KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography

Sheriktesh [3]. This brought together members of the President’s Administration, the
Office of the Government, the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic, relevant ministries
and departments, along with the business community, trade unions, the media, and
NGOs from all parts of Kyrgyzstan. Conference participants who represented diverse
sectors of civil society and the government examined the outcomes of locally conducted
roundtables and focus groups, and discussed ways to optimize cooperation on the local
and national levels.
Due to the importance of further developing social partnerships between the
government and civil society groups, a working group of legal experts was formed
to evaluate current legislation in this area. After reviewing proposals made by the
participants of locally conducted public hearings (autumn 2007) and the National
Conference on Social Partnership (February 2008), the working group developed and
submitted suggestions regarding a number of legislative documents, which include:
– the draft Law on the Commissioning of Social Services;
– the draft of the new Tax Code of the Kyrgyz Republic;
– the draft of the new Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on the Registration of Legal
Entities.
The success of the working group’s efforts is evident. For example, in July 2008
the President of Kyrgyzstan signed the Law on the Commissioning of Social Services,
while the second version of the Draft Tax Code and the Law on the Registration of Legal
Entities (with a “one-stop shop” system) now incorporate all the suggestions.
Another positive aspect of cooperation is the improved competence of partners,
from both government bodies and civil society organizations.
Example of Best Practices in Social Partnership
The “expert community” unanimously acknowledges that the campaign to promote
the draft Law on the Commissioning of Social Services is a best-practice example of
partnerships between governmental bodies and NGOs. More specifically, after the Law
on the Commissioning of Social Services was enacted, a new mechanism of interaction
between the government and NGOs emerged, helping them address a variety of social
issues. The law aims to develop civil society institutions in the Kyrgyz Republic, ensure a
more efficient use of funds from the national budget allocated to solving socio-economic
problems, and involve non-profit organizations in efforts to resolve these problems.
Essentially, the law means that the principles, rules, and regulations that guide the
formation, placement, and execution of commissioned social programs shall be carried
out within a competitive framework.
All those who helped to draft and promote this law, including the Government of
Kyrgyzstan, the Parliament, and civil society, made valuable contributions.
The operating procedure of the Parliament defines the legislative process as making
legislative decisions in a manner that is strictly regulated by the law. This process
incorporates a number of procedures in creating legislation, such as drafting, discussing,
signing adopting and publishing it. The legislative process only involves those who
have the right of legislative initiative: the President, the Government, members of
the Parliament, and the people (30,000 citizens). Others who are not on this list may
contribute to law-making, such as lobbying their interests through those with the right
to make legislative initiatives.
In the case of the Law on the Commissioning of Social Services, the initiative
came from the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (with the Minister of Labor and
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