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Internet Access and Training Program (IATP)
Businessmen and Women of Kyrgyzstan Utilize IATP’s Resources to Advocate Changes in Tax and Election Codes
In February, IATP served as an effective tool for local businessmen and women in advocating for change in Kyrgyzstan. A group of businessmen developed a website with alternative tax code supplemented with relevant comments and comparison with the government’s version. The staff of Female Voters of Bishkek, a local women organization, moderated a countrywide online discussion and developed a website to promote active participation of women in country’s political life. Since independence in 1991, the government and residents of Kyrgyzstan have been running numerous reform programs to comply with civil society and democratic principles, including establishing a favorable environment for small businesses and gender balance in politics of the country. Citizens of Kyrgyzstan have been utilizing IATP to support and drive this effort.
Tax Reform
Uluk Kydyrbaev's website dedicated to tax reform
in Kyrgyzstan is available at taxreform.freenet.kg.
A website created by a representative of Kyrgyzstan’s Coalition for Just Taxation with the help of IATP presents the organization’s arguments for reforming the country’s tax code to the public. Posted on February 12 by Uluk Kydyrbaev, the executive director of Bishkek Business Club, it argues against high taxes and corruption, and provides an alternative code which was developed by a group of local and international businessmen and consultants. The website is also designed to share comments, justifications, and comparisons of the Coalition’s proposals with existing law. With underdeveloped small and medium businesses in Kyrgyzstan, the government is still not effective in reforming country’s taxation system and providing favorable conditions to entrepreneurs to run their businesses. Kydyrbaev and his constituents developed the website to discuss their alternative tax code with MPs as well as with businessmen from remote regions of Kyrgyzstan via series of chats and forums. The final version of the alternative tax code will be discussed by the members of Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) at their plenary session in upcoming months.
Women in Politics
Edisa Abdrahmanova, the executive director of the
League of Female Voters of Bishkek (LFVB), a local
women organization, moderates the online discussion
at LFVB's office in Bihskek, Kyrgyzstan.
Over 20 leaders of women’s organizations identified methods to promote female candidates and ensure gender balance in Kyrgyzstan’s Government, Parliament, and other state agencies at IATP centers throughout the country. Moderated by the forum addressed possible solutions to gender imbalance in local politics, including changing legislation and training potential female candidates.
Chinara Jusupova, the director of Diaron, a local nonprofit organization in Jalalabat, remarked, “Before implementing certain actions, we all need to first lobby for changes to the Election Code. I mean the quota system. Having ensured a legal basis, we can start training and preparing women candidates to compete in district and national elections.” Mariyka Djergalbaeva, a staff of LFVB, noted, “We [LFVB] organized a club entitled School of Women Leaders, where we train women leaders from rural areas. The School aims at equipping women with knowledge to develop their leadership, communication, and management skills.” Abdrahmanova suggested methods to help women run for various seats, including the Parliament. “Apart from quota and training components, we should decrease the minimum candidate registration deposit for female candidates from 100,000 soms [$26,000] to 50,000 soms [$13,000]. This will sufficiently help women candidates to collect necessary funds,” Abdrahmanov said. She also suggested introducing party-based election system to the Parliament, which would help female candidates to be nominated and act as strong candidates.
The forum served as a launching point for series of discussions on mechanisms for establishing gender balance in political system of Kyrgyzstan and brought together nearly 30 women leaders from six cities throughout the country. The participants will continue their discussion and exchange ideas on a Web forum developed and maintained by LFVB staff. Use of local media in attracting wider audience to the issue will be the main topic on the agenda for next month’s online discussion.
