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Amir Mukambetov

Kyrgyzstan, 2023
Advocacy Coordinator, Eurasian Coalition for Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity (ECOM)
Amir identifies himself as a modern queer nomad, Central Asian LGBT+ activist, Human Rights Defender, and Queer Muslim hailing from Kyrgyzstan. His expertise spans gender, sexuality, human rights, religion, and HIV prevention in the Eastern Europe and Central Asian regions. Throughout his activism, he has played a pivotal role in elevating the visibility of the queer community, fostering the growth of the LGBT+ movement, and strengthening the capacity of the respective community within the country.
As the Advocacy Coordinator at the Eurasian Coalition for Health, Rights, Gender, and Sexual Diversity (ECOM), Amir undertakes the responsibility of providing coaching and capacity-building support to transgender organizations and activists in high-risk countries such as Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Russia. This involves overseeing small grants, reviewing project reports, and collaborating with colleagues to develop advocacy and strategic plans. The attainment of their goals is realized through national advocacy and leadership schools, informational/media campaigns, and the sensitization of health experts and decision-makers.
With a decade of service at Kyrgyz Indigo, Amir's contributions extend from community capacity building to advocacy and health promotion, not only in Kyrgyzstan but throughout Central Asia. Over this period, he has provided consistent mentorship, nurturing the development of multiple generations of queer activists, many of whom have transitioned into frontline advocates for the rights of queer individuals. Serving as the Chair of the Board of Kyrgyz Indigo and one of the co-founders of the LGBT Platform in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, Amir oversees the organization's overall strategic direction. This includes championing queer-friendly laws and opposing bills that discriminate against the LGBT+ community. Notably, the Kyrgyz Parliament has introduced a draft law on "foreign agents," proposing a ten-year jail term for those identified as such. Amir is actively engaged in facilitating the development of a strategy to withdraw this bill.
Amir is a proud graduate of SOAS University of London, holding an MA Degree in Gender Studies. Prior to this, he obtained an undergraduate degree from Kyrgyz Kuwait University, earning a BA Degree in Journalism.