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What's Being Done On . . . Human Rights Networking ?
The Jalal-Abad Regional Network was officially formed in 2002, when a group of independent NGOs working in Southern Kyrgyzstan signed a memorandum on establishing the network. The memorandum was signed by the following organizations:
The Network's Objectives include:
Spravedlivost and other network members conduct human rights monitoring and offer legal assistance to the population of remote regions. By doing so, they create a crucial informational and institutional link between city and remote regions by which conflicts can be detected early and resolved quickly. The network protects human rights by providing pro-bono legal services, conducting detailed monitoring of conditions in pretrial detention, and observing the judicial process in the courts. For more information, go to: www.justiceunion.org (Russian only) Interview We would like to thank Valery Uleev, the Executive Director of the Jalal-Abad Regional Human Rights Organization, Spravedlivost (Justice) for answering the following interview questions. Mr. Uleev is a World Movement for Democracy participant. * 1. Please tell us how Spravedlivost was formed. What were the reasons behind creating this type of organization? What are its main objectives? Spravedlivost serves as the central office and a resource center for the Jalal-Abad Regional Human Rights Network, which consists of nine independent human rights organizations. The resource center contains books and periodicals pertaining to human rights and law and provides the use of computers and Internet access. We also connect 24 human rights defenders in the region who are of different professions united by the common idea of restoring justice. Spravedlivost has played a significant role in establishing and maintaining the Jalal-Abad Regional Human Rights Network. Spravedlivost was founded in the spring of 1994 by a group of activists with a keen sense of justice, and strong sense of compassion for the pain and suffering of those around them. For this group, coming from diverse professional backgrounds, human rights defense was a way of life. During the first three years, before we were able to secure funding, the group worked on sheer enthusiasm. Today, Spravedlivost is part of a wider regional network that reaches out to every corner of Jalal-Abad region. There are 10 employees that work in "Spravedlivost," and each focuses on a particular function. We also have at least three student volunteers working in our office on a regular basis. Our mission is to take part in the formation of an open society and to assist with the establishment of the rule of law in Kyrgyzstan. Spravedlivost is not a politicized organization. We do not take part in political actions, meetings, pickets, or demonstrations. However, we do get involved in independent monitoring of elections at all levels. We protect individuals by offering them legal support and defense. We defend women who have become victims of domestic violence, police inactions, and unjust court settlements, and we defend others whose constitutional rights have been infringed upon. Our organization provides pro-bono legal services and defense to citizens in the region. This work has been especially productive because the Spravedlivost lawyers are able to provide on-site services in various municipalities. The lawyers also monitor the legal practices in courts throughout the Jalal-Abad region at all levels, tracking the observance of one of the most basic rights - the right to a fair trial. Our bulletin, "Rights for All," has been published since 1997. Its circulation has increased from 200 when we first stared publishing it to 4,000 today. The readership base is even larger as copies are shared among the public and each issue is posted on our Web site. In addition, it is distributed to the 18 Centers for the Support of Democracy of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), the Ombudsmen of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Supreme Court, and other governmental and nongovernmental institutions. The bulletin, doubled in size and published in three languages (Kyrgyz, Uzbek, and Russian), is in large demand in all corners of the republic. Its publication and distribution has aided us significantly in our networking efforts, which constitute an important part of our work. 2. How did you facilitate formation of a network? Why is it vital for you to create links between city and remote regions? The Jalal-Abad Regional Human Rights Network was formed over a number of years through several stages. First, human rights defenders were stationed in the most depressed parts of Jalal-Abad district. In these regions that share a border with the Republic of Uzbekistan, there were numerous economic, social, and other difficult problems that could potentially lead to conflict. Next we established human rights defense centers, for which Spravedlivost provided technical and methodological support. Later, on the basis of the centers, public human rights offices were opened to serve as branches of "Spravedlivost." Finally, these offices organized themselves into independent human rights organizations, which later signed a memorandum establishing a Network. The creation of a network of independent human rights organizations working in remote regions corresponds to one of the three principles of our organization: decentralization. In other words, we strive to do everything possible to bring human rights defense to every local community. In fact, one of the main tasks of the new independent human rights organizations is to expand the Network by reaching out to more remote rural areas. 3. What kind of human rights violations are most common in the Jalal-Abad region and how do you address them? Economic and social rights are violated most frequently; however, violations of the most basic freedoms and rights are also common. These include violations of the right to life and personal security, violations of the right to fair trial, etc. The methods we use to address these violations vary and include: providing legal defense in the court; conducting appeals to various state institutions, parliament, ombudsman, international human rights organizations, and United Nations bodies concerned with human rights; raising public awareness of the violations through media and distribution of our own publications, such as "Rights for All"; and organizing public campaigns that draw in all network participants and other NGOs. 4. How does networking help Spravedlivost and other participating organization achieve their goals? Participants in the Network have made a significant contribution to establishing the rule of law in Jalal-Abad region. Thousands of people (3,840) received legal advice and defense in 2004. The number of gross violations of human rights by law enforcement officials has decreased significantly since the time the organization began its work. The coordination efforts of human rights organizations in the region have had some positive results. In 2004, the lawyers associated with Spravedlivost defended clients in 151 court cases. They submitted 438 claims, appeals, and surveillance complaints to various legal institutions. Networking within the region and internationally allows us to receive necessary information, and to take part in collaborative projects and actions. For example, in close collaboration with the Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights at the OSCE and Helsinki Foundation (Poland), we have worked on a project researching the human rights violations in temporary detention facilities. In partnership with other participants in the regional human rights network, Spravedlivost has conducted research on public opinion toward law enforcement authorities with the purpose of drafting recommendations for reforms of the law enforcement institutions. 5. What are some of the tools that allow you to keep the Network together? We use such methods as personal contacts, seminars, and working meetings of the Network participants. The main factor for success is collaboration on a variety of activities. Joint print and electronic publications seem to be most effective for continuing such collaboration. 6. It is our understanding that in addition to maintaining a regional network, you also belong to a larger community of human rights activists in Central Asia and around the globe. Could you please expand on your interrelations with other human rights networks? In addition to being part of such regional networks as the Jalal-Abbad Regional Human Rights Network, the Network of Human Rights Organizations of Ferghana Valley, and the Central Asian Network for Prevention of Conflicts, we also belong to the global network of NGOs for prevention and management of conflicts in countries in Newly Independent States (120 organizations). As active members of the global human rights community, representatives of our organizations attend numerous meetings and conferences dedicated to human rights, which gives us further opportunity to network, find partners, and learn from one another. * This interview took place prior to the dramatic events of March 23-24 that resulted in the collapse of the Akaev regime in Kyrgyzstan. However, the process was already in motion, and Jalal-Abad City was at the center of it. Following the elections (generally considered fraudulent) that took place on February 27, 2005, Kyrgyz people in several towns across the country spontaneously came out to demonstrate. On March 4, the citizens of Jalal-Abad initiated an ongoing protest in front of the Regional Administration building. On March 15, more then 5,000 delegates from small towns around Jalal-Abad region gathered at a region-wide meeting, called a Kurlutai. The meetings and protests demanding the resignation of the Kyrgyz president, and affirming the citizens' right to just and transparent elections, spread to other parts of the country until they reached the capital, Bishkek. From the very first day, following the elections, Spravedlivost and other network members closely monitored the processes that took place and reported on them. For more information on the recent events and current developments, contact: valentina@elcat2bishkek.su Below are few pictures from the demonstrations that took place in Jalal-Abad in early March: 
 About "What's Being Done On . . . " For three months at a time, we highlight the activities of various organizations in different global regions, and links to important resources, that are focused on a particular theme or area of democracy work. Each new theme is announced via DemocracyNews, and the information from the previous installment is placed in the archives below. We hope to receive and post information about the work you or others may be doing that is focused on these issues. Send information via e-mail to the or by fax to (202) 378-9889. |
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