“Strategic Tripartite Partnership of GANHRI, UNDP, OHCHR in support of Central Asian NHRIs: experience and way forward”

22 FEBRUARY 2018 - 13:00 – 15:00Conference room XXII, Palais des Nations, Geneva

Refreshments will be served at 13:00Moderator Prof. Alan Miller,Special Envoy, Global Alliance of NHRIsWelcoming remarksDr. Beate Rudolf,GANHRI Chairperson Views of Central Asian NHRIs on regional cooperation

• Mr. Askar Shakirov, Ombudsman and Human Rights Commissioner of Kazakhstan• Mr. Kubat Otorbaev, Akiykatchy (Ombudsman) of the Kyrgyz Republic• Ms. Rajabmo Habibulozoda, Deputy Ombudswoman of Tajikistan and Ombudswoman for Children's Rights of Tajikistan • Ms. Yazdursun Gurbannazarova, Ombudswoman of Turkmenistan • Mr. Ulugbek Mukhammadiyev, Ombudsman of Uzbekistan Reflections of the members of the Strategic Tripartite Partnership • Ms. Rosslyn Noonan, Senior Envoy, Asia-Pacific Forum • Mr. Ryzsard Komenda, Regional Representative of OHCHR in Central Asia • Ms. Isabelle Tschan, Rule of Law and Human Rights Adviser, UNDP Istanbul Regional HubDiscussion1 Please see the report here or follow the QR link on the right: https://goo.gl/fKD4gr

2 Please see the joint statement here or follow the QR links on the right: https://goo.gl/8kjbzG

PROGRAMME

In Central Asia, the Strategic Tripartite Partnership of GANHRI/APF-OHCHR-UNDP has been in Action since 2016 supporting the National Human Rights Institutions of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). The Partnership has facilitated concerted efforts of NHRIs in Central Asia to improve promotion and protection of human rights in the region together with the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) and the European Network of NHRIs (ENNHRI).

The Central Asia Support Initiative for NHRIs (CASI-NHRI) - launched by UNDP, OHCHR and GANHRI - is a crucial part of these ongoing efforts in support of National Human Rights Institutions in the region. Regional consultations of NHRIs in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) facilitated by the UNDP Istanbul Regio-nal Hub and the OHCHR Regional Office for Central Asia, culminated in agreement of these NHRIs to establish a regional platform for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and for compliance with the Paris Principles . Through this platform, NHRIs will now undertake joint actions, conduct regular consultations at all levels of their staff and arrange professional networks to exchange their lessons learnt and best practices.

This side event will provide for a venue to discuss – with a wider audience – the benefits and challenges of regional cooperation among NHRIs and how the OHCHR-UNDP-GANHRI Tripartite Partnership on NHRIs can further help strengthen such cooperation in Central Asia.

This initiative promoted by OHCHR Regional Office in Central Asia, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, GANHRI and APF aims at fostering effective, independent and interconnected National Human Rights Institutions in Central Asia, through stronger mutual cooperation and technical support in their capacity develop-ment. The initiative supports the establishment of a Regional Platform agreed by the five NHRIs from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to enhance their cooperation for promoting and protecting human rights in Central Asia, striving towards compliance with Paris Princip-les and working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The regional platform will enable NHRIs to undertake joint actions, conduct regular consultations and arrange professional networks to exchange their lessons learnt and best practices.

To achieve this ambitious objective, CASI-NHRI follows a three-pronged mutually interlinked approach to fostering strong, independent and interconnected NHRIs in the region. It works from a regional pers-pective towards better opportunities for exchange and integration of NHRIs across and beyond the region. Paired to national-level interventions, the regional project supports NHRIs in the region through specific, tailored and targeted capacity development interventions. The initiative is also part of the Joint Programme in Support to National Human Rights Institutions launc-hed by UNDP, OHCHR, GANHRI.

CASI-NHRI was designed as a project of three years (2018-2020) with the total budget of USD 3.7 million.

Key items of discussion

> Role of NHRIs in Central Asia countries;> Challenges and opportunities for regional cooperation among the Central Asian NHRIs and how it can improve their independence, effectiveness and capacity to address pressing issues in the field of human rights in the countries of Central Asia;> Central Asian NHRIs’ alignment with Paris and Belgrade Principles for their further capacity strengthening and towards reaching Status A with GANHRI’s Sub-Committee on Accreditation;> Central Asia Support Initiative for National Human Rights Institutions as regional implementation of OHCHR-UNDP-GANHRI Tripartite Partnership on NHRIs.> Effective cooperation with Asia Pacific Forum (APF) and European Network of NHRIs (ENNHRI).

ABOUT THE CENTRAL ASIA SUPPORT INITIATIVEFOR NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS (CASI-NHRI)