New EU project contributes to promoting human rights reforms in South Kazakhstan

A new project “Empowering South Kazakhstan CSOs to promote human rights reforms” is launched by the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA) with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan.

The project aimsto empower a network of South Kazakhstan human rights organizations to promote recognition of human rights freedoms and improved access to services for vulnerable groups. The total grant amount comprises EUR 294,975. The location of the action is in four regions of southern Kazakhstan: Almaty, South Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda and Zhambyl regions. Project duration is 26 months (from March 2015 to April 2017).

The project is a continuation of EFCA support to South Kazakhstan human rights CSOs that began in 2011 and involves both thematic human rights trainings and community advocacy workshops for CSO network members. In order to utilize the training and peer learning activities in practical application, EFCA will provide 17 network CSOs with USD 5000 (EUR 3846)  in funding, covering a period of 12 months, in order to implement community advocacy projects.  Based on target beneficiaries, each CSO will have mentorship support over the course of 12 months from experienced regional human rights CSOs to provide timely advice and oversight on work with target populations within the community, implementation of small grant advocacy projects, and support in the establishment of “communities of practice” based on beneficiary groups.

The expected results of project activities include the following: improved capacity of CSO network members to serve vulnerable groups in their communities, increased government support for CSO human rights advocacy, greater advocacy for improved access to services for vulnerable groups, strengthened capacity of vulnerable citizens to identify and protect their rights and increased community awareness and demand for guaranteed human rights. The project will be implemented in partnership with the Legal Center for Women’s Initiatives "Sana Sezim" and Public Foundation "Taldykorgan Human Rights Center."