On 15 February, the Jogorku Kenesh held parliamentary hearings to discuss a new version of the constitutional law "On the Rules of Procedure of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic" with the participation of media and civil society representatives. Technical assistance in organising the hearings was provided as part of a long-term cooperation of UNDP Kyrgyzstan with the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic.

During the parliamentary hearings, the main changes of the draft law aimed at harmonization with the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic and effective organisation of parliamentary work.  were presented.  k. For example, as one of the digital innovations of a parliamentary activity was proposed to introduce  facial recognition and fingerprints during voting procedures.

Representatives of the civil sector made a number of proposals to improve communication between MPs and voters. In particular, it was proposed to introduce e-mail for MPs, where voters' letters will be automatically registered and reach the addressees directly, not through the general department; to introduce official messengers, with the possibility to register online appeals. It was also proposed to support the work of the JK Expert Council with the participation of the expert community and civil society, to help in enactment of t balanced and high quality legislative acts.

Participants of the hearings were unanimous in the opinion that the process of adopting the Constitutional Law "On the Regulations of the Jogorku Kenesh" should be accelerated. At the end of the event, all suggestions and comments will be submitted to the Committee on Constitutional Legislation, State System, Judicial and Legal Issues and Rules of Procedure of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic. Following the committee meeting, the draft law will be reviewed by the Jogorku Kenesh in the second reading. The seventh convocation of Parliament will be working with the discussed new rules of procedure. 

The text of the draft law and its background statement can be found on the website of the Jogorku Kenesh. 

Link to the photos from the event: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzCwqx

Media contacts: Nurzhan Alymkanova, UNDP Communications Officer, nurzhan.alymkanova@undp.org