Written questions shared in the webinar session were answered by the representative of the Ombudsman Office of the Kyrgyz Republic as follows: 64 No. 1. 2. 3. 4. Questions Has your National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) carried out activities related to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since January 2020? Has your NHRI contributed significantly to SDGs monitoring? Has your NHRI contributed to SDGs planning (national Action Plan or similar process / document)? Do you think your NHRI can increase its contribution to the SDGs monitoring process? Table 2 Answer Yes Yes Yes Yes Kyrgyzstan’s Answers to Questions Written in Webinar “The Role of NHRIs in Monitoring SDGs Achievements in their National Context” 3.2.1. What Human Rights are Prioritized within the SDGs? There are at least two important points mentioned by Azarbekov when asked about the SDGs priorities of the Ombudsman Office of the Kyrgyz Republic. First, Azarbekov underlines the importance of the overall rights and freedom of a person and relates them to all indicators in the SDGs.65 It should be noted that Kyrgyzstan has started paying attention to the 17 SDGs since 2016.66 Second, Azarbekov sees that the implementation of the SDGs needs to be carried out based on national law and international standards.67 Further look into the focus of human rights and the SDGs in the activities of the Ombudsman Office of the Kyrgyz Republic can be observed from the list of activities that have been uploaded on the Facebook page.68 The Ombudsman Office of the Kyrgyz Republic carries out activities related to human rights in general, but has not linked them explicitly to the SDGs.69 However, the Ombudsman Office of the Kyrgyz Republic once held a roundtable discussion on the implementation of the SDGs on 18 August 2021.70 Ibid., “Questions on SDG related Experiences since January 2020”, Askat Azarbekov’s answers (Chief of the Ombudsman Office of the Kyrgyz Republic), translated by authors. 65 “Follow Up Study on Komnas HAM’s Survey on NHRIs in the Asia Pacific” (n. 6), Askat Azarbekov’s answers (Chief of the Ombudsman Office of the Kyrgyz Republic). 66 Askat Azarbekov, “Sustainable Development Goals in the Kyrgyz Republic: Challenges and Aspirations” (PowerPoint Presentation on Webinar “The Role of NHRIs in Monitoring SDGs Achievements in their National Context”) (22 November 2021), 2. 67 “Follow Up Study on Komnas HAM’s Survey on NHRIs in Asia Pacific” (n. 6), Askat Azarbekov’s answers (Chief of the Ombudsman Office of the Kyrgyz Republic). 68 The activities of the Ombudsman Office of the Kyrgyz Republic are regularly uploaded via social media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ombudsmankr. 69 Ibid. 70 Ombudsman Office of the Kyrgyz Republic, “Roundtable Discussion - Realization of Sustainable Development Goals in the Kyrgyz Republic”, 18 August 2021, accessed on 29 December 2021, https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2933200863559751&set=pcb.2933201 240226380. 13 64