During your visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from September 15 to 17, 2024

For the Chancellor
of the Federal Republic of Germany
His Excellency Olaf Scholz

Dear Chancellor!

During your visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from September 15 to 17, 2024, you participated in the C5+1 summit with the leaders of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, and signed a number of bilateral agreements on economic cooperation and energy. One of the most important documents signed was the migration agreement with Uzbekistan.

We welcome Germany’s establishment of close bilateral relations, but note the exclusion of civil society experts in the decision-making process and format for risk, conflict and disaster prevention in a radically changing civic space. We have closely followed your visit and are impressed by the agreements reached on the economic and political level.
We support your initiatives to find key strategies to address the situation in Ukraine after the Russian invasion, as well as finding basic security strategies coming from Afghanistan.  
We, representatives of civil society, are concerned about the following issues that you, Mr. Scholz, could include in your agenda for further negotiations with Central Asian presidents:

1. Compliance by our governments with their international obligations, including the Paris Principles and the Business and Human Rights Guiding Principles;
2. Compliance by our governments with the key principles of “non-refoulement”;
3. In Kazakhstan, publish a full list of those killed in the January 2022 Kantar tragedy. Promote effective reform of the judicial system with equal participation of civil society representatives, promote the adoption of the Draft Law on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders;
4. In Uzbekistan, the status of the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees should be restored;
5. In Kyrgyzstan, raise the issue of abolishing laws on non-governmental organizations and mass media;
6. In Tajikistan, outline a position on the release of political prisoners and provide conditions for access to justice for all those persecuted;
7. In Turkmenistan, raise the situation of women’s rights in negotiations.
   We women leaders of Central Asia, on the International Day of Peace, ahead of the OSCE ODIHR Warsaw Conference and the UN Future Summit, speak about the opportunity for world leaders to make globally important decisions on prosperity and human rights for a common future and equal inclusive partnership with civil society, including UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Gender, Women, Peace and Security.
   Dear Mr. Scholz! As one of the leaders of a leading European power, you have a real influence on the development of the EU Strategy for Central Asia and we ask you to emphasize in this important document the inclusion of inclusive, gender-sensitive instruments of influence on the protection and expansion of civic space.
   Over the past year, more than 700 meetings and consultations were held between human rights defenders and lawyers on a range of the most significant issues in the protection of human rights and freedoms, discussing the obstacles faced by activists. The result of these discussions was the adoption of the +25 Declaration on June 19, 2024, which promotes international law and calls for action by governments, international and regional organizations to engage in joint dialogue through multilateral and inclusive partnerships.
   We, the participants of the Central Asia Women’s Expert Forum, note the massive regression in the field of human rights, especially of girls and women, due to the shrinking civil space in our region.
   We believe that “the reasons for the setback of democracy are the failure to adequately address the most serious problems of society, including economic inequality, which leads to regression in the field of human rights in our countries, as confirmed by the V-Dem Institute’s Democracy Report 2023 and CIVICUS’ 2023.
   The importance of civil society is to promote strong links between local communities and decision makers and leaders to effectively achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the field of human rights by applying new strategies, including localization principles.
   We call on you, as the leader of Germany, to join our efforts to highlight and address the most pressing issues to build a strong civil society, promote democracy and respect for human rights in Central Asia, and we want you to be our great Friend.

Sincerely, participants (ki) of the Regional Women’s Expert Forum
Tashkent  September 18-21, 2024  Organizer: Bir Duino Kyrgyzstan together with partners.
Contact person Murat Karypov, Director, Email: birduinokyrgyzstan@gmail.com, m.karypov@gmail.com, www.birduino.kg