UNDP supports youth legal literacy

April 15, 2021

Bishkek, April 15 – At the "Zhash Muun" Youth Center with the support of the United Nations Development Programme in the Kyrgyz Republic and with the participation of ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic Tokon Mamytov,  an entertaining and educational game on human rights "Okay, bot 115!"  which was attended by 19 teams of high school students of Kyrgyzstan.

This legal quiz was an initiative of the Association of Legal Clinics of Kyrgyzstan (ALC), the Ombudsman Institution of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the Zhash Muun Youth Center with the financial support of the Japan Government within the UNDP project  "Supporting an Inclusive and Multi-sectoral Response to COVID-19 and Addressing its socio-economic Impact in the Kyrgyz Republic".

The competition was held in 3 rounds, during which the participating teams answered more than 30 questions, including questions such as: "What statements may the Ombudsman not consider?", "Financing the activities of the Ombudsman", "What types of mental health care and social protection are guaranteed by the state?”, “Where can you go if the labor rights of a citizen are violated? ”.

The result of the quiz is as following:

The first place is awarded to the “Cosa Nostra” team

The second place is awarded to the “Devshata” team

The third place is awarded to the “3 Musketeers”

It should be noted that this event was held in order to improve legal literacy among young people. There was also a presentation of the Internet titled "Akyikatchy-bot 115" of the Institute of the Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Telegram chatbot includes answers to most frequently asked questions and the option for citizens to submit appeals online. Moreover, the chatbot will expand the platforms of providing free legal assistance to low-income and low-mobile citizens and families raising children with disabilities free of legal fees and without leaving home. The first chatbot version was tested by the participants of this legal quiz, information about which they can now distribute among their friends and acquaintances.

The Ombudsman of Kyrgyzstan noted: “Modern IT technologies, especially those that use the capabilities of AI (artificial intelligence), will significantly expand the capabilities of government and international law enforcement. They are also relevant for non-profit organizations to promptly, efficiently and with maximum effect provide necessary legal assistance and protection of the citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic regardless of physical location.

"Akyikatchy-bot 115 will allow the citizens of our country to learn more about their rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted at the third session of the UN General Assembly by resolution 217 A (III) on December 10, 1948, and also to use such knowledge for the benefit of themselves, their family and friends. This chatbot is one of the steps and one of the tools on the path of a person to their freedom guaranteed by the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic and their right to feel, use and defend their human dignity, freedoms and rights, which are prescribed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the legislation of Kyrgyzstan. I wish the participants of legal quizzes and users of the IT platform Akyikatchy-bot 115 all the best, to know their rights and obligations and be worthy members of our society." said ombudsman Tokon Mamytov.

Let us remind that "Akyikatchy-bot 115" was created with financial support of the Government of Japan under the UNDP project "Support for an inclusive and multi-sectoral response to COVID-19 and elimination of its socioeconomic consequences in Kyrgyzstan." The idea was initiated by the Ombudsman Institute in partnership with the Association of Legal Clinics of Kyrgyzstan.

The Zhash Muun Youth Center was established in 2018 by the State Agency for Youth, Physical Culture and Sports with the support of international development partners - UNDP, German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

***

Contacts for media:

Nurzhan Alymkanova

Communications Specialist

nurzhan.alymkanova@undp.org