AKIpress News Agency: A Report on Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

This report outlines the operational principles of the AKIpress News Agency and analyzes their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The agency’s policies demonstrate a foundational commitment to fostering transparency, building strong institutions, and promoting ethical partnerships.

Fostering Strong Institutions and Access to Information (SDG 16)

AKIpress contributes significantly to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by ensuring public access to information and promoting transparent operational frameworks.

Commitment to Accountability and Ethical Journalism

The agency’s core policies are structured to uphold the principles of responsible journalism, which is a cornerstone for building effective and accountable institutions. Key policies include:

• Protection of Intellectual Property: All materials are protected by copyright, ensuring the integrity and value of journalistic work from 2001-2025.
• Regulated Republication: A strict prohibition on the republication of material without a formal written agreement ensures content is not used irresponsibly, preventing the spread of misinformation.
• Mandatory Attribution: The requirement for any citation to be accompanied by a direct hyperlink to akipress.com promotes transparency and allows the public to verify information at its source.

Building Partnerships for Sustainable Development (SDG 17 & SDG 4)

The agency’s citation and republication policies also serve as a framework for building partnerships (SDG 17) and supporting quality education (SDG 4) by contributing to a reliable and interconnected information ecosystem.

Framework for Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing

The operational guidelines establish a clear process for collaboration:

1. Formalized Agreements: The requirement for a “written agreement” establishes a basis for formal partnerships with other entities, ensuring that information is shared within a mutually understood and ethical framework.
2. Information Integrity: By mandating hyperlinks for citations, AKIpress supports the broader digital information infrastructure, allowing for a traceable and verifiable flow of knowledge that is essential for education and research.

Local Presence and Stakeholder Engagement (SDG 8 & SDG 11)

The agency’s physical and digital presence highlights its role as a local economic actor and an accessible institution, contributing to decent work (SDG 8) and sustainable communities (SDG 11).

Operational Headquarters and Accessibility

• Physical Location: The agency is based at 299/5 Chingiz Aitmatov Prosp., Bishkek, the Kyrgyz Republic, positioning it as a key institution within the local community and a contributor to the urban economy.
• Stakeholder Communication Channels: Open lines of communication are maintained through dedicated email addresses (english@akipress.org, akipressenglish@gmail.com), ensuring accessibility for public and professional inquiries and fostering stakeholder engagement.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article, despite its brevity, connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) primarily through its nature as a copyright and contact notice for a news agency. The most relevant SDGs are:

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: This goal is addressed through the article’s emphasis on legal rights and frameworks. The copyright notice (“All rights reserved,” “Republication of any material is prohibited without a written agreement”) is a direct assertion of legal protections under national and international law, which is a cornerstone of strong institutions and the rule of law. Furthermore, a news agency’s fundamental purpose is to ensure public access to information.
   • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article identifies “AKIpress News Agency” as an operational entity since 2001. A news agency is a business that contributes to economic growth by creating jobs, generating revenue, and participating in the information economy. The protection of its intellectual property, as stated in the article, is crucial for its economic sustainability and ability to provide decent work.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

   • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements. The article directly relates to this target. The entity is a “News Agency,” whose primary role is to provide public access to information. The copyright notice and rules for citation (“Any citation must be accompanied by a hyperlink”) are mechanisms to protect the fundamental freedom of intellectual property, in line with national legislation and international agreements.
   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors. A news agency operates within the high-value-added information and media sector. The strict rules on republication (“prohibited without a written agreement”) are a business practice designed to protect the value of its creative and journalistic output, thereby ensuring its economic productivity and viability, which is essential for sustained economic growth.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article implies indicators that can be used to measure progress, although it does not state them explicitly:

   • Implied Indicator for Target 16.10: The existence and enforcement of national intellectual property laws. The article’s clear statement of copyright (“© AKIpress News Agency – 2001-2025”) and its specific terms for the use of its material serve as an implied indicator that such legal frameworks are in place and being actively used by institutions within the Kyrgyz Republic.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 8.2: The longevity and operation of a business in the creative/information sector. The mention of the agency’s operational period (“2001-2025”) implies a sustainable business model and continuous contribution to the economy. This demonstrates the economic viability of an enterprise in the knowledge-based sector, which is a measure of economic productivity and innovation.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions	Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.	Implied Indicator: The existence and assertion of intellectual property rights through a formal copyright notice (“All rights reserved,” “© AKIpress News Agency”) and established rules for republication, indicating the presence of a legal framework protecting fundamental freedoms.
   SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth	Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation…	Implied Indicator: The sustained operation of a news agency (“2001-2025”) as a commercial entity, which points to its economic productivity and viability within the high-value-added information sector.

Source: akipress.com