Human Rights in Central Asia: Challenges and Perspectives

Abstract Ever since the disintegration of Soviet Union in 1991, “human rights” has been a contentious term states post-Soviet Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). Whereas all Asian are parties to major multilateral human rights instruments, significant problems persist. Issues such as rule law, gender inequality, domestic violence, freedom press, electoral particularly acute. Progress was made overcoming legacy nihilism few areas, but still have way go improve their records. National institutions should be accorded real powers. The quality dialogue between governments civil society improved. Ultimately, societal attitudes toward shift from perceiving concept “Western” “alien local cultures” more constructive paradigms.