New TSPC Project

December 10, 2012

The Tian Shan Policy Center (TSPC, http://auca.kg/eng/tspc/), a think tank within the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), is now implementing its new project, “Protecting the Rights of Kyrgyz Migrants: Utilizing Policy Analysis, Public Outreach, and Stakeholder Dialogue to Mobilize Action toward Reform, 2012-2014”.  This work is proceeding within the framework of TSPC’s activities on migration and social protection.

The project aims to raise awareness and foster dialogue to develop new strategies and more effective policies to protect Kyrgyz labor migrants and their families. With the support of the Open Society Foundations, TSPC is conducting research and analysis on international standards and best practices that can help to promote more robust government and stakeholder consideration of a comprehensive national migration policy. As part of this project, TSPC also plans to create an Internet-platform for an Information Management Centre on Migrants’ Human Rights Protection.

To launch its investigation, TSPC published a Briefing Document on critical issues of migration from Kyrgyzstan to the Russian Federation (available for review in English and Russian at http://auca.kg/en/migration_projects/).  The Briefing Document reviews the current situation of Kyrgyz migration processes, describes challenges, and raises key issues for research.  It received input from experts in a number of organizations, including UN Women (Kazakhstan), FIDH (France), Migration Research Center (Russia), Human Rights Watch (USA), and Anti-Discrimination Center Memorial (Russia).  The report was distributed among identified experts in preparation for a Research Workshop.

TSPC convened the Research Workshop with the participation of leading experts from research centers and international organizations dealing with labor migration.  The goal of the workshop was to gather the most up-to-date information, identify gaps in protection of labor migrants, and prioritize a number of important spheres for prospective research.

Based on the results of the Research Workshop, TSPC developed a follow-up report reflecting all the issues identified by participants in the course of discussions and clarifying a new research agenda.  The report is now published on TSPC’s website in English and Russian.  It will be distributed among interested stakeholders in Kyrgyzstan and partners located in Central Asian countries and the Russian Federation (http://auca.kg/en/migration_projects/).

In 2013, based on the results of the focused scientific research, TSPC will convene further workshops and promote additional interaction and dialogue among all stakeholders on approaches to improved migration policies.

For more information, please, contact Ainura Asamidinova, Program Manager, Migration and Social Protection, at asamidinova_a@auca.kg. Tian Shan Policy Center specializes on research and analysis of the effective public policies for the communities of the Central Asia.

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