Implementing organisation(s): The Public Foundation "Legal Media Center"

Duration: 16/01/2023 – 16/07/2025

Project budget: Total budget: € 261,117

EU contribution: €240,227

Project partners: Lithuanian Journalists' Union

Location: Central Asia

Contract number: АСА/2022/439-988

Project Description

Goal: The project aims to promote and protect human rights by strengthening the capacity of the media and NGOs.

Specific objectives:

- strengthening the potential of independent journalists, activists and students; improving the legal environment for the implementation of freedom of speech; improving the quality of training of young journalists.

- expanding the participation of civil society in the process of online advocacy aimed at protecting human rights.

Main target groups

- Media community of Kazakhstan (journalists, bloggers, students of the Faculty of Journalism, university teachers);

- Government bodies in Kazakhstan (members of Parliament, officials, judges of the Supreme Court, Ministry of Information);

- Civil society (civil activists, local human rights NGOs).

Expected results:

- at least 250 independent journalists, bloggers and civil activists have improved their knowledge of legal and digital security and the use of modern web-2/web-3 technologies and financial stability;

- at least 20 independent Internet media (Telegram channels and websites) created by bloggers, and journalists, are functioning;

- at least 10 progressive amendments to legislation that comply with human rights standards and international standards of freedom of speech have been introduced;

- professional journalistic ethics have been introduced in 10 universities in Kazakhstan;

- a practical set of guidelines for protecting human rights in interactive and engaging ways created;

- at least 20 online human rights campaigns have been conducted.

Achievements to date:

• 47 trained independent media;
• 10 memorandums with universities to introduce syllabus on ethics;
• 3 adopted amendments on media legislation;
• 200 legal consultations for journalists and bloggers via Media Qoldau service;
• 59 trained journalists and bloggers via Media Help program;
• 26 expert discussions withing working groups on media legislation.