KYRGYZSTAN: Women of Kyrgyzstan are for Peace!

UNDP Peace and Development Program jointly with “Women-Leaders of Jalalabat” Association successfully conducted “Women's role in peace building” regional forum.

The forum was participated by representatives of Osh, Jalalabat and Batken oblast state administrations, international organizations, regional women NGOs, and women activists involved in stabilization of June, 2010 events consequences.

Peace and Development Program set up a goal to demonstrate to forum participants the achievements of women organizations in promotion peace and development activities, show their contribution and role in peace building in Kyrgyzstan and to join their efforts in peace building by establishing the net of women-peacemakers.

In the frame of the forum the participants discussed the general situation in the south of Kyrgyzstan, activity of women organizations on stabilization of June events consequences, problems that women organizations face and the ways to overcome those problems, also they shared their experience in involving women to the process of peacemaking and post conflict recovery. The participants paid special attention to increased cases of women and girls sexual violence during the June attacks and noted the enormous role of women organizations in psychological rehabilitation of the affected people.

The continuation of the forum was an action campaign – march for peace of women with kids on the central street in Jalalabat city with appeal to establish peace in Kyrgyzstan and entire world with the slogans in three languages (Kyrgyz, Russian, Uzbek): “Ayaldar Kyrgyzstan beipil kelechegi uchun! Women for peace! Aellar tinchlik uchun!” The participants didn't leave without attention the society agitating rumors on possible escalation of the situation in the south because of the interethnic conflict. Action campaign ended with releasing colorful balloons and pigeons on the central square of the city.

As a result of the meeting the participants suggested to create the institute of mediators to be involved by representatives of state structures, women councils, aksakals council, youth council, NGO council, religious figures. To improve the institute work it is necessary to promote the organizing advisory groups, which will operatively react on risks and security, its compound should mandatory include women-peacemakers. Women organizations are recommended to work in close collaboration with international organizations, state structures, NGOs, media and religious figures.

Peace and Development Program dedicated the regional “Women's role in peace building” women forum and action campaign “Women for peace!” to the common celebration of International Peace Day, established by General Assembly in 1982 which is celebrated annually on September 21 as a refusal from violence and ceasing fire day. On this day UNO appeals the countries and world nations to cease war actions and celebrate this day by conducting educations and public informational actions on peace problems.

UNDP Peace and Development Program – is a net of UNO in the sphere of development, campaigning for positive changes in the lives of people by means of providing country participants the access to the knowledge source, experience and resources. We work on the territory of 166 countries, providing them assistance in finding solutions to global and national problems in development sphere. The countries are using UNDP staff and its wide range partners' experience and knowledge in the process of their potential development.