Kyrgyz Youth in Human Rights Education

 137 Kyrgyz Youth in Human Rights Education

Youth Human Rights Group

he Youth Human Rights Group (YHRG) was established in 1995 with a mission to protect and promote human rights in general and child rights in Tparticular in the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia. As a non-profit, non- governmental organization (NGO), YHRG undertakes human rights education and awareness-raising activities, monitoring of the�� human�� rights/child rights situation, legal counseling, and lobbying for legislations affecting the youth.

Education program three seven-day seminars for young activists from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, The educational activities of YHRG include followed by a ten-day training holding classes on human rights and child rights • Human rights education training for second- in primary and secondary schools, publishing ary school teachers textbooks, making video materials, holding • development and publication of educational training seminars for teachers, representatives printed and video materials of NGOs, students and volunteers. The aware- • education on human rights and public inter- ness-raising activities include the publication of est practice for young activists the bulletin on the rights of the child entitled • Internships in YHRG for young activists Chaika, radio programs on human rights, vari- from different regions (Osh,�� Djalal-Abad, ous informational leaflets and other materials. Batken, Issyk-Kul, Talas, Naryn, Chui)�� of The program started on�� 10 ��December�� 1996 Kyrgyztan. with�� pilot�� lessons�� in schools in Bishkek. Since 1997, the educational program has become part Freedom House organized the 2007 Sum- of regular activities, and continued to develop mer Human Rights School for young activists and expand. from 25 June to 1 July in cooperation with A number of activities are undertaken under YHRG, which provided trainers. The School this program, namely, brought together participants from three • Advanced Training Program for Lawyers on countries (Kyrgyzstan , Kazakhstan , and Uz- International Mechanisms of Human Rights bekistan). The participants from Kyrgyzstan Protection (International Covenant on Civil underwent a multi-stage contest conducted by and Political Rights) YHRG before going to the Summer School. • Training program for young NGO activists During the five-day program, the partici- on human rights and capacity building, pants learned the following: which includes local and regional seminars: • Strategic activity planning

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• International mechanisms on human rights Meerim: “Before participating in the Summer protection School I did not realize that the situation of hu- • Human rights situation in Central Asian man rights and freedoms in Uzbekistan could countries be so grave.” • Alternative reports applicable to Central Asian countries • United Nations (UN) treaty bodies Lobbying for policy reform • UN Human Rights Council • Human rights monitoring and ways to ob- YHRG works in the area of legislation and tain effective results. its development. It analyzes existing legislations and develops law proposals. The YHRG takes The most valuable experience in the Summer part in round table discussions on reforming School for young activists was the opportunity legislation, and cooperates with international to meet and cooperate with representatives organizations, governmental bodies and parlia- from neighboring countries. The discussions ment for this purpose. were heated and interesting because of the A�� larg��e�� numbe��r�� o��f�� recommendations ��sug- different human rights situations in Kyrgyzstan, gested�� b��y�� Y��HRG�� wer��e�� include��d�� in�� the “New Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. They learned Generation” National Program on the Realiza- problems that were relevant to a particular tion of the Rights of Children in Kyrgyzstan. A country, and common problems faced by all representative of YHRG was a member of Con- three countries. Although they were from stitutional Council on constitutional reform. different countries, each of them realized how It also participates in public discussions about important it was to know human rights and to Kyrgyz Republic Code on Children. improve skills for their protection. The Summer YHRG is a member of a network of NGOs School became the platform that brought working on human rights and child rights. together experts from the three countries and This network was formed in 1999 to gather the young people who were taking the first steps qualitative information and to allow specialized to human rights protection work. monitoring of situations in different areas. The Some of the participants in the 2007 network also facilitates exchange of information Summer School commented: and education for new network member-orga- Ravshan: “… at the end of the first working nizations. day, we organized the Organizations Fair: we YHRG, together with the network of learned about the organizations represented by NGOs, prepared the Alternative Report to the the participants and their functions. This is im- UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in portant for future search of partners and further 2000, with comments on the Initial Report cooperation.” of the government of the Kyrgyz Republic on Eler: “I very much liked the films about human the implementation of the Convention on the rights and about the monitoring activity: how it is Rights of the Child (CRC). The subsequent organized, its strategies and ways of implementa- Committee on the Rights of the Child recom- tion. Thanks to those films, I now have a lot of mendations included those proposed by the new ideas in human rights protection, especially network. after we discussed the presentation.” Since then, YHRG (along with the network) Gulsaadat: “I was very much impressed by the has been preparing Alternative Reports to the trainers. They were real professionals who were UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, and really into their cause. All in all, no one fell out other human rights treaty monitoring bodies. of the wardrobe or fell asleep!” It also provides analytical information on the Kyrgyz Youth in Human Rights Education  139 human rights situation in Kyrgyzstan for the that would determine and try to work on UN special procedures and international human youth issues at the local level rights organizations. • Publication of a manual on protecting public interest (five hundred copies in the Russian language and three hundred copies in the Projects Kyrgyz language) and the distribution of copies in the regions of the country YHRG implements several projects, such • Two-month probation period at YHRG as the “Y��outh's participation in promoting of the three most active students from the democracy and youth's politics in Kyrgyzstan�” regions that introduced them to the work aimed of the civil society in protecting public • To strengthen the potential of young people interest. in working on their interests at the local level, and The manual contains • To involve them in developing the concept • Actions in protecting public interest of youth politics, and applying it at local and (information about different actions, and national levels. about strategies to plan the actions) • Success stories of students protecting public The project involved several activities: interest during the course of the project • Creation of information network of youth • Success stories in realizing public interest by organizations that continues to influence the different organizations in Kyrgyzstan the formation, planning and realization of • Comparative analysis of successful and the new youth politics. It focuses on youth unsuccessful actions undertaken during the organizations or organizations that work project, and the practical recommendations with the youth in Kyrgyzstan in different in working on advocacy campaigns spheres (human rights protection, legal • Selected essays of the students about consultations, crisis centers, job employ- problems among the youths in regions of ment, development of business, etc.) for Kyrgyzstan. each region • Holding two-day meetings in four regions Another project is entitled the “��Youth with one hundred students (twenty-five Initiative to Promote the Interests of Young persons from each region) to discuss the People at the Local Level.�� ”�� The project aims to problems of youth politics. The issues dis- support the activities of youth groups on human cussed covered the new concept of youth rights protection and to build capacities of politics and government, proposed changes young people in promoting their interests in the in the law about youth politics, possibilities different regions of Kyrgyztan. It includes two- of youth participation in the realization of day seminars, implementation of mini-projects, the proposals, lobbying about their interests and practical training in the YHRG office for at the local level, and strategic planning of the most successful and active participants of their actions the project. These selected participants became • Improvement on the level of knowledge acquainted with the activities of YHRG about the rights of young people in the and other NGOs working on human rights regions protection, acquired practical skills (in human • Selection of the most active and motivated rights monitoring, analysis of information participants from among the twenty-five gathered, project preparation), and observed people in each region as members of a group court proceedings in several district courts. 140  HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION IN ASIAN SCHOOLS

YHRG monitors institutions for the Seminars for NGOs, students and youth such as orphanages, boarding schools, volunteers hospitals, and custodial institutions. The YHRG researchers report on the human rights YHRG also regularly holds seminars for the violations occuring in these institutions such representatives of various NGOs, students, vol- as the cruel and inhuman treatment of children unteers and secondary school students. In No- in a psychiatric hospital. It also monitors other vember 2001, YHRG in cooperation with the human rights issues such as the infringement of Youth Center for Human Rights, Switzerland the right to freedom of expression and peaceful (CODAP) and Amnesty International-Poland assembly. held a regional seminar on human rights for young human rights activists from Central and Eastern Europe, and CIS. The seminar, held Awareness-raising activities in Warsaw, had twenty-three representatives of various NGOs and associations. The seminar YHRG has been working with teachers from discussed the concept of human rights, essential the different regions of Kyrgyzstan in the field notions of human rights, various mechanisms of human rights education and rights of the for human rights protection at national and child from the very beginning of its activities. international levels, practical suggestions on So far, it organized twenty seminars involving how to organize the human rights activities, six hundred teachers. the role of the youth in human rights organiza- During the 2001 to 2004 period, YHRG (in tions, etc. The participants positively evaluated cooperation with the Canadian Human Rights the seminar, stressing the wide range of themes Foundation1) carried out an impressive program discussed, and the opportunity to exchange for teachers on teaching human rights in school. experiences with other participants from other The program was aimed at forming a teacher regions (that allowed them to know the human training team composed of representatives of rights situation in Eastern Europe in general). local NGOs and teachers from different regions of the country��. Y��HRG keeps contact with all team members and jointly holds a number of Classes for children in specific seminars.�� The training for the Kyrgyz teacher institutions training team was done at seminars organized by the Canadian Human Rights Foundation in In 2001, YHRG started holding classes Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, and on the rights of the child in special boarding also at working meetings held by YHRG in schools for teenagers who were under detention Bishkek. With the help of the teacher training (Belovodskoe village, Chui Oblast). The classes team, YHRG worked out the training course for did not only introduce information about their primary, lower secondary and senior secondary rights as children, and the basic documents on teachers. The training focused on how to assist human rights and rights of the child, but also teachers incorporate human rights into their developed their self-confidence, and discussed activities using interactive techniques. ways of conflict resolution. Based on the experi- Many teachers continued their human rights ence in holding these classes, YHRG published education activities after attending seminars. a handbook in 2002 on teaching human rights Some schools developed their own classes on to children that are detained under specific human rights, based on the handbooks of the conditions. YHRG. Kyrgyz Youth in Human Rights Education  141

Classes at school classes with the use of the handbook. In 2001 YHRG produced a video film en- YHRG started to pilot human rights educa- titled “Youth Human Rights Group and Heroes tion in school projects on 10 December 1996 of Fairytales about Rights of the Child.” It during the International Human Rights Day. includes separate stories abstracted from fairy- The staff of YHRG held classes in schools in tales and revised according to the child rights Bishkek for five years. Classes were held in fif- perspective. teen different schools annually for students of varying ages. From these experiences, YHRG published handbooks on teaching human rights Publications classes in primary, lower secondary, and senior secondary levels. YHRG has produced a number of human rights materials including: • Collection of Human Rights Documents, Development of handbooks, films on human 2004. rights • Human Rights and Democracy (collection of articles), 2004 YHRG developed handbooks for teaching • Human Rights – Reading Materials for Teach- human rights and rights of the child in Grades ers, 2004 1-3, 5-6, 9-10. In most schools, human rights • Alternative report in relation to the second education was in the form of extracurricular periodic report of the Kyrgyz Republic on the activities, while in other schools it was in- implementation of the Convention on the Rights corporated into the school curriculum. The of the Child, 2004 handbooks include teaching hour schedules • Monitoring of Human Rights and Living Con- and additional reading materials. YHRG’s own ditions in Psychiatric Institutions of the Kyrgyz work experience shows the effectiveness of the Republic (in Russian and English), 2004 handbook in teaching human rights in second- • Monitoring Human Rights in the Work of the ary school. The handbooks, originally written Commission on Minors Affairs in the Kyrgyz in Russian language, were translated into the Republic (in�� Russian and English), 2004�� Kyrgyz language and disseminated among • Monitoring Human Rights in Orphanages and schools with the Kyrgyz language as medium Boarding Schools for Abandoned Children in of instruction. Kyrgyz Republic (in Russian and English), YHRG also produced several video films to 2003 accompany the handbooks. In 1998, YHRG • Chaika - quarterly bulletin on the rights of produced a film accompanying the handbook the child (in Russian and Kyrgyz), 1997- for teaching child rights in 5th-6th grades in 2002 secondary schools. The film includes scenes • A teachers guide on teaching child rights of actual human rights classes, and serves as a in Grades 1 - 3 (in Russian and Kyrgyz), guide for teachers. 2002 In 2000, YHRG produced a video film • About alternative military service; If you are entitled “The Rights Around Us” for senior arrested - leaflets for students, 2001 secondary school level. The film, used at the • The Convention on the Rights of the Child in beginning of the class, touches on the human Drawings (in Russian and Kyrgyz), 2000 rights violations in Kyrgyzstan. The themes fea- • The situation of Tajik refugee children in Osh tured in the film are discussed in the subsequent and Jalal-Abad and Batken regions. Report for the UNHCR (in English and Russian), 142  HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION IN ASIAN SCHOOLS

2000 are not representative of the situation of the • Alternative Report to the Initial Report of the youth in the whole country; they have only Kyrgyz Republic on the implementation of the identified major tendencies in young people’s Convention on the Rights of the Child, 2000 motivation to actively participate in public life, • The situation of Tajik and Afghan refugee chil- and the fundamental problems of youth and dren. A report for the UNHCR in coopera- youth policy. Semi-standardized, face-to-face tion with "Save the Children," Great Britain interview method was used in collecting data. (in Russian and English), 1999 The research was carried out in two direc- • A guide book on teaching human rights tions. The first part focused on the opinions and in Grades 5 - 6 (in Russian and Kyrgyz), perceptions of young people who are already 1999. involved in the activities of civil society institutions; asking questions such as why young people engage in the activities of civil society Videofilms organizations, how they perceive their own role, how they evaluate own opportunities to It produced the following videos: influence the situation within the state and what • Human rights in the provision of psychiatric their plans are for the future. aid (in cooperation with a social organiza- The second part of the research was oriented tion (Mental Health and Society), 2003 towards young people of various social groups. • Human Rights Environment in Schools, It was important to find out how evident was 2002 state’s activities regarding youth policy in • Human Rights: The Relationship Between Kyrgyzstan, what priorities were seen by the Individuals and Power, 2002 young people in youth policy, and whether • Juvenile justice (video clip), 2002 they considered the state’s activities on youth • youth Human Rights Group and Heroes policy effective. of Fairytales about Rights of the Child for The research showed the necessity to intro- Grades 1 - 3, 2001 duce changes in the “On Fundamentals of Youth • The Rights Around Us for Grades 9 - 10, Policy,” to reform state institutions’ activities 2000 regarding the youth policy, and to modify ap- • Video course on teaching of child rights in proaches to the youth and their participation Grades 5 – 6, 1998. in the process of developing the youth policy in Kyrgyzstan. The research report includes recommendations on how to improve the The research project2 implementation of the youth policy.

YHRG implemented a research project during the 2004-2006 period on the policy Summary of results of the Kyrgyz government on the youth and a survey of the youth on the fundamental�� tenden- 1. Awareness of youth about the realiza- cies in youth motivations to participate in civil tion of the youth policy society institutions and identify the degree of youth participation in the formation of a youth Most of the respondents were not informed policy. about government programs for the youth. To The research was undertaken in seven the question on what the government organs regions of Kyrgyztan, covering one hundred in their area had done for young people and twenty six respondents. The research outcomes what programs and services were held on a Kyrgyz Youth in Human Rights Education  143 continuous basis, most respondents answered 2. Main problems of the youth that they did not know and never encountered any programs and services organized by state Legal protection and awareness of their organs or municipal authorities. The most rights remain acute problems among the youth, informed about youth policy among the re- as already mentioned. The youth have general spondents were those who were involved in ideas about civil rights and human rights. When the civil society organizations; they mentioned listing their rights, the respondents mostly the national program “Zhashtik”, and the Law talked about the rights to education, adequate on Principles of the Youth Policy. Most of the living standards, etc. However, in most cases respondents thought the youth policy were mass the respondents were unable to clearly formulate programs and youth entertainment programs. their understanding of rights and to explain Some respondents associated the youth policy what they meant by specific rights. Quite of- with youth organizations such as “Kel-Kel” and ten they mixed the notions of rights, rules and “Bierge.” Undoubtedly, such results tell about obligations. Based on the results, it can be said the insufficient work of the state organs that that young people do not have good knowledge are responsible for the realization of the youth of their rights, they are not well-informed about policy at local, regional and national levels. their rights. This, in turn, becomes the reason It is necessary to note that the members of for frequent violation of the rights of the youth the regional committees on youth affairs are by law enforcement bodies, the school and uni- themselves not always well-informed about the versity administration, which the respondents youth policy. During the interviews, they were complained about. Schools and universities, unable to clearly define their vision of a youth that are supposed to prepare the youth for adult policy and the actions that should be taken life, do not provide sufficient information about in accordance with the Program “Zhashtik” rights. To the contrary, they are identified as (Youth) and its implementation plan. In view the biggest violators of child rights and human of this, it is also important to observe the rights. This contributes to increased corruption way in which the members of the regional in the field of education and declining quality committees are selected and to see whether of education. these members have attended skill develop- The respondents identified the different ment courses so that they can carry out their problems of the youth. However, most of them responsibilities effectively. were related to each other and had similar roots. In addition, the respondents expressed in- According to the results of the survey the main teresting views of what the youth policy should problems are unemployment (23 percent), cor- be. According to most respondents, the youth ruption in universities (12 percent), corruption policy must be effective, functional and flex- in job hiring (8 percent) and education of the ible. It should consider the real needs of the youth that should have been based on promot- youth and create conditions for personal and ing healthy lifestyle, democratic values such as professional development and growth of young tolerance, peace and active civil position. people. The youth policy should be directed The most acute problem is unemployment to solve the problems of the youth concerning and the external migration that results from it. unemployment, low quality of education, hous- The low quality of education complicates this ing problems of young families, and so on. Also, problem. The quality of university graduates the youth policy should be more precise and does not meet the needs and requirements of accessible and be implemented by competent new employers. This leads to a paradoxical specialists who are motivated by youth issues. situation of the existence of need for qualified 144  HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION IN ASIAN SCHOOLS specialists yet the university graduates cannot an idea of the existing situation regarding the meet the professional requirements. In gen- development and implementation of the youth eral, the current situation results in low living policy. standards, and the corruption in the system Unfortunately, in Kyrgyzstan there is no enhances distrust of the government and forces common and open recognition of the impor- the youth to look for other solutions to their tance of youth participation in decision-making problems. The lack of possibilities to solve the processes at both local and regional levels if problems through the legal means makes the there is an intention to build a flourishing and youth turn to their parents, relatives, or friends democratic society. Participation of the youth in for help. This situation further advances the state affairs should not be limited to voting or existing system that deprives the youth the nominating candidates for elections, although possibility of finding jobs to provide for their these are important aspects as well. Participa- families and to integrate into society through tion of the young generation in society’s life legitimate ways. and forming an active civil position requires According to some respondents, jobs in the availability of rights and effective and ac- the non-governmental sector were regarded as cessible mechanisms for their observance. They the most attractive as well as accessible. They should be encouraged to participate in deci- stressed that this sector was different from oth- sion-making processes and to influence these ers because it allowed young people to develop processes. Participation in different forms of their own civil position, and widen their hori- activities should be directed towards building a zon; it also provided the possibility for self-real- better society. To realize such participation, the ization. Most of the respondents had intention local and regional authorities need to involve to continue to work in the non-governmental the youth in society’s life and to provide the sector, as it provided favorable conditions for possibilities for the youth not only to learn the realizing ideas, plans, and encouraged produc- principles of the democratic state and society tive work. A large number of young people are but also to apply this knowledge into practice. guided by humanistic goals in their work in the This approach should not be only oriented to non-governmental organizations. They have the future. To make participation meaningful for the motivation to be useful to society and to the young people it is necessary that they have influence the current events in society. Nonethe- the possibility of influencing decisions and plans less, there were a number of respondents who for the realization of the youth policy and other admitted that they chose the non-governmental areas of life that affect the youth at present. Any sector because they could not find job in other strategies and measures designed to increase the sectors. involvement of the youth in society’s life need Thus, in a situation of growing unemploy- to be put in practice in an atmosphere of respect ment, the state does not pay enough attention to towards youth and with the consideration of the analysis of this phenomenon. The state does different needs of young people. not make enough efforts to solve this problem, wasting a great number of human resources and 2. Non-governmental organizations in missing the opportunity for greater economic Kyrgyzstan development of the country. The results of the survey confirmed the The greater part of interviews were con- government’s lack of integral, all-level policy ducted with staff/volunteers of local NGOs, directed to the development of the youth. This and also among employees of international survey is, by no means, representative of the organizations, mass media groups, members of whole situation of the Kyrgyz youth, but it gives student councils and political parties. Kyrgyz Youth in Human Rights Education  145

The civil society in Kyrgyzstan keeps on group characteristics of “youth.” The terms growing.3 Non-governmental organizations, “young person,”10 and “young people” were mass media groups, and political parties are ac- used in accordance with the law that defines tively involved in the public life of a state. There young people as “citizens of the Kyrgyz Repub- is no particular answer to question about how lic … with the age of 14 to 35 years.”11 many organizations are functioning. Official sta- This research covered young people under tistical data differ from the independent one. thirty years old. The lowest age barrier was not Between 1 January 2005 and 1 August 2006, strictly fixed, the youngest respondents were six- the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic teen years old both in 2004 and 2006 surveys. has registered (or reregistered) three thousand four hundred twenty-five non-commercial 4. How young people engage in civil society organizations, out of which eight hundred organizations three are public associations, and five hundred ninety are public funds.4 The list of children Respondents were asked questions about and youth NGOs listed by the Department how they learned about a given organization, for Youth Affairs under the Ministry of Educa- how they were recruited or became volunteers. tion, Culture and Youth Policy counts seventy Throughout 2006, the amount of information organizations.5 brought via advertisements of civil society or- According to the Ministry of Justice, in 2004 ganizations in the mass media has significantly there were six thousand thirty-one NGOs.6 increased. In 2004, mass media advertisements However, NGO database compiled by the local were the main source of information for the re- office of Counterpart Consortium (an American cruitment of staff of international organizations non-governmental organization) counted one and two years later, the basic information source thousand ten NGOs, twelve percent (three for local NGOs. This form of advertisement hundred two) of which were for children and decreases the influence of family and friends, youth.7 though these ties remain as the central source of Yet, the true extent of civil society’s advance- information.12 Many young people also receive ment could not be only tied to existing number information via labor centers and human re- of organizations. The Association of Centers for source agencies. This indicates a growing sense Endowment of Civil Society (ACECS) carried of professionalism of non-governmental sectors, out a research to find out the average number of which can in turn, aid young people in their functioning NGOs,8 determine their priorities, search for available jobs; however, percentage and show best practice examples. According to rates and clear conclusions are still premature. the ACECS research, there are five hundred fourteen active public organizations that com- 5. Why young people associate themselves prise six percent of officially registered public with the non-governmental sector associations, public funds and associations of owners.9 Young people tended to be interested in Whether based on official statistical data or jobs in non-governmental sectors, yearning to alternative sources, NGOs form a large segment do something useful in order to acquire practi- of Kyrgyz society involving many young people cal experiences. Opportunities of professional in the country. careers were also an important motivation for many respondents. For young people, work 3. Young people place conditions such as salary, quality of work, and individual initiative were given more atten- This research was not meant to study the tion than the organization’s goals, as found in 146  HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION IN ASIAN SCHOOLS the 2006 research. Less respondents answered - Independence and creativity with general statements like “I like the job.” And - I have the opportunity to discover my- a new category of answers “the desire to share self own experience with others” appeared. - Practical experiences and useful ties.

Respondent During the 2004 research, major issues Respondents’ responses number included lack of funds to carry out programs 1 I like the job and poor salary. 2 Humanistic goals/active civil position Examples of responses: 3 For self-realization - The atmosphere is not that good 4 For experience and professional growth - we are frequently prevented from doing 5 Could not tell exactly 6 Necessity to do the internship the work 7 Desire to share experience - Misunderstandings with colleagues due 8 Prestigious and comfortable to poor flow of information 9 Good team - Misunderstandings with the president. It 10 Salary would be better to have a young person 11 No other place to work 12 Refused to answer as president and not a sixty-five-year-old professor. Examples of comments on the question13 - I had to do an internship, but entering In 2006, there was a sharp twenty-one the organization was my own decision percent increase in the number of respondents - I was an observer during the elections who pointed out the problem of ignorance and and decided to stay afterwards barriers posed by the state bodies. Twenty-eight - At first, I was helping my girlfriend, but percent of respondents stressed lack of funds and I liked the job and was recruited to her difference of opinions. Responses referring to position lack of information have significantly declined - I was interested in the organization’s to only two percent of the respondents. Thirty- program, which was a summer camp for four percent either refused or found it difficult disabled children to answer.16 Six percent of the respondents - It is interesting and is close to my oc- pointed to lack of time and four percent pointed cupation. to passivity.

6. How young activists perceive positive 7. Length of time young people stay within and negative sides of their activity in the organizations non-governmental sector In the 2004 research, respondents stated that Overall, respondents pointed to the staff, volunteers typically remained for one year and friendly atmosphere, access to resources and many were recruited later to become employees information, and opportunity for advancement for an average total of three and a half years. as positive aspects of working in the non-gov- In 2006, the absolute majority of the re- ernmental sector.14 spondents, about seventy-five percent, worked Examples of comments on the question 15 within one organization for a period of three - The organization�� endorses aspirations to five years. About forty percent of the total - Any idea is discussed and usually sup- employees worked a total of four to eight years ported within the organization and about the same percentage worked for one to three years. Kyrgyz Youth in Human Rights Education  147

Many believed that NGOs were only spring- - Programs on clinical education boards for the youth to get into international or- - Holding a film festival ganizations or the government and businesses; - Publication of articles however, interviews conducted showed�� that in - Holding information campaigns reality, young people we��re serious about their - Free legal consultations work in civil society sector and stayed in NGOs - Conducting research among the youth for long periods of time. - Proposal to raise the salary.

8. Young people discover themselves in Out of sixty percent of the respondents who NGOs did not have the opportunity to implement their own initiatives, fifteen percent said that they At the beginning of the research, there was a were recently employed and have not yet made belief that it would be difficult for young people any proposal, but were willing to do so in the to discover themselves, express their opinions, future. Other responses included: and initiate and propose their own ideas within - Scornful treatment due to being young; organizations due to their lack of professional being mistrusted and professional quali- and significantly long experience. However, fication being doubted (NGO staff) the interviews revealed that young people felt - Frequent misunderstanding on issues and comfortable in civil society organizations, were problems with the administration (mass supported by other employees, and proposed media staff) their own ideas, which were acknowledged to - not allowed to do real work, only work a certain extent. which other members were not willing to In 2004, the absolute majority, about sev- do themselves (employee in an Ombuds- enty-one percent, of respondents stated that man regional office). they felt supported by their organizations, eleven percent said that they were provided 9. Young people’s perception of their future with both moral and material support, and nine percent said that senior staff members discussed It is apparent that about half of the respon- problems with them. Out of those interviewed, dents were planning to continue their activities only nineteen percent said that they did not feel in their NGOs, in both 2004 and 2006 surveys. any support and ten percent said the level of A quarter of the respondents in 2004 associated support fluctuated. their future with international organizations. In 2006, eighty-seven percent of the re- The results of 2006 differ, as international orga- spondents were satisfied with duties in their nizations were no longer considered as prospec- respective organizations. Four percent of them tive work opportunity with the introduction of were unsatisfied with their roles and fifty-seven business employment opportunities. percent said that their initiatives were supported The number of those who were willing to by their organizations. Thirty-two percent said be recruited by state services has increased. In that they were not always supported and eleven 2006, twenty-one percent of respondents were percent said that their ideas were of no interest willing to be recruited by state services while to their organizations. in 2004 only nine percent were interested in Of the correspondents, forty percent gave holding a career in state bodies. examples of their proposals that were imple- mented17 such as the following: 10. How young people evaluate their in- - Training of election commission mem- fluence on the State bers 148  HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION IN ASIAN SCHOOLS

In 2004, the absolute majority of respon- and passive. Twenty percent said that there was dents gave an affirmative answer to questions no role for young people at all. Seven percent on personal contributions to changing the state mentioned limited opportunities for young of human rights in their country. Examples of people as a result of high level of corruption. responses18 Eleven percent found it difficult to answer.22 - yes, I contribute through my activities When asked about personal roles, forty- - One person cannot influence every- two percent of respondents said that they were thing passive, thirteen percent said that they did not - yes, we can make other people get ac- participate “due to occurring circumstances,” quainted with new information thirty percent actively participated in revolution- - yes, if I have enough strength ary events, five percent said they were “against - yes, but only in a determined sphere. the revolution” or “were busy” and three percent There are cases when we can do nothing refused to answer.23 - no, not in a human rights sphere. The research held about a year after the change of power in the State, showed that In 2006, respondents were asked questions forty-two percent of respondents thought that about their expectations of activities in civil so- the changes were positive. The respondents ciety institutions, the influence of youth move- also believed that the youth were being given ments, and the role of March 2005 events.19 more attention; young people could lobby laws Thirty-four percent of the respondents ex- with little fear, could participate in political life, pected the civil society institutions to provide no longer have to fear the government, and educational and awareness-raising services and have a bright future. Eighteen percent of the twenty-nine percent expected these institutions respondents thought that there was no feasible to stay useful and indispensable. Fourteen per- change and a similar percentage said that there cent expected mobilization and integration of a were no changes at all. Further, twelve percent community, eight percent expected cooperation noted negative changes; they believed that the with NGOs, seven percent wanted the promo- youth have become more aggressive, increas- tion of democracy, one percent wanted inde- ingly nationalistic, and have little respect for law pendence from donors and two percent either and order. Five percent either refused to answer refused to answer or had no expectations.20 or found it difficult to respond.24 Regarding the influence of the youth, thirty The last question addressed changes in the percent said that young people were not able to activities of the respondent’s organizations. influence societal life, twenty-five percent said Twenty-eight percent said that there were no that political fields could be influenced by young changes in their activities and thirty percent people, twenty percent said that culture was in- said that there were no significant changes. fluenced by young people, nine percent pointed Twenty-five percent said that there were posi- to the economy, eleven percent noted that the tive changes, two percent noted a reassessment current youth did not have any influence, and of values, six percent said that their work situ- three percent found it difficult to answer.21 ation has worsened, and seventeen percent did not answer. 11. Changes of March 2005 The role of the youth in civil society The majority of respondents believed that young people did not play any significant role in The survey was conducted at the time when society. Sixty percent of the respondents thought Kyrgyzstan was going through difficulties in that the role of young people was insignificant the aftermath of the March 2005 crisis. The Kyrgyz Youth in Human Rights Education  149 crisis resonated in almost all parts of social life, and other processes affecting the youth, but they and the unstable political situation continued. admitted they did not know and did not see the During these events, the youth were given much ways and mechanisms that would allow them attention and without doubt were considered as to participate and demonstrate their positions. one of the main forces pushing for significant Nevertheless, some of the young people who political changes. Youth issues and the youth were involved in the civil society sector noted policy became very acute and were discussed at that they influenced the different spheres of the different levels. youth policy through their work. The respondents gave an interesting assess- A big number of young people underlined ment of the role of the youth in the events of that traditional relations between society and the March 2005. During the interviews, forty-two state and the youth was based on the perception percent of respondents agreed that the youth of a young generation as a problem, as a group were an instrument of changing power during that should be quiet, be exceptionally obedient the revolution in the interest of third parties. and have no criticism of the established order. However, thirty percent of the respondents The other perception was that the initiatives of thought the youth played an important role young people on the local level were regarded and acted resolutely and consciously. As for the as non-desirable. assessment of the role of the youth before and On the other hand, it should be noted after the revolution, most respondents agreed that the youth assisted to preserve the existing that the youth did not and do not play sufficient situation to some extent. According to the re- role, and do not show much activism. spondents, the young people in Kyrgyztan were Many interviewers had the impression that apolitical and were not active in promoting their young people working in the civil society sector interests. The reason for this is often a fear of and other sectors did not see their meaningful repression by the educational institutions and role for the government and felt that they were local authorities. The lack of effective mecha- unwanted. Nevertheless, as the most active part nism on legal protection and low legal literacy of the society, young people have the opportu- make young people feel vulnerable, undefended nity to influence the socio-political, economic and powerless. and cultural life of the country. The respondents did not think there were obstacles for the youth in terms of influencing the cultural develop- Endnotes ments in the country. However, the concerns were about participation in the political life 1 The�� Canadian�� Human Rights Foundation has of society as they felt unsure of their influence adopted a new name: Equitas, International Centre for on the situation in their regions. In particular, Human Rights. 2 This�� section is taken from the published report of some respondents noted that it was hard to get the survey results, Youth Policy in Kyrgyzstan - Research the attention of the officials to their initiatives Report (2006) prepared by YHRG. and get their support that was necessary in 3 According to the report presented by the Minister implementing those initiatives. of Justice M. Kaiypov during the Parliamentary At the same time, the results of the survey hearings, the Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic proved that the youth, especially in the rural and its territorial organs has registered (reregistered) during January 1997 – August 2006 period 19,661 areas, do not have dependent attitudes. The non-commercial organizations out of which there are youth rely only on themselves because they real- 3,566 public associations, 3,683 public funds, 971 non- ized that the social services were very weak. It is commercial communities, 1,371 association of owners, notable that most of the respondents expressed 5,999 departments, 613 credit unions, 176 frontline their willingness to influence the youth policy trade union organizations, 599 associations of water 150  HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION IN ASIAN SCHOOLS users, 338 religious organizations, 517 condominiums, 10 Include both male and female young people. 1,698 territorial self-governing institutions, 43 11 Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On Fundamentals associations of trade union organizations, and 87 of Youth Policy, 2000.” It is not clear why foreigners political parties. are excluded from the definition. 4 Report after Ministry of Justice representative 12 It should be noted that respondents’ cases, who attended the Parliamentary hearings in September answered “employers invited by themselves”, were not 2006. always clear. 5 www.jashtik.in.kg/ngo/ngo.htm, visited on 30 13 2004 research data September 2006. 14 Ibid. 6 Ministry of Justice applies legitimately codified 15 Ibid. term “non-commercial organizations” out of which 16 2% among them responded that there were no under the term “non-governmental organizations”, as a problems, 19 % difficult to answer, 13% refused to rule, public associations, public funds and associations answer. of owners are understood. 17 2004 research data 7 About 6% composed NGOs (146), less than 10% 18 Ibid. NGOs dealing with women issues. 19 Detailed answers on this issue are presented in 8 Within the framework of goals and tasks of the the Youth Policy in Kyrgyzstan - Research Report (2006). research, ACECS has formulated the following criteria 20 Research Report “Young people’s role and for active non-commercial organization (NCO): motivation for participation in civil society,” Part 4.2. period of operation of NCO – not less than two years; 21 Ibid, Part 5 number of paid employees – not less than two persons; 22 Ibid, Part 5.1. The regional correlation is also total number of projects implemented for the whole introduced in another section of the survey report. period of existence – not less than three; number of 23 Ibid. projects carried out at present – not less than one. 24 Ibid.�� 9 Preliminary research results under ACECS, October of 2006.