In this issue:

UNITED NATIONS IN KYRGYZSTAN

• United Nations Agencies Aid People Affected In Spring Landslides

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)

• A Resource Center opened at the Ombudsman Office
• Seminar on Participation of Women Councils in 2004 –2005 Elections
• Mini-hydroelectric power station was build in Issyk-Kul in the framework of GEF Small Grant Programme

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISISONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR)

• Project on HIV/AIDS Awareness for Refugees

UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEERS

• “Hand in Hand” volunteers network created in Kyrgyzstan

UNITED NATIONS IN KYRGYZSTAN

United Nations Agencies Aid People Affected In Spring Landslides

A Joint UNDP-UNICEF team has arranged the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the residents of southern provinces in Kyrgyzstan that suffered from the April landslides that claimed dozens of homes and 38 lives. The UN Liaison Office in Osh has arranged the logistics on the ground.

The first destination was the village Severny Karagach, Jalal Abad province, where twelve families (almost 80 people) are still homeless and many other lack basic wares in the wake of the disaster. Among the items distributed were tents, folding beds, kitchen utensils, medicines and medical supplies, detergents, hygienic kits, blankets and canisters.

Another shipment of the same goods was transferred to Kara Kulja and Alai districts of Osh province. In all 500 people were assisted with the help of the assistance initiated by the UN Resident Coordinator and financed by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Not only did the OCHA office in Geneva allocated almost 35,000 USD to procure the goods, but they also fielded a three-person mission to assess the situation right after the landslides occurred. The final report of the mission, distributed among Kyrgyz government agencies and international organizations, presents a valuable tool in disaster preparedness and mitigation.

For additional information please contact Ainura Alymbekova, UNDP National Programme Associate. Phone: (996 312) 61 12 13; e-mail:

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)

A Resource Center was opened at the Ombudsman Office of the Kyrgyz Republic within the UNDP “Capacity building of the Ombudsman Office and Human Right Awareness” project on 24 July 2003.

The establishment of the Resource Center that is now open for a wide audience assists in dissemination of information related to human rights protection, thus, raising the public awareness in the relevant sphere. In the nearest future the Center, owing to the collected resources, will be a place where not only the Ombudsman Office employees but leaders of NGOS, civil servants and journalists as well will be able to improve their professional skills.

Since the accessibility is the basic condition of successful work of similar centers the Resource Center is available for all citizens of Kyrgyzstan. Using the resources of the Center, the Ombudsman Office will be able to establish another link of right protection information as well as successful communication with civil society.

According to the working plan of the UNDP Project, in addition to the required library equipment the library and the reading hall of the Recourse Center are equipped with computers and special software that allows entering quick registration of books, classification of electronic catalogues and sending information on new interesting book supplies via Internet.

For additional information please contact Dinara Rakhmanova, the manager of UNDP Program, tel.: 6-48-31, 58-00-75 (mob) or send an e-mail on

23 - 24 July 2003 the UNDP Local Self-Governance Programme together with the Office for Democratic Institutes and Human Rights OSCE held a seminar on Participation of Women Councils in 2004 –2005 Elections. The seminar was attended by more than 50 representatives of women councils and heads of village boards of Chui oblast.

In present time the women territorial associations, called women councils, are functioning under the local self-governments (villages and towns’ municipalities). The total number of women councils under village municipalities is 468, under municipal administrations – 12; besides, also there are rayon and oblast women councils. Thus, women councils have branching structure, permitting to cover almost all villages and towns of the country, they also enjoy the support of local authorities, which consider them as the subjects for conduct of different social and economic programs to support women in the provinces.

However, in their activities women councils customary are guided by the steady traditional forms of work, accepted in the times of Soviet Union. That’s why the activities of Women Councils today in many respects have gender blind nature and fasten traditional division of labour and traditional role of women in the society, in fact women councils do not promote enhancing of women’s social activity and the their advancement in decision-making bodies. Mainly it happens because the members of women councils themselves are deprived of the opportunities to receive adequate information on gender policy and concept, as well as of the role of non-government women associations and their potential to protect women’s rights.

Considering the above the UNDP supported the ODIHR OSCE project aiming to support and develop the capacity of women councils through an organization of special educational trainings for them, a creation of adequate environment for elaboration of organizational documents (concept papers, provisions for women councils’ activities and etc.) and a provision of necessary information. This work with women councils will contribute to formation and development of the following roles of territorial women associations:

• Informing of women and other members of society about the national concept and policy of gender equality;
• Supporting and teaching of local women-politicians;
• Mastering the skills for political participation by women;
• Advancing of women into local political elite and other authorities and etc.

The series of seminars will be held for women councils all over the country and will cover about 600 representatives of women councils and local administrations.

For additional information please contact: Anastasia Toropova, Gender Mainstreaming Component Coordinator. Phone: (996 312) 66 38 85, 66 04 18; e-mail:

Mini-hydroelectric power station was built in Issyk-Kul in the framework of GEF Small Grant Programme. Mr. Jyrgal Majikov, from Saruu village of Jety-Oguz district (Issyk-Kul province) has constructed in Juuku gorge (above villages Ńŕđó) mini-hydroelectric power station. Construction of hydroelectric power station has been started in Soviet time and should supply the electric power to the population of Jety-Oguz district, however it was not completed.

Mr. Jyrgal Majikov participated in competition of project proposals conducted in 2002 by the Small Grants Program of Global Ecological Facility (GEF/SGP) executed by UNDP Kyrgyzstan on behalf of GEF. The project proposal of Mr. Jyrgal Majikov (the project proposal was submitted on behalf Public Foundation “Issyk-Kul”) won the competition and the GEF/SGP decided to fund the project in amount of 10 thousand USD. The title of the project was "Introduction of Autonomous Renewable Source of Energy in Djuuky Settlement”. The main goal of the project was rehabilitation and conservation of coniferous and river plane forest ecosystems. Number of illegal forest cuttings for heating and cooking increased in Djuuku gorge in last years. It is expected, that mini hydro station can ensure reduction of manmade pressure on environment of this district and give people alternative and autonomous sources of energy.

Jyrgal Majikov together with the friends put electricity poles and power line by extent of 2 km. One of two turbines (capacity 16 kilowatt) works now on the Djuuku river. The second turbine (capacity 22 kilowatt) is in a reserve now. The mini-hydroelectric power station provides electric power to 6 families. The electric power is enough for work on TV set, electric stove and even heaters.

There were the representatives of Small Grants Program of Global Ecological Facility (GEF/SGP), regional NGOs, Biosphere territory of Issyk-Kul (GTZ project), Jety-Oguz district local administration at the mini hydro power station opening ceremony. Several partners helped Mr. Jyrgal Majikov to implement the project. They are: Public Foundation “Issyk-Kul” headed by PM Jankoroz Kanimetov, lecturers and engineers of Kyrgyz-Russian (Slavonic) University, Jeti-Oguz forest range. Local administration of Saruu village paid 3500 USD for one of the turbine.

For additional information please contact: Murat Koshoev, GEF/LIFE National Coordinator. Phone: (996 312) 66 35 33, 66 33 82; e-mail:

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISISONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR)

UN Volunteers Resource Center hosted the first meeting of a newly born network among volunteer groups who work for and with children in difficult situations in Bishkek and Chui Region. This movement was initiated by a Volunteer Resource Center intern, Nazik Amanova, a university student who has been coordinating a volunteer club at the State Boarding School for Blind and Eyesight-impaired Children in Bishkek for the last three years.

The Network called “Hand in Hand” was created for the groups to share their experiences, problems and joy. Their goal is to bring volunteerism into other regions by motivating young people to form own volunteer groups to support socially excluded children in their regions.

After a brief description of each group, Nazik Amanova facilitated the meeting to clarify the aims and objectives of the network, followed by discussions on their challenges within own activities, e.g., evaluation, expenses, motivation, relationship with the target group and institutions.

They successfully achieved the first step to establish a network. The next step will be strengthening their relationship and management. They have started compiling useful information including a list of orphanages and boarding schools for orphans and children at risk throughout Kyrgyzstan, which will be forwarded to new volunteer groups who want to support children.

UNVRC will support Hand-in-Hand by providing with necessary advice, training and facility for them to develop their activities. The next meeting will take place at VRC on August 29.

Hand-in-Hand member groups include:

For further information please visit LV website at http://volunteer.kyrnet.kg and GYSD website at http://www.GYSD.net

Contact: Tomoko Matsui, Coordinator, UN Volunteers Resource Center, c/o UN House, 160 Chui Avenue, Bishkek 720040 Kyrgyz Republic, Tel: (996-312) 61 12 75, E-mail: , Website: http://www.unv.org.kg/rc

UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEERS

UNHCR And Family Planning NGO Continue AIDS Prevention Project. The refugees staying in Kyrgyzstan have been included into the next stage of the joint project implemented by UNHCR in cooperation with the NGO the Kyrgyz Alliance for Family Planning. The project aims at raising awareness on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections.

The distinguishing feature of this phase of the project is that the instructors, who are supposed to share health-related knowledge, come from the same ethnic groups of refugees. During the first phase of the project, UNHCR and the Kyrgyz Alliance had trained future trainers and selected them to lead specific ethnic and age groups. The subjects of the current classes range from prevention of hazardous maladies to family planning and healthy life style to male and female physiology.

While the previous activities involved refugees from Tajikistan, this year the volunteers and their assistants will also focus on Afghans seeking refuge in Kyrgyzstan.

For additional information please contact: Gulzat Aitimbetova, UNHCR Focal Point for Public Affairs. Phone: (996 312) 61 12 64, 61 12 65; e-mail: