News block

Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, May 22, 2014 – Government officials, international and non-governmental organizations, civil society experts and women leaders discussed the peacebuilding role of women at the national forum "Women’s Peace Initiatives" held in Bishkek on 22 May 2014.

 

The Forum was the national advocacy event of the 2-year "Women's Peace Banks" project implemented by the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA) in southern Kyrgyzstan and funded by U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Forum served as a venue for a national audience and international partners to learn about community-based women initiatives in Osh and Djalal-Abad and related best practices in peacebuilding. Following a review of the project local achievements and other existing initiatives, participants developed a set of recommendations for strengthening women participation in the national peacebuilding process.

According to Ambassador Pamela Spratlen:  The Women Peace Banks project empowered women to play a major role in community-based peacebuilding and reconciliation by supporting women-led initiatives for social development and outreach.  This very successful project also equipped women with skills in conflict mediation and prevention.

Women leaders spoke about their achievements and plans for the future. "Thanks to the project, myself and many other women realized that we are strong leaders with great potential, and that the ability to change lives within our own hands,” said Mavlyudahan Kasymova, the leader of one of the women's initiative groups in Osh.  "Joint work on social projects brings people of different nationalities together, jobs are created and people get to know each other. All this gives us hope that there is indeed a different way of living together in harmony."

The national forum presented a slideshow and photo exhibition of 16 portraits of peace women in Osh and Djalal-Abad. The "Women's Peace Banks" Project established 16 women’s initiative groups in  each of the 16 territorial councils of Osh and Jalal-Abad. A documentary film was also shown on the implementation of over 130 women-led community-based initiatives.