NEW TACTICS IN KAZAKHSTAN: New Tactics resources provide practical application for efforts regarding a moratorium on the death penalty

Yuliya Vasilyeva, a lawyer, trainer, educator and human rights advocate in Kazakhstan provided us with another wonderful example of how she has been putting New Tactics methodology and tools to work. On May 29 a coordination meeting of NGOs "Kazakhstan from the Moratorium on Death Penalty Toward the Adoption of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR" took place in Almaty. About 30 NGOs leaders from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan participated in the discussion, as well as experts from Italy, Austria, United Kingdom, Norway, and from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

In order to develop the campaign, the New Tactics methodology "Developing Creative Tactics and Strategies" from the New Tactics in Human Rights: A Resource for Practitioners was used.

Yuliya explains, "In the preparation of this activity we had to take into a consideration many arguments. Convincing a government – particularly, in a country in transition like Kazakhstan – to adopt a certain policy is not so easy. You must have a realistic view of your own strengths, weaknesses, resources, capacities and supports. It is equally important to have a clear understanding of the capacities and limits of your allies.

We found an agreement between PACE and the Parliament of Kazakhstan, with which Kazakhstan took an obligation to abolish death penalty. This was the key point to start a campaign, building on the tactic: "Does the Government keep its promises?". (See also information from the "Monitoring Development Projects from a Rights-Based Perspective" Training Session during the New Tactics Asia Workshop - 2005) Then we prepared a project and with got the support of the German Embassy and of the European Commission and the technical assistance of Freedom House Kazakhstan Human Rights Support Program."

[Read the results using the "Developing Creative Strategies and Tactics" tool]

New Tactics Materials Available in Russian (and other CIS languages)

The New Tactics project now has a number of materials available in Russian along with a series of materials that are currently being translated into Russian and will be available soon. Please check the New Tactics website, or contact newtactics [at] cvt [dot] org regarding your interest to be notified immediately of newly translated materials into Russian.

[See the listing of materials translated into Russian and other CIS languages]