Resources

Historic border agreements and intergovernmental cooperation in the Fergana Valley give hope for long-term peace

Openings for Biden in the inaugural US-Central Asia Summit at UNGA

Central Asia needs a new approach to security

After three decades of independence following the fall of the Soviet Union, Central Asian countries continue to face challenges to their stability and governance. Last year saw large-scale domestic unrest in three of the region’s five countries. Many of these events follow similar patterns: growing tensions and grievances among citizens lead to protests, which are met with a harsh and disproportionate response including the use of lethal force by security forces, feeding into further mistrust between authorities and the population.

“Mental health is as important as physical health”: setting up support groups in Kyrgyzstan

Funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund, we set up mental health support groups for young people in Kyrgyzstan together with DIA, Institute for Youth Development and Peace Initiatives. In this interview we spoke with two mentors about their experience leading the support groups and the impact of the work they do.

Bringing people together for religious diversity in Kyrgyzstan

Different ideas on the role of religion in society have led to tensions in Kyrgyzstan. One women-led organisation, Mutakalim, is working hard to address this by promoting religious tolerance and protecting the rights of women – including religious minorities.

Curtain call: theatre spotlights school bullying in Kyrgyzstan

In schools across Kyrgyzstan, bullying and extortion can cause many problems – fights, conflicts between schools, psychological trauma, or in extreme cases, even suicide. Agerkech, a youth organisation, decided to take on the issue 

International Women’s Day 2022: 18 women’s rights organisations you should know about

For International Women's Day 2022, we are sharing 18 brilliant women's rights organisations in Africa, Asia and Middle East that you should know about.

The pursuit of ‘win-wins’ along the Belt and Road

Young people and police at the heart of community security in Kyrgyzstan

Although these relationships are often characterised by mistrust, partnerships between the police and young people can be a strong foundation to improve safety and security in a community. These two stories from Jalal-Abad and Batken provinces of Kyrgyzstan highlight examples of a young leader and a police officer who work collaboratively with their communities for increased safety.