Category: Civil society & human rights

Civil society & human rights organizations, activism, human rights violations

Kazakhstan’s Bloody January: Protest Motivations, Public Perceptions and Human Rights

Online discussion co-organized by the PaperLab Research Center (Astana, Kazakhstan). Image provided by PaperLab.kz. Thursday, December 7, 2023, 9:00 am – 10:30 am EST In the first days of 2022,… Continue reading Kazakhstan’s Bloody January: Protest Motivations, Public Perceptions and Human Rights

Social and Political Processes in Central Asia amid Internal and External Shocks

December 4, 2023 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am EST Social and political developments in Central Asia received greater attention following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in particular the immediate… Continue reading Social and Political Processes in Central Asia amid Internal and External Shocks

Central Asian Migrants in Russia and Turkey: Migrant Legal Adaptation in Non-Democratic Contexts

Book talk with authors Ruslan Urinboyev and Sherzod Eraliev October 24, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM (EDT) Hybrid Event Rustam Urinboyev and Sherzod Eraliev comparatively analyze the migration regimes of Russia… Continue reading Central Asian Migrants in Russia and Turkey: Migrant Legal Adaptation in Non-Democratic Contexts

Engaging with Muslim Civil Society in Central Asia: Components, Approaches, and Opportunities

By Sebastien Peyrouse and Emil Nasritdinov When Western policymakers and development practitioners turn their attention to Central Asia, they too often overlook Muslim civil society as a potential partner for… Continue reading Engaging with Muslim Civil Society in Central Asia: Components, Approaches, and Opportunities

Facilitators of Societal Change? Exploring Educated-Abroad Youth’s Potential to Advance Gender Equality in Turkmenistan Through Civic Activism

By Rustam Muhamedov Muhamedov Rustam was a Spring 2021CAAFP Fellow. He is an independent researcher focusing on social-political and security developments in Turkmenistan and wider Central Asia. He is currently… Continue reading Facilitators of Societal Change? Exploring Educated-Abroad Youth’s Potential to Advance Gender Equality in Turkmenistan Through Civic Activism

Violent Extremism and Youth: How to Build a Productive Dialogue Between Young People and Government

By Anastassiya Reshetnyak Anastassiya Reshetnyak was a Spring 2021 CAAFP Fellow. She graduated from al-Farabi Kaz NU (BA and MA in Regional Studies) and is currently involved in the PhD… Continue reading Violent Extremism and Youth: How to Build a Productive Dialogue Between Young People and Government

Choosing Your Battles: Different Languages of Kazakhstani Youth Activism

By Nafissa Insebayeva  CAP Paper 226 (CAAF Fellows Papers), January 2020 Nafissa Insebayeva is a PhD Candidate at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, where she specializes in Kazakhstan’s domestic politics,… Continue reading Choosing Your Battles: Different Languages of Kazakhstani Youth Activism

Challenges to Freedom of Movement in Azerbaijan

Protesters hold Azerbaijani flags and posters with portraits of opposition candidate Camil Hasanli during a rally in Baku, Azerbaijan, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013. Thousands have gathered in the capital of Azerbaijan to protest the re-election of President Ilham Aliyev in a vote widely criticized by international election monitors. The protesters in Baku are demanding that the election be nullified and that Aliyev resign. Aliyev succeeded his father to the presidency of this small oil-rich nation in 2003, extending decades of dynastic rule. (AP Photo / Aziz Karimov)

By CAP CAP Paper 210, August 2018 Tural Aghayev is an Azerbaijani human rights lawyer. He received a Bachelor’s degree from Baku State University Law School in 2008. He subsequently… Continue reading Challenges to Freedom of Movement in Azerbaijan

Rethinking Urban Activism and Civil Society: Insights from Analysis of Bishkek Civic Networks

By Raushanna Sarkeyeva CAP Paper 208 (CAAF Fellows Papers), June 2018 Raushanna Sarkeyeva is a founder and director of Urban Initiatives Public Foundation (Kyrgyzstan). She studied Change Management at the… Continue reading Rethinking Urban Activism and Civil Society: Insights from Analysis of Bishkek Civic Networks

Assessing the Impact of NGO Peacebuilding Programs in the South Caucasus: The Case of Nagorno-Karabakh

By Jeyhun Veliyev CAP Paper 204 (CAAF Fellows Papers), March 2018 Jeyhun Veliyev is a junior researcher interested in political economy, energy security, conflict, human rights, and democracy-building in post-Soviet… Continue reading Assessing the Impact of NGO Peacebuilding Programs in the South Caucasus: The Case of Nagorno-Karabakh

Countering Extremism vs. Freedom of Online Expression: The Case of Kazakhstan

Bangkok, Thailand - June 8, 2016 : Apple iPhone5s showing its screen with popular social network applications.

By Anna Gussarova CAP Fellows Paper 201 (CAAF Fellows Papers), January 2018 Anna Gussarova is director and co-founder of the Central Asia Institute for Strategic Studies (www.caiss.expert). She previously served… Continue reading Countering Extremism vs. Freedom of Online Expression: The Case of Kazakhstan

Ensuring Freedom from State Violence in the Kyrgyz Republic

Central Asia Fellowship Papers No. 4, June 2014 By Sardarbek Bagishbekov Sardar Bagishbekov is an executive director of the Kyrgyzstani human rights NGO Golos Svobody (Voice of Freedom, www.vof.kg). The organization aims to… Continue reading Ensuring Freedom from State Violence in the Kyrgyz Republic

The Visa Regime in Uzbekistan: A Failed Attempt at Balancing Regime Interests and Freedom of Individuals

Central Asia Fellowship Paper No. 3, February 2014 By Yevgenia Pak Yevgeniya Pak received her degree in legal studies from Westminster University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, before pursuing her professional career as a practicing… Continue reading The Visa Regime in Uzbekistan: A Failed Attempt at Balancing Regime Interests and Freedom of Individuals

Cybersecurity in Central Asia: Real Issues, False Excuse?

Central Asia Policy Brief No. 2, June 2012 By Marlene Laruelle Kazakhstan is increasingly subjected to everyday cyber-insecurity. The main issue of cybersecurity in Central Asia is related to energy infrastructure and major industrial… Continue reading Cybersecurity in Central Asia: Real Issues, False Excuse?