OSCE Stories, Real Lives: Kyrgyzstan

Our work in Kyrgyzstan

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek aims to have a lasting positive impact on the lives of people in Kyrgyzstan by working on a variety of areas, including strengthening relations between communities, fostering good governance, promoting human rights protection and the rule of law, and furthering gender equality. These four videos below - filmed in 2014 - highlight just some of the areas where we work, and the efforts we make to improve the lives of all.

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek supported the construction and rehabilitation of the water supply systems in Isfana town and nearby villages in south-west Kyrgyzstan. Ensuring access to this water has eased tensions between the different ethnic communities who live in the area.

The OSCE supported the complete renovation of a farm in a settlement colony in north-east Kyrgyzstan. It was created for developing income-generation and rehabilitation schemes for prisoners. It’s a model prison with the chance to improve the quality of life of inmates and to provide them with new skills and knowledge to better prepare them for reintegration into society after release.

During the summer villagers from Maksym Tob in south-west Kyrgyzstan face shortages of irrigation water. The area is ethnically diverse, and limited access to water can lead to conflicts. The OSCE organized mediation courses for villagers to act as “peace messengers”, solving disputes in their own communities.

Arranged marriages are still a reality for many young women in Kyrgyzstan. Large numbers of these marriages fall apart and women are often left alone, struggling to get by. The OSCE supports local organizations, including a network of Women’s Initiative Groups, which provide help and assistance for these women.