OSCE Centre supports Ninth International Festival of Documentary Films in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, 10 December 2015 – The OSCE Centre in Bishkek is marking International Human Rights Day by supporting the Ninth International Festival of Documentary Films on Human Rights, which starts tomorrow and is organized by the Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan human rights movement.

This year the four-day festival is devoted to the 40th Anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and 18 years of the UN’s Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters. The rights of women and children are also in focus.  

“The Helsinki Final Act is meant to contribute to peace, security, justice, and co-operation among States; and to promote and encourage the effective exercise of civil, political, economic, social, cultural and other rights and freedoms all of which derive from the inherent dignity of all persons and are essential for their free and full development,” said Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek Sergey Kapinos. “We have been supporting the Festival since its beginning because it represents a unique moment to discuss important human rights concerns, vital for the future of Kyrgyzstan.”

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Festival will be Gulnara Kudaiberdieva, Deputy Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan and Chairperson of the Co-ordination Council on Human Rights;  Mira Karybaeva, the Head of the Department of Ethnic and Religious Policy and Interaction with Civil Society at the Presidential Administration; Tolekan Ismailova, Chairperson of Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan; Kapinos; René Holenstein, Swiss Ambassador; Robin Ord-Smith, British Ambassador; and Alexander Avanessov, UN Resident Co-ordinator.  

Screenings of 22 international and four national films will take place at the halls of the Historical Museum, the National Library, and the American University of Central Asia.

On 13 December, Kapinos will also deliver lectures at the new campus of the American University of Central Asia.

The award ceremony and the closing event will take place on 14 December in Bishkek.

The OSCE Centre’s support to the event is part of its activities in the human dimension.