The Regional Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will offer support to the governments of Central Asia in implementing their international human rights obligations and promote the incorporation of human rights, including economic, cultural and social rights, in national policies; the office will also cooperate with intergovernmental organizations, civil society, the private sector as well as relevant UN partners to realize human rights through their respective areas of work.
The office will be based in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, where the agreement was signed today by the Deputy High Commissioner, Kyung-wha Kang, and Deputy Foreign Minister, Askar Beshimov, respectively on behalf of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic.

"It is our hope that the establishment of the Regional Office will bring a new level of cooperation between the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the countries of Central Asia. The people of Central Asia deserve the support of the United Nations in cooperation with their governments to strive for the full realization of their human rights." Kyung-wha Kang said.

The Central Asia office brings to nine the number of OHCHR regional offices around the world. Today’s signature follows the High Commissioner’s visit to Central Asia last year where the proposal to establish a Regional Office for Central Asia was discussed and met wide support.