OSCE helps promote young people’s participation in politics in Kyrgyzstan

The Second Annual Summer School of Young Politicians concluded on 19 June 2019. It was organized by the Legal Prosperity Foundation and supported by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek. Twenty-five young leaders participated in the six-day intensive school, including members of local councils and local governments, young members of various political parties, media representatives, and civic activists from all regions of Kyrgyzstan. The participants learned about different political systems, platforms of various political parties, equal access to decision-making for persons with disabilities, strategic communications and campaigning, debating and legal analysis.

The young leaders also had a chance to meet with members of the Kyrgyz National Parliament and learn about the process of drafting legislation, campaigning, and media technologies used during electoral processes.

The 2019 Summer School included two participants with hearing and vision impairments, whose special needs were fully incorporated into the training at all stages.   The Young Politicians School was created in 2017, following the results of the study Youth Access to Power: Opportunities and Limitations, conducted by the Legal Prosperity Public Foundation in Kyrgyzstan.

Since 2017 the Young Politicians School has become a solid educational platform for aspiring youth of Kyrgyzstan, which aims to explore and heighten their potential, eventually promoting their participation in decision-making processes.