OSCE Centre in Bishkek supports national dialogue on protection of data and right to privacy
BISHKEK, 26 March 2015 – A two-day conference on population registration, data protection and the right to privacy, organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, with support of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the NGO Legal Clinic “Adilet”, opens today in Bishkek.
Some 100 government officials, parliamentarians, representatives of NGOs, media and international organizations will discuss how to strengthen the national legal and administrative framework on data protection. The Kyrgyz Government is currently implementing reforms to population registration and has recently launched a countrywide collection of biometric data.
Five international experts from Austria, Latvia, Georgia and Ireland will share best practices in this area, including on issues related to the establishment of independent data protection authorities.
“Accountability and transparency are essential in the context of protecting personal data and privacy,” said Acting Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, Fabio Piana. “The conference will explore the importance of independent oversight mechanisms, as well as provide a platform for all interested stakeholders to discuss how to improve the national administrative framework in light of the applicable international human rights standards and best practices in the data protection field.”
In October 2014, the State Registration Service of Kyrgyzstan began to register the biometric data of citizens over 16 years old. The aim is to increase the accuracy of voter lists ahead of the parliamentary elections, which are tentatively scheduled for autumn 2015. The database will be also used for the issuing of new electronic passports, beginning in 2017.
Since 2009, ODIHR and the OSCE Centre in Bishkek have been actively supporting the reform of the population registration system in Kyrgyzstan to ensure the protection of the right to the freedom of movement, the accuracy of voter lists and to enhance the security of travel documents.