOs working on migration related issues
• IOM organized a one-day state-civic roundtable on cooperation between the entities of migration processes in elaboration of labour migration foreign strategy in Tajikistan. Topics included improving the legislation base, the impact of financial crisis, and transnational cooperation
• The IOM organized an international forum on combating irregular migration, protecting the rights of migrants and fighting against trafficking human beings in Kairakkum, from 16-18 Sept. 2008. 24 NGO representatives from Central Asia and the Russian Federation participated in the Forum
• IOM organized a study tour to Moscow on 7-14 Sept. 2008 for state and civic partners from Tajikistan to enhance the cooperation of State structures and NGOs from Tajikistan with Russian authorities on migration issues, protection of the rights of migrants and counter trafficking.