OSCE Centre encourages young people's political participation in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, 5 October 2010 - A National Youth Congress, supported by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, United Nations Development Programme, the European Commission, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, and the Austrian Government to encourage the political participation of young people in Kyrgyzstan, met in Bishkek today.

The Congress, held ahead of the 10 October parliamentary elections, brought together more than 120 delegates from all regions of Kyrgyzstan. The event was organized under the aegis of the newly-formed Youth Ministry and opened by President Roza Otunbayeva. Government ministers, including the Ministers of Youth, Health, Education and Labour, Employment and Migration, addressed the gathering.

President Roza Otunbayeva said in her opening address: "Young people striving to work and to build our country represent forty percent of Kyrgyzstan's population. All people of the country must monitor how parliamentary political parties implement their pre-electoral promises and programmes, and this is especially important for young people whose futures are at stake. The new parliament to be formed after the 10 October election is expected to have many young parliamentarians who will collect and advocate the ideas and initiatives of Kyrgyzstan's young people."

The Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, said: "In Kyrgyzstan, young people have an especially important role to play in the future of the nation. The OSCE Centre in Bishkek in its work will give increasing attention to supporting initiatives to promote the participation of the young generation in political and social life. The Youth Congress held today will help us better understand the aspirations and concerns of young people in contemporary Kyrgyzstan."

The Congress was organized as part of the OSCE Centre's ongoing support for youth development and empowerment, as well as technical and material support for the preparations for the 10 October parliamentary elections.

The OSCE Centre's assistance in the field of electoral administration has amounted to more than 130,000 euros, and included activities such as informational and voter education campaigns, training and technical assistance for electoral commissions at all levels, as well as live televised debates involving all 29 political parties running in the elections.