Theme groups

In 2009, the UN provided technical advice and expertise to address gaps in national policies and strategies. This function is traditionally the mandate of UN Theme Groups. The UNCT has four Theme Groups operating under its umbrella - Gender Theme Group, HIV/AIDS Theme Group, Communication Working Group, Operation and Management Working Group. Each of them is lead by the member of the UNCT. In 2009, all Theme Groups operated on basis of annual work plans developed jointly under the leadership of Chairs of each Theme Group.

UN Gender Theme Group
In 2009, the UN provided technical advice and expertise to address gaps in national policies and strategies. This function is traditionally the mandate of UN Theme Groups. The UNCT has four Theme Groups operating under its umbrella - Gender Theme Group, HIV/AIDS Theme Group, Communication Working Group, and Operation and Management Working Group. Each of them is lead by the member of the UNCT. In 2009, all Theme Groups operated on basis of annual work plans developed jointly and under the leadership of Chairs of each Theme Group. All Theme Groups report to the Resident Coordinator and the UNCT.

In 2009 the UN Gender Theme Group consisting of the Gender Focal Points of nine UN Organizations (ILO, UNFPA, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNIFEM, OHCHR and WHO) served as an instrument for increased coherence of UNCT in support to the government in promotion of gender equality and women's empowerment as well as for increased visibility of gender-quality issues within the overall UN agenda at the country level. UN GTG released three major publications, including "The UN the Kyrgyz Republic: Translating Commitments on Gender Equality into Actions" on the UN activities on gender equality in the country; "The Country Gender Assessment in the sphere of politics 2008" which analyzed the results of the local elections from gender perspective and the brochure "The Women's Rights in Kyrgyzstan: simplified explanations to the CEDAW and the Optional Protocol" targeting rural and other vulnerable women.

UN Agencies jointly organized a number of advocacy events to promote and widely publicize the importance of gender equality for development. By supporting the nation - wide information campaign “Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History” organized by the women's civil society organizations to provoke an interest of media and general public to the women's activism the GTG advocated for increased attention of the decision –makers to the high maternal mortality rates, the highest in the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2007 (110 deaths per 100,000 live births). The funds in the amount of 48,000 soms (about $1,000) were mobilized through a charity actions and were used for procurement of medical equipment and drugs for women with the most severe pregnancy complications, undergoing treatment in the National Center of Protection of Maternity and Childhood. In addition, the GTG joined the global CEDAW 30th Anniversary celebration through a series of advocacy, capacity development and awareness raising events and campaigning: trainings on CEDAW for lawyers and NGO workers from all provinces of the country; organization of the national campaign the "Stories of CEDAW", through which 22 stories telling about the ways CEDAW helped to protect women's rights. Another important feature was the national CEDAW 30th Anniversary celebration event with participation of about 250 representatives of government, parliament, CSOs at which the Kyrgyzstan's achievements and problems in implementation of CEDAW were brought up.

UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS
In line with the appeal of National AIDS authorities, the UN is currently providing technical and financial assistance to the country in the process of elaboration of the Country Proposal on HIV Prevention to the 9th Round of the GFATM (Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria). Following the request from Government on review of the package on Monitoring and Evaluation system for HIV/AIDS, the UN Theme Group, in collaboration with national and international partners, supported two National Forums of AIDS-service NGOs that aimed to coordinate and facilitate cooperation national and international counterparts. As a result, AIDS-service NGOs’ Coordination Committee was established to coordinate joint efforts of national NGOs in achieving goals. In 2009, UNAIDS in cooperation with National Society of Red Crescent carried out number of countrywide activities, devoted for World AIDS Day. The activities aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS, included, “World AIDS Day-2009” talk-shows on radio stations, “We are against drugs” concert performed by youth, distribution and posting of leaflets and banners on HIV/AIDS in public transportation and schools, conduction of roundtables on “Universal Access. Human Rights” and other.

Partnership has been strengthened between UNADIS, UNDP and UNICEF and with grass root organizations to develop and implement the communications strategy to reduce stigma and description of people living with HIV/AIDS in Osh Province, which has the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS among women and children.

UN Operations Management Team Group
Under the UN reform agenda there is an interest in broadening common services among UN Agencies in Kyrgyzstan to improve coordination and coherence and to achieve cost savings. The enhancement of ongoing common services/premises approach is an important component of the reform agenda. The UN Operations Managers Team was chaired by UNICEF in 2009. A number of important steps were undertaken to respond to the challenges of common services/premises, facilities and administrative and personnel practices. As a result, the regular OMT meetings were conducted whilst the Minutes of OMT were duly endorsed by Resident Coordinator. Strengthening of common services was recognized as an important strategic tool. A mapping mission was carried out in November 2009 to review UN common services in Kyrgyzstan with a view to identifying barriers which inhibit the development or expansion of common services, and assess the progress of initiatives to strengthen common services in the country.

UN Communications Theme Group
In 2009, the UN Communications Theme Group provided leadership in communications for the UN Country Team; identified new and creative ways to show how UN programmes are delivering results (emphasizing inter-agency collaboration) and promoting a coherent image of the United Nations. The main activities included publishing of UN Brochure and restructuring of the UN website and organization of a joint UN press trip to Talas province that brought together UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, ILO, WHO and UNRC. The initiative aimed at demonstrating effectiveness of the UN activities in Kyrgyzstan, their positive impact on lives of people - especially in poor rural areas - and the close partnership the UN system in Kyrgyzstan has been able to establish with local administrations, community organizations, and professionals in different areas of human development. In this regard the activity successfully showcased both internal coherence of UN programming in the country – and synergies between different Agencies – and the mutually beneficial collaboration with the national partners. The UNCT selected the theme of Human Rights Education for 2009 UN Day to mark the GA’s resolution to declare 2009 as ‘Year of Human Rights Learning’ and to enhance the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Series of events have been conducted including lectures for students on “Role of lawyers as human rights defenders in promotion of human rights protection in Kyrgyzstan”, Student’s Forum “Development of the students’ and youth movement in human rights protection”, as well as training events for Ombudsman staff on Human Rights and Gender Equality, a photo competition “A clean world is my right!” with participation of secondary school students.

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