“Panorama Shymkenta”, #42 (689), 24/10/2003
Coordinator of NGO “Sana Sezim”
K. Abysheva

   October 15-16 in Astana, the Civil Forum was hosted by non-governmental organizations in the country. This important event in the history of the Republic was delegated by the coordinator of NGO “Sana Sezim”, Hadicha Abysheva.
   One of the most significant achievements in promoting democratic reforms, preserving domestic stability, and consolidating society in Kazakhstan has been the creation of Kazakh non-governmental organizations. The purpose of the event was to create a dialogue with government authorities and non-governmental organizations. For more than 10 years these relations have been sporadic and dependent on the goodwill of the participants in the dialogue, rather than their capabilities. In spring this year, in a message to the nation President NA Nazarbayev made a clear goal - to create dialogue on legal and permanent footing. In response to the decision a few steps were made - state program to support NGOs started, the first contest of social projects was created, tips for representatives of NGO working with the public were given, and a draft of legislation on non-governmental organizations and public social order was drawn up.
   The delegation visited South Kazakhstan at the Ministries of Labor and Social Welfare, education and science, justice, agriculture, information and health care. This Forum program has been structured in such a way that the working meetings with the ministers were on the first day, but on the second, the main day of the forum, the same ministers made presentations covering the most common problems they have and their identified solutions. It is heartening to note that the presentations at the forum were really open and constructive. Such a tone has been set up by the President himself, and NGOs, and it is supported by ministers. The greatest number of questions from the audience was to the Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Gulzhan Karagusova. For each of them she gave a detailed and thorough response. The delegates of the congress, the largest number of delegates representing NGOs working with socially vulnerable people, were able to see that the Minister is ready to tackle the issue. Another thing that can affect it is the pace of economic development.
   To conclude the forum, Secretary of State, J. Tasmagambetov, assured that the State would make every effort to ensure that non-governmental organizations would have the support of their government in the future, and that they would not only be at the expense of international organizations and foundations. The Civil Forum displays that the state and NGOs are at a new level of interaction, as partners in the development of Kazakhstan's society. We are all aware that we have a common goal – to create a strong democratic state. Achieving this goal depends not only on the active participation of the third sector, but also on the will and professionalism of the government. Traveling delegates from the forum believe that dialogue showed that the government is ready to cooperate with the third sector, which knows the needs and concerns of the population better, because it is created by these people. I think each of the delegates received new momentum to work and brought new ideas to light.