OSCE Centre in Bishkek

I) MANDATE

In its Decision of 23 July 1998 the Permanent Council, recalling its Decision No. 231 of 11 June 1998 and welcoming the willingness of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to intensify OSCE activities in that country, decided that the OSCE Centre in Bishkek will perform the following tasks:

• Given the OSCE role as primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, promote the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments as well as the co-operation of the Kyrgyz Republic within the OSCE framework. with special emphasis on the regional context, in all OSCE dimensions, including the economic, environmental, human and political aspects of security and stability;
• Facilitate contacts and promote information exchange with the Chairman-in-Office, other OSCE institutions and the OSCE participating States in Central Asia as well as co-operation with international organizations and institutions;
• Establish and maintain contacts with local authorities, universities, research institutions and NGOs;
• Assist in arranging OSCE regional events, inter aria, regional seminars and visits to the area by OSCE delegations, as well as other events with OSCE participation;
• Perform other tasks deemed appropriate by the Chairman-in-Office or other OSCE institutions and agreed on between the Kyrgyz Republic and the OSCE.

Deployment
The Centre started working in Bishkek in January 1999. The Field Office started working in Osh in April 2000, and covers the activities in three southern provinces of Kyrgyzstan - (Osh, Jalal-Abad, Batken).

Financial Implications
The OSCE Unified Budget for 2005, adopted at the 555th Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council on 12 May 2005, PC.DEC/672, established the budget of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek at EUR 2,454,800.

Structure
The Office is currently composed of a Head, Deputy Head, who is assisted by four international seconded officers, head of Osh Field Office, and other international contracted staff, and national officers and staff - senior project assistants and a legal advisor. The head of Centre is Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere of the United Kingdom (as of May 23, 2008).

II) STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FOR 2010
In line with the its mandate and in consultation with the authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic, the OSCE Centre in Bishkek works in six strategic priority areas:

1. Border security and management;
2. Rule of law;
3. Good governance;
4. Legislation;
5. Environmental protection;
6. Regional co-operation.

Border management and security
The effective management of Kyrgyzstan's international borders, notably the facilitation of legal and prevention of illegal cross-border movement, is vital to the country's sovereignty, security and prosperity. The OSCE Centre in Bishkek, in co-ordination with its partners, assists the Kyrgyz authorities in developing an integrated and comprehensive long-term approach to border management. Particular attention is paid to cross-border co-operation, customs training, document security and combating terrorism and trafficking in narcotics and human beings.

Rule of law
A relationship of mutual trust and dialogue between state institutions and citizens is a fundamental prerequisite for political and economic stability, the development of democracy and respect for individual human rights. Through its community-based police reform programme, the Centre in Bishkek strives to build such a relationship. The Centre also works to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and the media. Through its prison reform programme, it supports the humanization and good management of the criminal justice system.

Governance
Crucial to democratic development and economic growth are high standards of probity, transparency, reliability and accountability. The Centre in Bishkek, in co-ordination with its partners, combats corruption, organized crime and money laundering and encourages transparent and accountable practices in political and economic life. It thereby hopes to improve the economic investment climate and encourage the growth of small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Legislation
The Centre in Bishkek offers expert advice on legislative and electoral reform, reflecting OSCE commitments and international best practices. It pays particular attention to the process of aligning national legislation with the 2007 Constitution. The Centre also works to increase public understanding of the law.

Environmental priorities
The Centre in Bishkek, in co-ordination with specialized partners, helps the Kyrgyz authorities to address the environmental challenges posed by the legacy of tailings from uranium mining, increase disaster preparedness and improve water and soil conservation and management. The Centre encourages environmentally friendly practices.

Regional co-operation
The Centre in Bishkek supports co-operation among Central Asian States, notably in the areas of conflict prevention, border control, water management, migration, environmental issues and educational exchange, including support for the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. This regional co-operation is underpinned by exchanges among OSCE field presences in Central Asia.

III) ACTIVITIES
1) POLITICAL MILITARY ACTIVITIES (PMA)

In carrying out its activities in the politico-military dimension, the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, with the help of its Field Office in Osh, focuses on six key areas:

• political monitoring and reporting;
• development of political institutions;
• conflict prevention; 
• border security;
• anti-terrorism; and 
• media issues.

1. Political monitoring and reporting
Through its short, event-triggered Spot Reports and comprehensive, monthly Activity Reports, the Centre keeps OSCE participating States and Partner International Organisations informed of key political developments in Kyrgyzstan. The Centre's monitoring mandate also enables it to maintain working contacts with all political actors and forces in the host country, as well as with civil society. The Centre thus seeks to ensure that its reporting is factually sound, objective and inclusive, drawing on a wide spectrum of opinions.

2. Development of political institutions
Political developments have consistently demonstrated a continuing need to assist Kyrgyzstan in consolidating its democratic institutions. In particular, the Centre focuses on Parliamentary support and capacity-building of political parties; enhancement of interaction between the state and civil society; promotion of the participation of youth and women in politics; and promotion of good governance principles and capacity-building among local governments and assemblies.

A key long-term goal is the establishment of a stable, sustainable multi-party political system. Democratisation, further steps in improving constitutional and legislative reforms, and the establishment of a genuine political dialogue between various political forces, regional groups and civil society also remain high on the agenda. The Centre continues its support to the implementation of country development programmes, in close co-operation with public and civil society institutions. It also supports the local work of other OSCE Institutions, such as the Parliamentary Assembly, in this area.

3. Conflict prevention
The Centre follows the situation in areas of potential conflict by addressing issues of concern, facilitating dialogue between authorities and civil society, and supporting regional and local conflict prevention and resolution initiatives. It further promotes early warning mechanisms, human rights awareness, inter-ethnic and inter-religious tolerance as tools for long-term conflict prevention. The Centre also monitors inter-ethnic relations and the representation of national minorities, providing support to the activities of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities in Kyrgyzstan.
The Centre's main objectives are to mitigate the level of tension and prevent conflict in border areas, and to promote tolerance between, and increase the capacity of, civil society groups and authorities. To this end, the Centre supports initiatives for dialogue on conflict prevention and management, as well as on inter-ethnic and religious issues. The Centre further promotes instruments to regulate religious activities while guaranteeing the freedom of religion. Special attention is paid by the Centre and its Field Office in Osh to the situation in the border areas in the south of Kyrgyzstan by promoting cross-border dialogue at the local level to address contentious issues such as land and water use, trade, migration and citizenship.

4. Border security and management
The Centre monitors developments related to border security and management with the aim of identifying trends and establishing a capacity for early warning with regard to trans-border organised crime and inherent threats. Activities are closely co-ordinated with international stakeholders active in the Central Asian region in order to ensure synergies and avoid duplication. Concrete projects promote capacity-building within, and inter-agency co-operation among, Kyrgyzstan's border agencies (with the flagship project being the Customs Training Facility project. The Centre, with the help of its Field Office in Osh, also aims to enhance cross-border dialogue and contribute towards conflict prevention in the border areas. In doing so it also liaises closely with the OSCE Secretariat's Conflict Prevention Centre.

5. Anti-terrorism
In the framework of OSCE efforts to combat terrorism, the Centre supports activities aimed at building capacity of, and inter-agency co-ordination between, the respective state bodies (including technical and technological capacity). It further works to facilitate close co-operation between the public and private sectors through public-private partnerships. Promotion of the ratification and implementation of the 13 UN universal anti-terrorist conventions also remains a priority, as does the need to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights while fighting terrorism. To these ends, the Centre co-operates closely with both the OSCE Secretariat's Action against Terrorism Unit (ATU) and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

6. Media issues
The Centre in Bishkek monitors media development and freedom in Kyrgyzstan, with the aim of supporting the development of free and responsible media. To this end, the Centre promotes freedom of speech and freedom of access to information, provides legal assistance to journalists, and monitors and assists in the review of media legislation and policy, thereby facilitating media reform. Furthermore, it supports regional Media Resource Centres in the country's provinces, monitors media in every region of Kyrgyzstan, and helps enhance the professional ethics and capacities of the journalistic community. In 2010, the Centre will prioritise two areas of work: free and responsible media and safety of journalists.
In addition, the Centre supports the work of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media in Kyrgyzstan. The RFoM's 11th Annual Media Conference was held in October 2009 in Bishkek, attracting over 100 participants from Central Asia and beyond.

2) HUMAN DIMENSION ACTIVITIES (HD)

Promoting internationally recognized human rights standards through education and capacity building of national and local authorities and the civil society institutions are among the main priorities of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek in the Human Dimension.
The Centre promotes dialogue and cooperation between authorities, law enforcement bodies, civil society and the general public on human rights-related issues. Its rule of law activities include capacity-building for defence, judges and prosecutors, provision of free legal aid and trial monitoring.
Together with its Field Office in Osh, the Centre in Bishkek deals with a broad range of issues including human rights protection and promotion, supporting legal, institutional and penitentiary reform processes, promoting the rule of law, fostering gender equality, combating trafficking in human beings, promoting confidence building and partnership between the civil society and the Kyrgyz authorities, in particular with the law-enforcement bodies.
Our partners are government agencies, non-government institutions and international organizations such as the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, European Commission, the Council of Europe's Venice Commission, International Foundation for Election Systems, International Republican Institute, National Democratic Institute, Soros Foundation, and Penal Reform International.
The Centre also co-operates with the Warsaw-based OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) on election reform, the public monitoring of court trials and detention facilities, legal reform, human rights defenders capacity-building, gender equality and anti-trafficking in human beings.

The Centre activities are clustered around the following themes:

Promotion of human rights

• supporting the awareness raising and training of judges, prosecutors, police and courts personnel on human rights and rule of law;
• facilitating monitoring of high profile terrorist and extremist trials in the South of the country and training on human rights and antiterrorism;
• assisting in human rights monitoring and improvement of detention conditions in Police custodies and pre-trial detention facilities;
• contributing to the establishment of the National Prevention Mechanism in accordance with the Optional Protocol to UN Convention against torture (OPCAT);
• assisting in making free legal aid more accessible for vulnerable groups, including victims of torture, particularly in rural areas.

Legal and institutional reform

• supporting the bringing of the national legislation in line with the OSCE and other international commitments, in particular through facilitating expert legal opinion and encouraging the implementation of expert advice on legislation;
• promoting democratic elections, in particular voter education, capacity building of electoral authorities, enhancing the observation skills of local NGOs and implementation of the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations;
• enhancing theoretical and practical skills of defence lawyers and NGO jurists on international human rights standards and facilitating application of these standards in domestic courts;
• contributing to the Government's endeavour to reform the penitentiary system;
• supporting the implementation of recent laws in the areas of humanization of criminal justice and the judiciary reform through trainings for judges and prosecutors, publication of bulletin of the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic
• assisting in building the capacity of local NGOs on independent monitoring of court trials and places of detention.

Promoting gender equality and fighting trafficking in human beings

• supporting the nation-wide awareness-raising campaigns to promote strong female representation in national and local authorities and greater women participation in public life;
• assisting in the implementation of the National Action Plan on achieving the gender equality for 2007-2010
• supporting training for local city councils and executive structures of Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken provinces on introducing gender perspective into budget analysis and planning;
• addressing bride kidnapping and domestic violence by supporting informative campaigning and victim refuge; 
• contributing to the implementation of the State Programme of the Kyrgyz Republic on combating trafficking in human beings for 2008-2010;
• assisting in reviewing and developing the national legislation on fight against trafficking in human beings (THB); 
• supporting capacity building of local state authorities in preventing THB on community levels, and promoting awareness of THB risks among youth; 
• assisting in capacity building of law enforcement bodies to combat THB; 
• facilitating coordination between civil society, law-enforcement structures and local authorities on combating THB in the South of Kyrgyzstan.

3) ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES (EED)

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek, with the help of its Field Office in Osh, carries out a number of economic, environmental and good governance projects that reflect the needs outlined in Kyrgyzstan's Country Development Strategy.

Economic activities
The OSCE Centre's economic projects aim to help increase the capacity of women and young people to run small businesses,  create conditions for generating income in economically depressed areas,  provide labor migrants with safe employment,  make recommendations on labour migrant remittance investment policy development; train municipal and provincial employees on managing and attracting investments.

Investment climate 
The OSCE supports the Kyrgyz Government in developing effective investment policies through existing institutions and building capacity for new establishments that can further attract and protect foreign investments.
To promote free public access to economic and investment information, the Centre in Bishkek assists independent economic information centres and helps to produce provincial investment guides. The OSCE has a special interest in the development of alternative energy resources, particularly in their investment potential.

Business development
The Centre in Bishkek supports the efforts of Kyrgyz authorities and civil society to foster economic growth and reduce poverty by helping them
- develop entrepreneurship;
- provide training and targeted research. 
Co-operation with major business associations aims to encourage dialogue between the Government and business circles in various fields, including:
-youth entrepreneurship, 
-social responsibility in recycling, 
-development of patent-based businesses

In line with the priorities of the Kyrgyz State Programme for Entrepreneurship Development 2009-2013, the Centre has organized training workshops for young entrepreneurs.

Labour migration and employment issues

With one-fifth of its active population working abroad, Kyrgyzstan faces various challenges in managing labour migration. The Centre in Bishkek supports the activities of the Network of Assistance for Labour Migrants. With OSCE support, the Network
-provides mediation services and free consultation to migrants and their families, 
-conducts research on the effects of the global financial crisis on remittances

The Centre helped to research employment policies and produced a set of recommendations for the Government. It also gives special attention to the efficient use of migrants' remittances, which as of November 2008 formed 27.4 per cent of the national GDP, according to the World Bank report for Kyrgyzstan.

Environment

The Centre in Bishkek focuses on the following environmental issues:
- promoting environmental curriculum development in education for sustainable development
- raising public awareness about responding and preparing for emergency situations due to natural disasters; 
- addressing the legacy of radioactive, in particular uranium waste. 
Projects focus on such issues as
- support for municipalities to improve communal services, 
- water conflict prevention, 
- access to environmental information and 
- natural disaster preparedness.

Support to municipal communal services
At the request of the authorities in smaller Kyrgyz towns such as Osh, Talas, Naryn, Tash Komur and Uzgen, the Centre in Bishkek supports the mayors' offices and municipalities in developing sustainable environmental management structures for communal services, including the introduction of billing systems. The project had three phases and focused on improving municipal waste services.

Radioactive waste management 
The Centre liaises closely with UN agencies on a strategy to address the range of national nuclear waste management issues. To address the uranium tailings sites in the village of Min Kush, the OSCE supports the international co-ordination group established under the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The group continues to seek donor assistance to resolve the threats posed by landslides and floods. The UN has now taken the lead on this issue. The OSCE contribution will be socio-economic support to effected villages.

Natural disaster preparedness
The OSCE has worked closely on disaster preparedness with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, located in Osh under the Government's decentralization policy. A key result has been the establishment of a training centre within the Ministry. The OSCE aims to help improve co-ordination among key organizations to avoid duplication on disaster preparedness and to raise community awareness through local training workshops.

Water conflict prevention 
The Centre in Bishkek assists with training for local authorities on conflict management related to the shared use of water resources.

Access to environmental information 
Through its Field Office in Osh, the Centre in Bishkek continues to support the Aarhus Centre, established in 2004, to increase public awareness about environmental legislation and promote its effective implementation. The Aarhus Centre has become an important training centre for the whole country.

Good governance
OSCE projects in good governance focus on
- Building the capacity of government agencies such as the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, 
- Supporting greater transparency in higher education and local budgeting.

Combating corruption 
Given Kyrgyzstan's priority to combat corruption, the Centre in Bishkek assists the Government and civil society in raising awareness about corruption. It helps governmental bodies such as the National Agency for Preventing Corruption with staff training.

Transparency issues 
To strengthen transparency, the Centre in Bishkek supports public hearings of municipal budgets in selected regions so that the perspectives of the public and non-governmental organizations can be taken into account when local budgets are formed. The OSCE also develops mechanisms to prevent corruption in the universities of Kyrgyzstan's bigger towns.

4) POLICE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME
On January 2005 the Presidential State Commission on Police Reform adopted a comprehensive reform concept defining the basic principles of a strategic reform of the Kyrgyz Militia. The core element of the comprehensive police reform is the transformation of the Militia into a modern police service by January 1st 2011. The mission of new Police will be to serve the needs and the rights of the Kyrgyz people.
However, the events following the Parliamentary elections, which led to a complete breakdown in public order in Bishkek, Osh, Jalal-Abad and smaller cities, had a very negative effect on the reputation of the Militia as the trust of the population in the ability of the Police to maintain public order had decreased significantly.

Following these events the original plan to prepare and implement a longer-term police reform program had to be changed in order to address the actual security situation. The main goal is to rebuild trust in the Police through training, equipping and improving the management. It is expected that these initiatives will make the Police more competent in preventing and managing election related tensions and conflict situations.

Goals
The goals of the Interim Programme are therefore twofold:
1. To address the actual security situation in the country with an emergency assistance program focused on public order management and improvement of the efficiency of Police work;
2. To continue developing the institutional and legal framework for real and substantive Police reform.

a) Public Order Management
Three main outputs (results) identified within this project are:

- One Public Order Management Unit is set up in the South of the Republic;

- The Centre for Public Disorder Prevention and Resolution at the Kyrgyz Police Academy is an acknowledged competence centre

- The awareness among Police and civil society representatives on strategic situation analysis and preventive action against the threat of public disorder has increased.

b) Improving the Operational Efficiency of the Police
Six main outputs (results) identified within this project are:
1. Police Management is strengthened;
2. The police capacity at district police stations is strengthened through corresponding assistance (conducting on-job training and providing the equipment);
3. The quality of police investigations has improved;
4. Drug interdiction capacities are strengthened;
5. Continuous assistance to the Police Operational Information Analysis System is provided;
6. Premises for a Police Station are built in the Southern Kyrgyzstan (Jalalabat).

c) Programme Implementation Unit
Five main outputs (results) identified within this project are:
1. Projects are implemented successfully to the full satisfaction of the beneficiaries while the implementation of outsourced projects is facilitated;
2. Efficient and transparent financial management is in place;
3. Planning, monitoring, and reporting are carried out;
4. Regular PR informs everyone about the ongoing program implementation;
5. Dialogue between the Police and the public on the Police reform is maintained.
d) Preparation of Police Reform

Two main outputs (results) identified within this project are:
1. A Comprehensive Police Reform Plan (2006 - 2011) is elaborated;
2. Community Policing initiative is consolidated and extended.

e) Capacity Building (Training)
Three main outputs (results) identified within this project are:
1. Training capacity at the Kyrgyz Police Academy has been strengthened;
2. A contemporary, practice-oriented training program has been implemented at the Bishkek Secondary Police School;
3. A contemporary, practice-oriented training program has been implemented at the Osh Secondary Police School.

5) OSCE ACADEMY

The OSCE Academy in Bishkek is designed to promote and enhance the principles and aims of the OSCE in the Central Asian region, enshrined in its fundamental understanding of comprehensive security. Located in Bishkek, the OSCE Academy is strongly embedded in the wider Central Asian academic and political context and follows a distinctive regional approach.
As a regional centre for post-graduate education, capacity building, research and regional dialogue the Academy applies advanced methods of instruction and means of communication.

The Academy provides a regional and international public forum for professionals and students in the spirit of co-operation in the fields of international relations, comprehensive security, conflictology, democratization, the rule of law and human rights.
Core tasks 
1. To provide expert training and education in conflict prevention, management, resolution and post-conflict rehabilitation, through modern pedagogical approaches;
2. To conduct demand-driven and practice-oriented research on relevant Central Asian topics aiming at national and regional security-building;
3. To support the exchange of information and scientific co-operation among Central Asian academic institutions and their international partner organizations;
4. To establish a regional network of professionals and researchers.

Today more than ever, better understanding and analysis of the specific cultural, political and social environment of the Central Asian countries is needed in order to identify the regional potentials and obstacles for enhancing mutual co-operation and confidence building.

Our training series possess unique international and regional focus. Participants and lecturers of the 2003-2005 training events have come from capital cities and regions of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, but also from Russia, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, Iran and Mongolia.

Our training activities are needs-based and result-oriented; continuity and sustainability of the training is our major concern. Training events are conducted by highly qualified international and Central Asian lecturers/trainers using interactive teaching techniques. All participants are encouraged to contribute actively throughout the program in their respective areas of expertise.

Extensive reading material is provided prior or during the training. Since our training activities are conducted in close co-operation with several international and regional institutions (e.g. Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Institute for Integrative Conflict Transformation and Peace building, Media4Democracy, UN Preventive Development Program in KR, etc.), their content benefits considerably from synergies of knowledge.