Ferghana Valley Lawyers Without Borders

The idea of creation of organization of Ferghana Valley lawyers was suggested at the International Conference of lawyers from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in 2002 supported by American Bar Association (http://tlhrc.house.gov/docs/transcripts/2010_07_01_Kyrgyzstan/Testimony_Donna_Wright.pdf). The group of active conference participants formed a working group, which became an initiative group of the creation of Public Organization “Ferghana Valley lawyers without borders” (FVLWB). FVLWB is registered in Ministry of Justice of Kyrgyz Republic as a Regional NGO in April 9, 2003.
FVLWB is non-profit, non-political, non-governmental organization, established with the purpose of consolidation of professional lawyers for conflict prevention and strengthening of lawfulness, development of regional and international co-operation in human rights area. FVLWB has intention to solve the following tasks: • Assistance to development of mutual understanding, tolerance, and equality in Ferghana Valley and to maintenance of the peace and stability in the region; • Prevention and resolution of conflicts between population and state bodies and between various groups; • Strengthening respect for Human rights and freedoms; • Human Rights protection in Ferghana Valley countries, through rendering of advocacy, legal aid and representation; • Assistance to observance of human rights through realization of the legal education campaigns, dissemination of information on human rights and mechanisms of their protection; • Attraction of human, financial and technical resources for promotion of ideas of human rights and principles of democracy in the countries of Ferghana valley. FVLWB focuses on stateless people in South Kyrgyzstan, whereas the problem is relevant and urgent. Also FVLWB operates in border areas of the Fergana Valley with frequent armed conflicts involving the military and local residents. As a regional UNHCR partner FVLWB involved in emergency preparedness and response work in the humanitarian context. FVLWB is an organization of lawyers with practices and licenses to represent citizens in court. It has 67 members in total, in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Not all of them work at FVLWB. The organizational structure is well developed. The 67 members participate in the general assembly, which is the highest body of the organization. The organization has a board of 3 people, coming from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Chairwoman is from Kyrgyzstan. In addition, FVLWB has a revision committee. The board develops a general strategy of the organization. Executive staff implements the overall strategy through the programs independently defining methodology and plan. The Director is responsible for leading executive staff, programme management and representation of the organization. Executive staff is located in the Osh city and has representatives in 19 districts of the country. Executive staff consists of program and financial units. The program unit consists coordinator, Information/Consultation Center (lawyers, office manager, clerks), mobile clinic teams (field lawyers, legal assistants, technical assistants/drivers), IT specialist. The financial unit consists financial manager and financial assistant. In addition to the permanent staff, FVLWB has employees under temporary contract, on project basis (in 2014 - 46 people, in 2015 - 14 people under temporary contract). FVLWB has a network of community representatives almost throughout South Kyrgyzstan which is a great tool of communication between the FVLWB and local actors.