On 21 November 2024, the European Union and the Kyrgyz Republic held their 14th Human Rights Dialogue. This Dialogue, the first since signing the bilateral Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) on 25 June 2024, was an important opportunity to recall the commitment of the EU and the Kyrgyz Republic to strengthen their cooperation on human rights, fundamental freedoms, rule of law and civil society.

Both parties discussed in detail the developments related to human rights and good governance in the Kyrgyz Republic and in the EU, including ongoing political and legislative reforms and their implementation.

The EU emphasised the importance of a strong and independent judiciary with robust checks and balances and for legislative initiatives to be fully aligned with international standards. In addition, the EU encouraged the Kyrgyz side to ensure that initiatives affecting human rights are developed through an inclusive dialogue with civil society. The two sides also discussed the empowerment of independent national human rights institutions, including the office of the Ombudsperson.

During the Dialogue, the EU raised issues related to freedom of expression, of media, of assembly and association, and expressed its concern in relation to the shrinking space for civil society in the Kyrgyz Republic, including in relation to the “Foreign Representatives” law adopted in April 2024. The EU stressed the value of civil society organisations and free media as contributors to the social resilience, prosperity and stability of a democratic society. The EU also raised several individual cases during the dialogue, including the recent court ruling in the case of the eleven journalists from the investigative media outlet Temirov Live, and the closure of the independent news outlet Kloop.

The EU welcomed amendments to several legislative acts to enhance protection against domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence, and corporal punishment of children in all settings. The importance of comprehensive legislation covering all forms of discrimination and on addressing gender-based violence was discussed.

The EU emphasised the need to strengthen labour rights, including the full respect of workers and employers’ rights to organise, forced labour, child labour, non-discrimination and fully functioning labour inspections.

The two sides discussed cooperation in international human rights fora, and the EU welcomed the growing and constructive cooperation at the UN Human Rights Council. The Kyrgyz Republic stressed its commitment to respecting its international commitments, including in the context of its Universal Periodic Review in 2025.

The Human Rights Dialogue was conducted back-to-back with a EU monitoring mission on the commitments the Kyrgyz Republic has taken to the effective implementation of 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, good governance, and environment and climate under the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences’ Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development (GSP+).

The EU monitoring mission conducted consultations with civil society, social partners, and UN agencies on the ground, and held dedicated discussions with Kyrgyz authorities. The outcomes of the GSP+ monitoring will be reflected in the next European Commission report on the implementation of GSP. As a GSP+ beneficiary, the Kyrgyz Republic benefits from tariff-free market access to the EU for more than 6,000 categories of goods.

The Human Rights Dialogue was chaired on the EU side by Dietmar Krissler, EEAS Head of Division for Central Asia and by Aibek Moldogaziev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic.