OSCE Centre in Bishkek

The Centre in Bishkek monitors media development and freedom in Kyrgyzstan. It also runs a continuous media support programme, the main objectives of which are the development of the mass media in rural areas, providing rural access to the Internet, and offering legal and professional support to journalists.

The main aims of the Centre in field of media development are:

• promoting freedom of speech and freedom of access to information;
• assisting in the review of media policy and facilitating media reform;
• monitoring the media in all regions;
• providing technical assistance to the regional media;
• offering professional support for journalists;
• providing legal assistance to journalists;
• assisting in reform of the mass media.

In 2006, the Centre opened media resource centres in Karakol and Talas in order to support regional reporters and provide them with training in various journalistic and other skills. Another such centre was established in Batken the previous year by the Osh Field Office. These media resource centres aim to enhance the professionalism of local journalists and thus broaden the range of opportunities open to them. In addition, the centres promote freedom of the media, provide free legal aid and offer support in finding information and access to free Internet and fax services. They also serve as meeting points and as a venue for forums, discussions and press conferences.

Providing legal assistance

The Centre also offers continuing support for projects which provide legal assistance to journalists. One such project aims at assisting the development of media legislation in the country through work with lawmakers and existing professional media associations.

One of the Centre's most important tasks is to provide effective legal aid and court representation in the field of media freedom and the protection of journalists against slander and libel cases. Through the Centre for Information Law, the OSCE Centre has launched a project to collect and publicize civil and criminal cases against journalists all over the country from 2003 to 2006. At the end of the project, the Centre will to issue a publication covering various categories of lawsuits against journalists, such as:

• violation of non-property rights of legal entities and individuals (including defamation, invasion of privacy and copyright violation);
• abuse of mass media rights;
• crimes against journalists (including physical attacks);
• violation of election campaign rules;
• illegally hindering the dissemination of information;

Bridging the digital divide

Together with a local NGO, the Civic Initiative for Internet Policy, the Centre has initiated a project in order to reduce the digital divide between rural and urban areas. Its objectives include the creation of favourable conditions for the private sector in information technology, through the development of communications licensing procedures.

The Centre also supports the Institute for Public Policy in establishing an independent press club in Bishkek. The press club will become a meeting point for young journalists who are eager to learn and communicate their ideas, and will deliver regular training courses and workshops on various aspects of journalism for professionals. It will also host regular roundtables and meetings featuring prominent public figures and local and foreign journalists, as well as organizing other relevant media activities.

With the overall goal of contributing to the democratization of politics in Kyrgyzstan, the Centre has launched a joint project with the news agency AKIpress that aims to provide the latter - as well as a selected group of journalists from the regions - with a solid basic knowledge of news analysis and feature writing, and the role of the media in democratic societies.