Last Saturday, April 10, as part of the joint EU-UN "Spotlight Initiative” in Bishkek, UNDP together with the Lawyers' Training Centre of the Kyrgyz Republic launched a project to promote the sustainable practice of pro bono - providing free qualified legal assistance to those in need. Pro bono in Latin means "for the good of society" and is a model of social responsibility of lawyers, which is widespread in many countries around the world.

Since 2016, UNDP in Kyrgyzstan has been implementing a pro bono model to protect the rights of women and children victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Since then, more than 100 lawyers from all regions of the country have been trained to handle criminal cases of SGBV. Of those trained, more than 25 experienced attorneys on formed professional teams have taken on more than a dozen high-profile cases in which perpetrators have been prosecuted.

To attract new pro bono attorneys, the Advocates Training Center in the Kyrgyz Republic will conduct a large-scale campaign on the importance of lawyers' participation in the process of ensuring access to justice for survivors of violence against women and children, regardless of their socio-economic status. In addition, the project will develop a practical guide for lawyers on how to handle cases related to gender crimes and SGBV.

"With cases of gender-based violence on the rise in the country, this project is a very important and timely relevant, supported by the UN and the European Union. Although the Constitution guarantees women equality before the law and equal protection, in practice women's access to justice is limited by many factors: lack of financial resources; lack of awareness of their legal rights; and the considerable time that proceedings take. Therefore, we would like the project also to motivate women and girls in situations of violence to publicize such facts and seek help immediately". - Aizhan Orozakunova, Director of the Training Center of Advocates of the Kyrgyz Republic. 

In January 2020, in partnership with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the EU and UN have launched a multi-year country programme under the global Spotlight Initiative on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls. The programme’s vision is to create an environment where all women and girls in Kyrgyzstan, particularly those most vulnerable, live a life free of violence and harmful practices, including child marriage and ala kachuu. The programme comprises a set of integrated interventions in the areas of policies and legislation, strengthening institutions, prevention of violence, provision of services to survivors of violence, collecting quality data, and supporting women’s movement and civil society. The programme is implemented by five UN agencies (UN Women, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF and UNODC) under the overall leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Media contacts

Chyntemir Kalbaev

UNDP Communications Assistant

chyntemir.kalbaev@undp.org

+996775767605

Snapshots from the launch event

Photo: Advocates Training Center in the Kyrgyz Republic