The two-day meeting is organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, a US-based research organization, with the support of the OSCE Centre in Astana.

Participants will discuss how to enhance dialogue and interaction between government and civil society. Discussions will focus on allowing greater access to information about governmental decisions and policy implementation, and introducing laws requiring public hearings on proposed legislation.

Giving formal legal status to public councils and other consultative bodies will also be on the agenda, as will strengthening mechanisms for financial support of NGOs and the establishment of governmental bodies designed to improve co-operation between governments and civil society.