DUSHANBE, June 25, 2012, Asia-Plus – Thirty-seven civil society organizations, including thirteen Tajik public associations namely Nota Bene Public Foundation, Avesto,  Pamir Barristers’ Association, Association of Parents of Disabled Children, Tajikistan Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (BHR), Sughd Barristers’ Association, National Association of Independent Media in Tajikistan (Nansmit), Independent Center for the Protection of Human Rights, Dushanbe’s Association of Invalids “Imkoniyat,” Human Rights Center, Equal Opportunities, Society and Law as well as Law and Prosperity, have signed an appeal formally titled “Five Year Anniversary of EU Central Asia Strategy: Placing Human Rights at the Heart of EU Action.”

The appeal, in particular, says that it is five years since the EU adopted its Strategy for a New Partnership with Central Asia1.  “As EU foreign ministers prepare to take stock of progress so far, we, the undersigned civil society organizations, would like to suggest ways to improve the effectiveness and impact of EU action to promote human rights in Central Asia.”

“The EU Central Asia Strategy, which was endorsed by the EU governments in June 2007, provides a framework for increased cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in political, economic and other areas.  It also identifies human rights as a key element in EU-Central Asia relations and sets out that the EU will step up support for human rights in the region, inter alia by conducting “regular and results-oriented” human rights dialogues with the Central Asian governments and by cooperating closely with the UN, the OSCE and other international actors in this area.

“However, five years on, there is broad consensus that the human rights dialogues established with the Central Asian governments and other measures taken to implement the Strategy’s human rights objectives have not been as effective as desired.  The overall human rights situation in Central Asia has not improved in any substantial way and, in some respects, human rights protection has even deteriorated in the countries of the region.  EU actors have recognized this weakness, notably in a 2010 Joint Progress Report.

“We, the undersigned organizations, welcome and support efforts by the EU to strengthen and enhance its engagement on human rights in the framework of its Central Asia Strategy.  We join in making the recommendations below for how we believe the EU should go about its human rights policies in Central Asia so as to ensure that they are as effective as possible in bringing about positive human rights change.  While many of these points have been raised before and some of them may already have been partially addressed by the EU, we consider that they deserve renewed attention and focus.”

The appeal notes that the EU should:

-          pursue a coherent approach to strengthening respect for human rights in Central Asia;

-          be consistent in addressing human rights in its relations with the Central Asian governments and stay true to its values at all times, not allowing other interests in the fields of energy and security to serve as an excuse for downplaying or ignoring human rights on any occasion;

-          raise human rights issues visibly and prominently in its relations with the Central Asian governments and more frequently take a public stand on human rights issues in the region;

-          be more transparent about its human rights policies in Central Asia;

-          and should regularly consult with civil society actors and other stakeholders, and provide relevant and timely information to them about its priorities and actions in the area. 

As part of its implementation of country strategies for human rights in Central Asia, the EU should adopt and elaborate specific objectives for human rights change for each of the states in the region, drawing on recommendations made by civil society, the European Parliament, international human rights review bodies and other relevant actors when doing so, the appeal said, noting that the EU should insist on concrete and measurable human rights change in the Central Asian countries and not be satisfied with window-dressing, i.e. measures that are taken by the governments of the region to create an impression of human rights progress but that do not result in any meaningful positive change in practice.

According to the appeal, the EU should also reinforce and improve the impact of the human rights dialogues it conducts with the governments of the region, integrate civil society concerns and recommendations more prominently into the dialogues, and invite civil society to participate in assessing the outcomes of the dialogues.

“The EU should also do more to proactively engage with independent human rights activists from Central Asia outside the human rights dialogues, continue providing financial assistance to human rights projects implemented by independent civil society groups in Central Asia, coordinate and streamline its engagement on human rights in Central Asia with efforts to promote democratic reform, rule of law, socio-economic development, anti-corruption measures, etc.”

The appeal also notes that the EU and its member states should ensure that all EU-based companies that operate in the Central Asian countries, as well as foreign-based companies that are involved in trade between the EU and Central Asian countries are committed to upholding human rights values and anti-corruption practices in their business dealings in the region.