Implementing organisation(s): “Legal policy research centre” PF

Duration: 08.01.2024 – 08.01.2027

Project budget: Total budget: €777,895

EU contribution: €739,000

Project partners: International Partnership for Human Rights

Location: Kazakhstan

Contract number: NDICI HR INTPA/2023/451-293

Project Description

Goal: to promote human rights, the rule of law and justice in Kazakhstan, through the capacity of civil society.

Objectives:

1. support and strengthen the role of civil society in overseeing rule of law and justice related reform processes,
2. proactively engaging with the Government to promote rights-driven reforms, which take into due account the rights of women, young people and other vulnerable groups and their effective implementation in practice.

Main target groups

1. civil society organizations and civil society representatives, including those defending the rights of women, youth, children, migrants, and persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups;
2. representatives of the national authorities,
3. representatives of the international institutions;
4. representatives of the media.

Expected results:

• The project will increase the knowledge and skills of a large group CSOs and civil society activists, with priority given to women’s and youth organisations and activists; supplying them with much needed resources; and consolidating their action with respect to rights-based monitoring and analysis of rule of law and criminal justice issues.
• The project will provide concrete opportunities to the CSOs and activists – who will make up the National Network for the Rule of Law in Kazakhstan (NNRLK) - for more effective, consolidated and sustainable engagement to influence law- and policy-making on rule of law and criminal justice issues based on their monitoring findings to the particular benefit of vulnerable groups.
• By facilitating systematic, effective, and independent civil society monitoring on rule of law issues, as well as coordinated civil society action to influence law- and policy-making in this area, the project will improve compliance with relevant national and international standards and thereby improve the protection of rights of the population of Kazakhstan.

Achievements to date:

• The project has formed a Project Management Group and Project Steering Committee consisting of 11 national Rule of Law experts who will contribute to the achievement of the project goals and objectives.
• The project was presented on April 11, 2024 in Astana. 60 Representatives of government agencies, civil society, lawyers, journalists, research institutions and international organizations attended the event. During the event, the main activities of the project and the draft methodology for criminal justice monitoring were presented.
• Project partners held meetings with co-organizer of the projects "Breaking the Vicious Cycle: A Multifaceted Approach to Combating Torture in Kazakhstan" and "Civil Society for Kazakhstan (CS4K)"supported by the EU to achieve synergies in projects. As a result, projects representatives have agreed to involve project participants in the implementation of various project activities and promote on project recommendations in the framework of the joint advocacy.