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Citizens Against Corruption

In May 2000 a group of concerned citizens founded Civil Society Against Corruption (CSAC) to involve common citizens in the decision-making process at all levels, to increase the transparency and accountability of state representatives of different levels, and to protect economic, social and cultural rights of ordinary citizens. In March 2005 CAC re-registered as the Human Rights Centre Citizens Against Corruption (CAC).
The mission of CAC is to decrease the level of corruption, poverty and injustice and to improve the human rights situation in Kyrgyzstan. CAC focuses on fair elections, new leadership (towards a new political culture), legislation, law enforcement, access to state information and transnational companies. The scope of CAC also covers women's rights and ecological issues.
One of the methods to combat corruption and urge institutions to become more transparent and accountable is to organize thematic seminars with state representatives, lawyers, human rights activists and others. These seminars address a wide range of topics. CAC also organizes civic forums to involve vulnerable groups in society in the decision-making processes. CAC promotes active, non-violent involvement of citizens in decision-making processes. The civic forums and the monthly newspaper Pluralism, distributed through the network members, focus groups and state officials, are important ways to do that.
CAC works on national and local level. The organization empowers local NGOs and activists to address issues in their own communities. For this purpose, CAC has set up a nation-wide anti-corruption network, consisting of NGOs, initiative groups, local community leaders, civil society activists and civic transparency committees (2008: 120 organizations/groups, 500 individual activists and 9 civic committees). The civic committees for transparency have been founded by CAC. The members of this anti-corruption network are obliged to show transparency and accountability within their own structures and work.
Critical monitoring, constructive criticism and objective mediation were important under the Akaev regime, during the revolution (March 2005) and are still important in the post-revolutionary era. Since 2004, CAC has been organizing civic forums on social problems, monitoring elections, organizing public hearings, mediating in conflicts between state and citizens, and monitoring refugee and migrant issues. CAC also participates in committees (as representative from civil society) to reform the constitution, to investigate the property of former president Akaev, and to analyze the foreign aid flow to Kyrgyzstan.
Hivos supports CAC, because CAC addresses very relevant problems through an effective programme, with a nation-wide coverage on national, regional and local level. In addition, CAC has a strong reputation and plays a central role within the NGO scene and in the representation of civil society towards the government.

Type of organisation	Membership organisation
Sector	Human Rights & Democratisation
Country	Kyrgyzstan
Founded	2000
Hivos partner since	2004
Website	http://www.anticorruption.kg

Anti-corruption programme 2005-09

DAC-sectors:	Human rights
Location:	Kyrgyzstan
Beneficiary:	indigenous peoples, ethnic/religious/cultural minorities
activity	Empowerment of local NGOs to participate in decision-making
Direct outreach	50 - Intermediary level
Indirect outreach	50000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Contract total:	375.000
Contractperiod:	01-08-2005 until 31-07-2009

Description:
The first contract between Hivos and CAC helped CAC to realise the first steps in establishing the nation-wide anticorruption network (2004-05). In addition, Hivos supported a range of other activities of CAC, which came on its path (see above), sometimes ad hoc responding to new needs as a result of the revolution. This second contract enables CAC to give follow-up to these activities. CAC has 5 directions of work: (a) Contribution to legislative reforms to improve the legislation of Kyrgyzstan and bring it in line with international agreements. CAC aims to achieve a new constitution with a balanced power system, a new electoral system which ensures fair and transparent elections, and an independent judicial system that secures protection of human rights. Also CAC strives towards increased public safety and a more efficient government. (b) Civic watch and citizen's participation to foster accountability and transparency of the government, parliament and judiciary. CAC aims to influence the political culture at the government and parliament. Also, CAC is developing strategies to influence the government's and foreign donors policies vis-a-vis the work of transnational companies, in particular in the field of extractive industry. In addition, CAC aims to attract citizens to participate in public hearings on the state budget, and to achieve free access to public information. In this context, CAC monitors the work of the civil service agency. (c) Human rights protection, lobby and advocacy on local and national level. CAC protects human rights defenders against state repression and offers legal consultations to network members and vulnerable groups in society (e.g. on financial compensation of the victims of the Aksy shooting). CAC also advocates to revoke death penalties. CAC's monthly newspaper Pluralism keeps people informed on such issues. (d) Empowerment of local NGOs and active citizens to be able to participate in decision-making processes. Besides offering skills training and leadership training to the network members, CAC organises civic forums in the regions where these members work. These civic forums are tools to activate citizens to be involved in decision-making processes. Also the newspaper Pluralism plays a role in this. (e) Involvement of network members in prevention, monitoring and resolution of conflicts. These are conflicts on water, land, rights, borders and health. CAC helps the network members in fulfilling this task.

Description:

The first contract between Hivos and CAC helped CAC to realise the first steps in establishing the nation-wide anticorruption network (2004-05). In addition, Hivos supported a range of other activities of CAC, which came on its path (see above), sometimes ad hoc responding to new needs as a result of the revolution. This second contract enables CAC to give follow-up to these activities. CAC has 5 directions of work:
(a) Contribution to legislative reforms to improve the legislation of Kyrgyzstan and bring it in line with international agreements. CAC aims to achieve a new constitution with a balanced power system, a new electoral system which ensures fair and transparent elections, and an independent judicial system that secures protection of human rights. Also CAC strives towards increased public safety and a more efficient government.
(b) Civic watch and citizen's participation to foster accountability and transparency of the government, parliament and judiciary. CAC aims to influence the political culture at the government and parliament. Also, CAC is developing strategies to influence the government's and foreign donors policies vis-a-vis the work of transnational companies, in particular in the field of extractive industry. In addition, CAC aims to attract citizens to participate in public hearings on the state budget, and to achieve free access to public information. In this context, CAC monitors the work of the civil service agency.
(c) Human rights protection, lobby and advocacy on local and national level. CAC protects human rights defenders against state repression and offers legal consultations to network members and vulnerable groups in society (e.g. on financial compensation of the victims of the Aksy shooting). CAC also advocates to revoke death penalties. CAC's monthly newspaper Pluralism keeps people informed on such issues.
(d) Empowerment of local NGOs and active citizens to be able to participate in decision-making processes. Besides offering skills training and leadership training to the network members, CAC organises civic forums in the regions where these members work. These civic forums are tools to activate citizens to be involved in decision-making processes. Also the newspaper Pluralism plays a role in this.
(e) Involvement of network members in prevention, monitoring and resolution of conflicts. These are conflicts on water, land, rights, borders and health. CAC helps the network members in fulfilling this task.

One World Kyrgyzstan 2009

DAC-sectors:	Culture
Location:	Kyrgyzstan
Beneficiary:	human rights defenders
activity	public deabtes
Direct outreach	300 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Indirect outreach	5000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
activity	seminars
Direct outreach	200 - Intermediary level
Indirect outreach	10000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
activity	festival screenings
Direct outreach	3000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Indirect outreach	10000 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Contract total:	20.000
Contractperiod:	01-07-2009 until 31-12-2009

Description:
The third edition of the International Festival of Documentary Films on Human Rights "Bir Duyno - One World Kyrgyzstan-2009" (OWK) is organized after the success of the first two ones. This success was local (in terms of the local audiences' outreach and interest, both in urban and rural regions) as well as international, in terms of the substantial support for this edition by the EU. This year OWK, beside women and children rights, focuses also on environmental issues. It screens12 films from film-makers from Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, China, Finland, Bolivia, Slovakia, USA and UK. In order to reach broad youth and women audiences in both urban and rural regions, it will be held in the capital Bishkek and in the provincial cities of Karakol, Naryn, Osh, Khodjent and Isfana. After the screenings public debates on women and children rights, and ecological issues will be organized, as well as a seminar for the Human Rights NGOs about documentary films, and a round table for young Kyrgyz film makers. In addition, the winning film will be screened on the Kyrgyz television. Hivos supports this project because it is the only human rights film festival in the region of Central Asia, and because it focuses on gender issues and contributes to a decentralisation of cultural life by creating a space for expression and debate amongst women and youth audiences in the capital and in the provinces equally. In addition, this project also fits into Hivos cultural policy because, by involving artists from the region and from all over the world, it provides for the enrichment of interregional and international co-operation in Central Asia, and breaks the isolation of the artists in the region from the global stage.

Description:

The third edition of the International Festival of Documentary Films on Human Rights "Bir Duyno - One World Kyrgyzstan-2009" (OWK) is organized after the success of the first two ones. This success was local (in terms of the local audiences' outreach and interest, both in urban and rural regions) as well as international, in terms of the substantial support for this edition by the EU.

This year OWK, beside women and children rights, focuses also on environmental issues. It screens12 films from film-makers from Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, China, Finland, Bolivia, Slovakia, USA and UK. In order to reach broad youth and women audiences in both urban and rural regions, it will be held in the capital Bishkek and in the provincial cities of Karakol, Naryn, Osh, Khodjent and Isfana. After the screenings public debates on women and children rights, and ecological issues will be organized, as well as a seminar for the Human Rights NGOs about documentary films, and a round table for young Kyrgyz film makers. In addition, the winning film will be screened on the Kyrgyz television.

Hivos supports this project because it is the only human rights film festival in the region of Central Asia, and because it focuses on gender issues and contributes to a decentralisation of cultural life by creating a space for expression and debate amongst women and youth audiences in the capital and in the provinces equally. In addition, this project also fits into Hivos cultural policy because, by involving artists from the region and from all over the world, it provides for the enrichment of interregional and international co-operation in Central Asia, and breaks the isolation of the artists in the region from the global stage.

Human rights and transparency, 2009-2011

DAC-sectors:	Human rights
Location:	Kyrgyzstan
Beneficiary:	indigenous peoples, ethnic/religious/cultural minorities
activity	empowerment of NGOs and citizens to participate in decision-making processes
Direct outreach	600 - Intermediary level
Indirect outreach	3000 - Intermediary level
activity	human rights protection and abolishment of death penalty
Direct outreach	20 - Beneficiaries: poor and/or marginalised women and men
Indirect outreach	1000 - Policy level/ institutional
Contract total:	130.000
Contractperiod:	01-08-2009 until 31-07-2011

Description:
CAC in involved in 5 directions of work: (1) legislative reforms and monitoring of decision-making, (2) accountability and transparency of the government, parliament and judiciary, (3) human rights protection and abolishment of death penalty, (4) empowerment of NGOs and citizens to participate in decision-making processes, and (5) prevention, monitoring and resolution of conflicts. CAC's programme has 10 components, which follow these five directions: (1) protection and restoration of the right to peaceful assembly through the constitutional court, (2) organization of public hearings and monitoring of the parliament concerning transparency and accountability, (3) human rights protection and improvement of life in penitentiary institutions, (4) security of civil society and protection of human rights defenders, (5) quarterly publication of "Pluralism" newspaper, (6) production of documentary films on human rights issues, (7) "One World Kyrgyzstan" international documentary film festival on human rights issues, (8) support to the NGOs "Karek" and "Law & People" (Prava i Lyudi), (9) development of women's leadership through a regional network of women-leaders and a "No justice without equality" campaign, and (10) organization of civil bridges South-North exchanges. Hivos contributes to most of these programme elements. Special target groups for this programme are (a) prisoners, (b) victims of injustice of the Aksy and Barskoon tragedies, and (c) women. CAC realizes this programme in partnership with Civicus (protecting civil society), Penal Reform, Caritas, Soros Foundation and St Egidio (reform of the penitentiary system), Publish what you Pay Campaign and its consortium in Kyrgyzstan (transparency of the mining industry), Front Line (protection of human rights defenders), Women's Learning Partnership (women's leadership), the special rapporteurs of the United Nations (supporting the victims of Barskoon and Aksy), the Human Rights Council (alternative HR report on the Universal Periodic Review about the Rights to Life in prisons), and Hivos (almost all components). The main outcome, as expected, includes: (a) restoration of citizens' constitutional right to peaceful assembly, (b) mature lobbying by civil society groups and active citizens concerning human rights protection and transparency of the mining industry, (c) introduction of EITI principles, access to information about activities of transnational companies (TNCs) and about state decisions and laws concerning corruption, (d) improvement of prisoners rights, (e) more security for human rights defenders, (f) good NGO management, including international standards of transparency through annual auditing and financial/programme management, (g) more public resonance on human rights issues, (h) protection of the rights of Barskoon and Aksy tragedy victims in courts, (i) more women participating in round tables and public hearings on women's rights, (j) bridges of cooperation between civil society leaders of Northern and Southern regions for sharing experience and developing a joint vision and strategy of human rights protection. Expected output includes: (a) 2 public hearings, in Barskoon and Talas, (b) training of partners of the CAC network, (c) analysis of the parliament's activities and of draft laws, (d) a consultative workshop with the ministry of justice and international organizations about abolishment of the death penalty, (e) analysis of the situation of persons, sentenced to life imprisonment, (f) legal aid and consultations to persons, sentenced to life imprisonment, (g) 2 round tables on the law on public control in closed penitentiary institutions, (h) legal, medical and financial assistance for human rights defenders in need, (i) training and manual on security issues for human rights activists, both personal and technical security, (j) annually 4 issues of Pluralism newspaper on human rights issues and actual problems, (k) 2 newly made documentary films on human rights, (l) film festival in 6 cities of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, with an audience of 3,000, (m) nation-wide network of women-leaders, (n) training of 3600 women's leaders in 7 regions, (o) 3 parliamentary hearings on the family code, (p) 2 civil bridges South-North exchanges, (q) training of 20 civil society activists are trained, 10 from the North plus 10 from the South.

Description:

CAC in involved in 5 directions of work: (1) legislative reforms and monitoring of decision-making, (2) accountability and transparency of the government, parliament and judiciary, (3) human rights protection and abolishment of death penalty, (4) empowerment of NGOs and citizens to participate in decision-making processes, and (5) prevention, monitoring and resolution of conflicts.
CAC's programme has 10 components, which follow these five directions: (1) protection and restoration of the right to peaceful assembly through the constitutional court, (2) organization of public hearings and monitoring of the parliament concerning transparency and accountability, (3) human rights protection and improvement of life in penitentiary institutions, (4) security of civil society and protection of human rights defenders, (5) quarterly publication of "Pluralism" newspaper, (6) production of documentary films on human rights issues, (7) "One World Kyrgyzstan" international documentary film festival on human rights issues, (8) support to the NGOs "Karek" and "Law & People" (Prava i Lyudi), (9) development of women's leadership through a regional network of women-leaders and a "No justice without equality" campaign, and (10) organization of civil bridges South-North exchanges. Hivos contributes to most of these programme elements. Special target groups for this programme are (a) prisoners, (b) victims of injustice of the Aksy and Barskoon tragedies, and (c) women. CAC realizes this programme in partnership with Civicus (protecting civil society), Penal Reform, Caritas, Soros Foundation and St Egidio (reform of the penitentiary system), Publish what you Pay Campaign and its consortium in Kyrgyzstan (transparency of the mining industry), Front Line (protection of human rights defenders), Women's Learning Partnership (women's leadership), the special rapporteurs of the United Nations (supporting the victims of Barskoon and Aksy), the Human Rights Council (alternative HR report on the Universal Periodic Review about the Rights to Life in prisons), and Hivos (almost all components).
The main outcome, as expected, includes: (a) restoration of citizens' constitutional right to peaceful assembly, (b) mature lobbying by civil society groups and active citizens concerning human rights protection and transparency of the mining industry, (c) introduction of EITI principles, access to information about activities of transnational companies (TNCs) and about state decisions and laws concerning corruption, (d) improvement of prisoners rights, (e) more security for human rights defenders, (f) good NGO management, including international standards of transparency through annual auditing and financial/programme management, (g) more public resonance on human rights issues, (h) protection of the rights of Barskoon and Aksy tragedy victims in courts, (i) more women participating in round tables and public hearings on women's rights, (j) bridges of cooperation between civil society leaders of Northern and Southern regions for sharing experience and developing a joint vision and strategy of human rights protection.
Expected output includes: (a) 2 public hearings, in Barskoon and Talas, (b) training of partners of the CAC network, (c) analysis of the parliament's activities and of draft laws, (d) a consultative workshop with the ministry of justice and international organizations about abolishment of the death penalty, (e) analysis of the situation of persons, sentenced to life imprisonment, (f) legal aid and consultations to persons, sentenced to life imprisonment, (g) 2 round tables on the law on public control in closed penitentiary institutions, (h) legal, medical and financial assistance for human rights defenders in need, (i) training and manual on security issues for human rights activists, both personal and technical security, (j) annually 4 issues of Pluralism newspaper on human rights issues and actual problems, (k) 2 newly made documentary films on human rights, (l) film festival in 6 cities of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, with an audience of 3,000, (m) nation-wide network of women-leaders, (n) training of 3600 women's leaders in 7 regions, (o) 3 parliamentary hearings on the family code, (p) 2 civil bridges South-North exchanges, (q) training of 20 civil society activists are trained, 10 from the North plus 10 from the South.

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