Saferworld in Kyrgyzstan works to improve cooperation and understanding between ethnic groups, communities, the police and local authorities. In 2022–23 we continued to support local crime prevention centres – platforms which bring together neighbourhood police inspectors and community members (including representatives from elders’ courts, women’s councils and youth committees) – to develop and implement action plans. We helped establish a further four centres, and worked closely with the Kyrgyz government to ensure its support for their work.

The prevention of domestic violence has been a strong focus of our work: we trained police inspectors and members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on responding to gender-based violence, and supported women- and youth-led organisations financially to challenge gender norms among their communities.

Training on conflict and peacebuilding organised by Saferworld, which focused on understanding societal issues and methods of solving them, also resulted in an idea to develop a play, Curtain Call, which focuses on school bullying in Kyrgyzstan. The play explores the relationship between teenagers, young love, difficult home lives and the importance of parental support. The play had a significant impact on the young people that took part in its development and preparation as well as on young people who came to see the play. It was also screened on national television to amplify its impact and reach.

As explored in an additional case study in the annual review, Saferworld has also been working with communities to address the links between mental health and conflict.