Inter-religious tolerance in Kyrgyzstan in focus of OSCE-supported meeting

CHOLPON-ATA, Kyrgyzstan, 3 June 2016 – Measures to enhance tolerance among religious communities in Kyrgyzstan is in focus of an OSCE-supported meeting which concludes tomorrow in Cholpon-ata town in Issyk–Kul region, having brought together some 120 representatives of local self-government bodies, political parties, education and health sectors, academia, civil society, as well as religious leaders, elderly people and youth.

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek organized this four-day event jointly with the State Commission on Religious Affairs, the State Agency on Local Self-Government and Inter-Ethnic Relations, and the Interior Ministry.

“Kyrgyzstan strives for the implementation of OSCE commitments on human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of thought, expression, religion, and belief for all without any form of discrimination,” said Silvia Pogolsa, Human Dimension Officer at the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. “During this event, Kyrgyzstan has shown willingness to progress in respecting the rights of religious communities by engaging in consultations with religious institutions of different faiths in order to achieve a better understanding of the needs for adequate protections of religious freedom.”

The participants discussed and reviewed policies related to religious organizations, radical movements and prevention of extremism leading to terrorism. The event provided a platform for dialogue among representatives of national institutions, religious communities, and civil society to strengthen unity and inter-religious tolerance.

The meeting is part of the OSCE Centre’s project on enhancement of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Kyrgyzstan, which aims at promoting compliance with the provisions of national law on freedom of religion and belief and supporting the implementation of the state religious policy within the National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2013-2017.