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The Media and Information Literacy (MIL) conference held on December 12, 2024, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, marked a significant step towards advancing MIL. Organized by UNESCO and the Association of Community Media, the event served as a crucial platform for open dialogue, allowing stakeholders to share insights, experiences, and best practices related to media and information literacy. It brought together 30 participants, including government representatives (Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy; Ministry of Digital Development; Ministry of Education and Science),  academics (Bishkek State University, Kyrgyz National University, Ala-Too International University), the media  community (Internews, Prevention Media) and civil society to foster a collaborative environment to identify entry points for MIL actions at the policy level in Kyrgyzstan. 

Marat Tagaev, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic, highlighted the curial role of media literacy and critical thinking in combating disinformation and hate speech. He noted that these skills are essential to build a more informed and resilient society. 

Speech of Amir Piric, the Director of the UNESCO Almaty Regional Office, was highlighted the importance of unity among Member States in combating disinformation through the promotion of media and information literacy, in line with the UN General Assembly resolution and UNESCO declarations.

Aida Bektasheva, National Associate Project Officer at UNESCO Almaty Regional Office, underscored the importance of coming together to combat disinformation and hate speech while protecting freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan. She emphasized that fostering media and information literacy at the policy level is fundamental to build resilient societies capable of effectively addressing digital challenges. A media-literate population can hold media organizations and government officials accountable, thereby promoting transparency in public discourse.

Nazira Jusupova, Executive Director of the Association of Community Media, underlined the necessity of actively involving local communities, and making media and information literacy an integral part of their daily lives. She highlighted findings from focus group discussions conducted across seven project locations, which revealed a strong demand for initiatives to combat disinformation and enhance media and information literacy. In response, proposals were formulated to the Ministry of Culture, including a comprehensive plan to promote media and information literacy.

The conference highlighted the need to enhance institutional and human resources to boost the digital skills of citizens. The academic community expressed a commitment to advancing media and information literacy through educational initiatives. Stakeholders recommended that the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic prioritize the integration of MIL into national actions and policies. This would ensure MIL becomes a a cornerstone of public discourse, fostering a more informed, engaged, and resilient society capable of addressing the challenges of the digital age. 

National conference was part of the project "Strengthening National Capacity in Peacebuilding and Civil Society Engagement".