The Soros Foundation–Kyrgyzstan focuses on creating conditions to ensure development of an open society through reform of public institutions and democratic debate around policy and social issues. Priority areas include local governance, media freedom, higher education, women’s rights, and public health.

The foundation has been a leader in promoting good governance and civic participation efforts in Kyrgyzstan, working to ensure that elections meet international standards, helping to establish civilian oversight of police, training judges and lawyers in the application of international norms on civil and political rights, and seeking to guarantee fair and transparent regulation of the Kyrgyz media. It has similarly worked to reform the educational sector, and has been especially vocal in calling for improved standards in higher education.

It has also been at the forefront of advocacy work to advance the rights of vulnerable populations, including the mentally disabled, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, and women. The foundation was key to the successful effort to prevent passage of a bill that would have decriminalized polygamy, a practice that threatens to undermine Kyrgyz women’s efforts to achieve full political and social equality. The foundation has also assisted women’s organizations in campaigns to increase women’s participation in politics and change representations of women in the media.

In the public health arena, the foundation has led efforts to establish a harm reduction approach to drug use and HIV prevention, and has initiated several successful outreach programs targeting populations at high risk of infection, including sex workers and prisoners.