KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography
KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography
KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography
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Social Development as the spokespers<strong>on</strong>). However, the law was initially drafted in<br />
close cooperati<strong>on</strong> with civil society members who do not have the right <strong>of</strong> legislative<br />
initiative.<br />
The draft Law <strong>on</strong> the Commissi<strong>on</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> Social Services was submitted to the<br />
Parliament in 2006 and was passed in its first reading, <strong>on</strong> 11 January 2008. The text <strong>of</strong><br />
the draft law was amended following a proposal by a group <strong>of</strong> members <strong>of</strong> the current<br />
Parliament, and the amendments included suggesti<strong>on</strong>s from civil society members.<br />
Later, the amended draft law– a product <strong>of</strong> the combined efforts <strong>of</strong> MPs, the Ministry<br />
<strong>of</strong> Labor and Social Protecti<strong>on</strong>, and civil society– was passed by the Parliament <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Kyrgyz Republic <strong>on</strong> 5 June 2008 and was then signed by its President <strong>on</strong> 21 July 2008.<br />
The legislative process in this case c<strong>on</strong>tinued for two years, and experts claim that the<br />
document’s quality improved c<strong>on</strong>siderably after it was revised by the members <strong>of</strong> the<br />
fourth Parliament (post-December 2007). This probably reflected the fact that the current<br />
Parliament includes members who represent civil society, and who thus initiated and<br />
proposed valuable suggesti<strong>on</strong>s for ensuring the transparency <strong>of</strong> state support for social<br />
services.<br />
As a result, the Law <strong>of</strong> the Kyrgyz Republic <strong>on</strong> the Commissi<strong>on</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> Social<br />
Services, a product <strong>of</strong> successful social partnership between members <strong>of</strong> government<br />
bodies (the Ministry <strong>of</strong> Labor and Social Protecti<strong>on</strong>, the Parliament, and the Government<br />
<strong>of</strong> Kyrgyzstan) and civil society organizati<strong>on</strong>s, now incorporates several important<br />
features, including:<br />
• the country’s budget will provide funding for projects related to commissi<strong>on</strong>ing<br />
social services (the same right granted to local self-governance bodies);<br />
• projects to address social issues will be selected <strong>on</strong> a competitive basis (50 percent<br />
<strong>of</strong> the tender board will be comprised <strong>of</strong> civil society representatives);<br />
• n<strong>on</strong>-pr<strong>of</strong>it organizati<strong>on</strong>s who win competitive tenders will receive grants from<br />
government and local self-governance bodies to implement social programs, etc.<br />
C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
• Overall, there is a satisfactory level <strong>of</strong> social c<strong>on</strong>sensus, and the percepti<strong>on</strong><br />
by the government and NGOs <strong>of</strong> reform strategies and methods <strong>of</strong> addressing<br />
social issues. In view <strong>of</strong> significant c<strong>on</strong>solidati<strong>on</strong> between government bodies<br />
and civil society, the Government <strong>of</strong> Kyrgyzstan recently established an <strong>of</strong>fice<br />
resp<strong>on</strong>sible for working with n<strong>on</strong>-governmental organizati<strong>on</strong>s. At a local level,<br />
the resources <strong>of</strong> local self-governance bodies (aiyl okmotu) are being used at a<br />
higher rate. For example, 472 aiyl okmotu now engage 1,700 aiyl bashchysy (elders)<br />
who are elected by local communities.<br />
• Opportunities available to stakeholders, including NGOs, have been expanded<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siderably: they have more chances for making their voices heard and<br />
participating in social policies and decisi<strong>on</strong>s. This is evidenced by the importance<br />
and popularity <strong>of</strong> public hearings– organized both by the government and by<br />
NGOs– to discuss draft laws that pertain to the socio-ec<strong>on</strong>omic sphere. Nearly<br />
all government programs are now produced with the significant involvement <strong>of</strong><br />
civil society. At all levels, the expert community recognizes that, when drafting is<br />
d<strong>on</strong>e by <strong>on</strong>ly <strong>on</strong>e party (either a government body or a civil society organizati<strong>on</strong>)<br />
the result is a lopsided document that does little to reflect reality.<br />
• In 2008, the efficiency and effectiveness <strong>of</strong> partnership efforts in the social<br />
sphere was c<strong>on</strong>sidered good by 52 experts from all parts <strong>of</strong> the country: 60<br />
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