International Development Law Organization

Kyrgyzstan

English

In Kyrgyzstan, IDLO strives to strengthen the rule of law and build a resilient justice system that promotes social stability and drives economic growth.

A key component of this work is developing e-justice systems that deter corruption and improve judicial accountability. IDLO also supports Kyrgyzstan in fostering a more efficient system for alternative dispute resolution, especially commercial mediation, thereby reducing the heavy case burden on courts, improving the enforcement of legal decisions, and providing businesses with a practical way to resolve disputes.

IDLO’s current portfolio includes assisting the Government of Kyrgyzstan to explore the most practical and effective ways to adopt the Singapore Convention on Mediation and to reform laws to introduce mandatory mediation and enforce their agreements. Additionally, we aid the Supreme Court in setting up mediation referral systems and enhancing the capacity of mediation centres and the Republican Community of Mediators, who work to improve the legislation, preparation and quality of mediation in the country.

The rule of law in the Kyrgyz Republic

Until recently, court processes in the Kyrgyz Republic have not been automated. Manual or paper systems still are required and are the norm although automating all processes has started very actively. According the country’s National Target Program for Development of the Judiciary, automated information systems need to be expanded and rolled out to the whole judicial system, not only within all first instance courts, but also second and third instance courts.

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Key Initiatives

  • Until recently, court processes in the Kyrgyz Republic have not been automated. Manual or paper systems still are required and are the norm although automating all processes has started very actively. According the country’s National Target Program for Development of the Judiciary, automated information systems need to be expanded and rolled out to the whole judicial system, not only within all first instance courts, but also second and third instance courts.
  • The Kyrgyz Republic has made significant strides in working toward improvements to a justice system shaken to the core following the 2010 Revolution. While a wholesale reselection process of judges changed the landscape and provided hope for real change, it also created a judiciary staffed with many inexperienced, under-skilled first-time judges who are more easily exposed to negative influences - both perceived and real. Consequently, the public mistrusts the judiciary and holds a negative perception of it being corrupt, inefficient and dependent on other branches of government.
  • Alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and in particular mediation, is well established in developed economies and becoming increasingly popular in transition countries. For any court system, mediation can substantially reduce caseload burdens, improve clearance rates, and raise efficiency in the administration of justice.
  • IDLO has been working with the Kyrgyz Judiciary to support the establishment of a functional, credible and transparent legal system, since the adoption of the 2010 Constitution. Despite many positive developments, the rule of law sector has faced a number of problems – chief among them inadequate financing, which risks undermining judicial independence and makes access to justice a challenge, as well as transparency and accountability.
  • The Kyrgyz judiciary is not favorably viewed by the public and, at the same time, the public is not well-informed about the functions and duties of the courts. To assist the judiciary in strengthening communications with the public, IDLO under the USAID-IDLO Judicial Strengthening Program, has been providing assistance in the development of a communications strategy for the judiciary and training of new press secretaries of local courts taking up their duties for the first time in the history of the Kyrgyz Republic.
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