The Akyikatchy (Ombudsman) Institution of the Kyrgyz Republic intends to join the Ombudsman Association of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OICOA).

This decision was made by the Ombudsman Institution of the Kyrgyz Republic following the participation of Akyikatchy of the Kyrgyz Republic Dzhamilia Dzhamanbaeva in the OICOA General Assembly Meeting in Istanbul.

During the 3^rd OICOA General Assembly Meeting, Dzhamilia Dzhamanbaeva noted that important initiatives in the field of freedom and human rights protection have been implemented within the activities of the OICOA.

It's worth mentioning that Kyrgyzstan participated as an observer in the Meeting.

"The Ombudsman Institution of Kyrgyzstan is closely monitoring the activities of the OIC Ombudsman Association with great interest since the majority of Kyrgyzstan's citizens practice Islam. Protecting citizens' rights to religious freedom is one of the key priorities of the Ombudsman Institutution of Kyrgyzstan," stated Dzhamilia Dzhamanbaeva during the Meeting.

“The importance of collaboration among national human rights organizations that are members of the OIC Ombudsman Association in the field of human rights protection” was discussed in the Meeting. Additionally, they emphasized the need to continue the dialogue to enhance the effectiveness of the Ombudsman's work.

As a result of the trip to Turkiye, the Ombudsman Institutution of KR decided to join this Association because significant initiatives regarding the protection of human rights and freedom of religion are being discussed and implemented within the framework of the OIC Ombudsman Association.

"The Ombudsman Institutution of Kyrgyzstan participated in the meeting as an observer. By joining the association, the Ombudsman Institutution of Kyrgyzstan will be able to express its positions on protecting citizens' rights to freedom of religion within the OIC," believes Dzhamanbaeva.

The Institutution is currently preparing an official application for OICOA membership.

Background

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ombudsman Association (OICOA) was established in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 29, 2014, with a mandate for close cooperation between ombudsman institutions of the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation itself was established 1969, in Rabat, Morocco. Until 2011, the organization was known as the Organization of the Islamic Conference and was later renamed the OIC.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world. The organization's headquarters is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Kyrgyzstan became a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on December 1, 1992. However, the Ombudsman Institutution of Kyrgyzstan is only an observer of the Ombudsman Association of this organization (OIC).