In this issue:

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)

• Gender mainstreaming seminar for National Governance Programme
• Competition for the best academic course on gender among teachers of Higher Educational Institutions

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR)

• UNHCR and Legal Clinic Adilet Sponsor Conference of Central Asian Legal Clinics

THE WORLD BANK

• Kyrgyz Civil Society Representatives Share Concerns with the World Bank President

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)

Gender mainstreaming seminar for National Governance Programme

On 3-5 September the National Governance Programme staff participated in the seminar on gender mainstreaming issues. During the seminar participants examined a variety of gender related issues ranging from general gender concepts and notions to drafting gender sensitive projects and conducting gender analysis.

Professional trainers, a gender expert from the Secretariat of the National Council on Women, Family and Gender Development, and a gender expert of “Diamond” association delivered lectures on gender stereotypes, national gender equality policy, and major international conventions ratified by the Kyrgyz Republic. Besides, the audience had a chance to participate in practical exercises and to develop Programme’s gender action plans for 2004.

This seminar aimed at increasing gender sensitivity of the programme staff as well as the gender equality situation in Kyrgyzstan was carried out within the UNDP Gender Mainstreaming Strategy and the joint gender work plan.

For more information please contact Dinara Rakhmanova, UNDP National Governance Programme Manager. Phone: (996 312) 66 46 34, 66 21 08. Email:

Competition for the best academic course on gender among the teachers of the Higher Educational Institutions

In June 2003 the First Kyrgyz Summer School on gender for the teachers of the Higher Educational Institutions was organized within the joint UNDP and Soros Foundation Programme on support to development of academic gender.

As a result of the competition a jury, comprised of the representatives of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Secretariat of the National Council on Women, Family and Gender Development, UNDP, Soros Foundation, as well as the experts of the Academy of Management under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Adenauer Foundation and the American University – Central Asia professors selected four winners. They were: Ainura Aitikeeva, the instructor of the Jalalabat Commercial Institute, for the course on Gender Economics, Ainura Suyumbaeva, the instructor of the Kyrgyz Technical University, for the course “The gender equality policy”, Klara Toktonalieva, the professor of the Diplomatic Academy for the course “The basics of gender knowledge” and Asylbek Eshiev, the instructor of the Jalalabat Commercial Institute for the course “The regional characteristics of the gender policy”. The winners will be awarded money prizes and certificates.

The results of the competition, the professional level and the activity of the teachers who took part in the competition prove the actuality and the necessity of the official introduction of the gender subjects into the syllabuses of the Higher Education Institutions of Kyrgyzstan.

For more information please contact: Anastasia Toropova, UNDP Programmes Gender Coordinator. Phone: (996 312) 66 38 85, 66 04 18. E-mail:

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR)

UNHCR and Legal Clinic Adilet Sponsor Conference of Central Asian Legal Clinics

On 28-29 August 2003, representatives of legal clinics from the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan met in Bishkek at the conference organised on initiative of UNCHR and Legal Clinic “Adilet” (Bishkek). Throughout the region, NGO legal clinics provide advice to refugees and asylum-seekers, ranging from how to prepare a refugee application to ensuring respect for individual rights by police and the courts.

At the Conference, participants discussed the role and contribution of legal clinics in a number of issues related to refugee protection. Each representative provided an overview of the national legislation existing in the respective CA country and presented arguments for further development of such legislation. Also, participation of the legal clinics in the programmes for durable solutions for refugees, such as resettlement, integration and naturalisation was set out as a separate topic for discussion. Conferees shared their concerns over the lack of appropriate legal information and documentation in Russian language.

The most heated debate of the Conference -- with participants standing from their chairs -- was the discussion of uniform standards to be developed amongst the participating clinics, as well as the principles of legal ethics with issues that often arise during work of legal clinics such as conflict of interests, confidentiality, communication with clientele etc.

The Conference concluded with participants identifying the lessons learned in the past and elaborating recommendations for further development of the legal clinics in Central Asia. Two participants agreed to prepare draft Standards for Central Asia clinics. It was also agreed to conduct such meetings in the future in order for the agencies concerned to be better informed with regard to the protection matters and priorities in the region, and to keep closer contact.

For more information please contact: James Lynch, UNHCR Head of Office; or Gulzat Aitimbetova, PI Assistant. Phone: (996 312) 61 12 24, 61 12 25; e-mail: or

THE WORLD BANK

Kyrgyz Civil Society Representatives Share Concerns with the World Bank President James Wolfensohn

On 3 September 2003 modern technology brought together the World Bank President James Wolfensohn and senior Bank officials with civil society organizations (CSOs) from around the world to discuss issues ranging from gender equality and governance to anti-corruption and alternative models for economic development.

The meeting was the fourth in a series of videoconferences between Wolfensohn and civil society representatives held in the run-ups to the Bank-IMF Annual and Spring Meetings. The last videoconference saw the highest number of countries participating thus far. Raising questions, criticisms and concerns this year were groups from Cameroon, Colombia, Finland, the Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Malawi and Sri Lanka.

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) are the primary institutionalized mechanisms for interaction among the Bank, governments and civil society surfaced throughout the conversation. A member of the Kyrgyz CSO constituency suggested a regular feed-back mechanism for civil society organizations to comment on PRSPs. Wolfensohn welcomed the idea.

“We are doing our best to address the issues that are of concern to you,” Wolfensohn concluded at the end of the two-hour session. “We appreciate the criticisms. We appreciate the comments. But we all know ultimately that working together is going to be the way we can bring about the objectives that we are seeking.”

For more on the Bank and civil society, go to www.worldbank.org/civilsociety

For additional information please contact Jyldyz Djakypova, External Affairs, WB Country Office in Bishkek, Phone: (996 312) 61 06 50; e-mail: