During the BHR project launch event held on May 30, 2022, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic committed to establish an interagency working group (hereinafter referred to as the IWG) to develop a draft National Action Plan in the field of business and human rights. The corresponding order was signed by the Minister of Economy and Commerce on January 19, 2023.  

The Annual Report of the Akykatchy (Ombudsman) "On the observance of the rights and freedoms of the citizen in 2021", which has been submitted to the Jogorku Kenesh, has recommended that the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic  and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic develop and adopt the National Action Plan of the Kyrgyz Republic in the field of business and human rights to promote the implementation of the 2011 UN Guiding Principles. 

This recommendation has been supported by the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, the national parliament, and included in its resolution of June 16, 2022 No. 307-VII, which states: 

"The Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic to develop and approve an action plan of the Kyrgyz Republic in the field of business and human rights in order to implement the UN Guiding Principles, in particular, when issuing licenses and permits for the implementation of specific large-scale projects or commercial activities, to introduce as the main issues of compliance with human rights regulatory requirements for environmental impact assessment, risk assessment and prevention and the negative impact of business activities on human rights». 

At the end of 2022, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic initiated the process to establish an Interagency Working Group (IWG) as provided by the resolution of the Jogorku Kenesh. As a result, Ainura Usenbekova, Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, was appointed as the chairperson of the working group. 

UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic has also launched the country's first National Baseline Assessment on Business and Human Rights (NBA) and preliminary findings were also presented at the round table on January 25, 2023. As agreed, UNDP will continue to provide technical support to the IWG, in partnership with the Ombudsman and Adilet Legal Clinic, a national human rights civil society organization, to build a stronger national narrative on responsible business’ practices, including human rights due diligence. These activities are part of the global UNDP Business and Human Rights (B+HR) project funded by the Government of Japan and implemented in other 17 countries to support the development and implementation of National Action Plans on Business and Human Rights and/or similar policies.     

At the round table, A. Usenbekova called on representatives of business associations, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, civil society and businesses to provide recommendations to inform the draft National Baseline Assessment. - " You work in the  field, you practically deal with the issues of respect for human rights during your entrepreneurial activity. Respect for human rights in the business environment affects the country's investment climate," the deputy minister noted. 

The IWG is tasked with drafting a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, based on the results of the National Baseline Assessment, and submit it to the Cabinet of the Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic once finalized. 

 Media Contacts: Nurzhan Alymkanova, UNDP communication specialist, nurzhan.alymkanova@undp.org