Project “NGO Capacity Building in the field of Access to Justice”
Locations
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
Objective
Strengthen the capacity of local leaders (NGO, local communities and self-government) in the field of Access to Justice in environmental issues through trainings and the preparation and dissemination of text books (guidelines on Access to Justice at local level).
• Identify problems and on-going activities (overview) relating to the Aarhus Convention – Access to justice pillar implementation, involving stakeholders at different levels in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan
• Prepare training materials for three countries and train at least 45 local leaders on implementation of this pillar based on national legislations
Relevance of the Action
The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Convention) has shown to be a very useful instrument for enhancing public involvement in the field of the environment and thereby a tool strengthening participatory democracy. Providing procedural rights for the Convention also focuses on the interactions between the public and public authorities. Not all Central Asian countries have signed the Aarhus Convention but nevertheless the principles of the Convention have gained recognition in the whole region within different environmental programs (such as the Central Asian Initiative (CAI)).
Work on the Convention has a potential both on a regional, national and local levels as well as in addressing different environmental issues. Hence, public participation has gained wide recognition on different levels of governance as a key principle for environmental management. Today, the number of environmental NGOs in the region is increasing and a vivid civil society has not only become aware of its rights in law but also more conscious about their application and enforcement.
In 2006, CAREC developed a training module and guidelines for local leader for implementation of Access to Justice Rights based on national legislation in Kyrgyzstan. A group of 25 local leaders were trained. Such training modules and guidelines were recognized by other countries as a useful instrument for capacity building of local NGOs for the implementation of Aarhus provisions in the area of access of Justice.
Target groups
o Local NGOs and leaders in CA countries (Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan) that work in the area of organizing public hearing, protection of public rights, public awareness rising. The project will also involve local government officials that work in the area of environmental protection (departments of ecology , local prosecutors)
o Leaders of local initiative groups
o Representatives of NGOs from different regions of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
Activities
• Selection of national expert team
• Development of training module and text book
• Carry out national trainings for NGOs in three countries
• Dissemination to other public organization and governments of the national text book and information about project
• Organizing of e-discussions about further steps and presenting result of project at Aarhus convention Working Group of Parties
Outputs and expected results
The training module “Practical aspects on access to justice” is worked out and implemented based on countries’ national legislation
National text books will be prepared and distributed among NGOs (300 copies in Russian language)
15 NGO and local initiatives groups’ leaders pass through a two days training. Not less than 300 people will have the access to the text book and could use it as guidelines for further action and protection of rights.
E-discussion between national experts from CA region will be organized to evaluate results of the projects and providing recommendation for further cooperation
Results Phase 1 training module and text book will be designed and introduced in Kazakhstan
Results Phase 2 training module and text book will be designed and introduced in Tajikistan and Turkmenistan
Methodology
Trainings and text book (guidelines) preparation. All three trainings will be based on one methodology that is based on the analysis of gaps for proper implementation of the convention and processing of cases developed by national experts. After the completion of the training all participant will evaluate it and after three months of completion of the training an e-discussion will be organized to monitor application of the knowledge.
The project management is realized by CAREC’s Public Initiatives Support Programme. In the project implementation qualified national experts – lawyers and trainers for the development of the national module will participate. Before the preparation of the training modules, methodology and templates will be discussed with trainers from Kyrgyzstan who developed training in 2006.
Documents
