The UN team together with the Association of Crisis Centers prepared a diverse set of information materials on global violence pandemic as well as the statistical and information updates on the country trends to raise awareness of the participants about this wide spread violation of women’s rights.

The workshop provided participants with a comfortable atmosphere of creativity and networking enriched by the experiences of those who have first-hand knowledge of violence against women – disabled women, young girls, Afghani refugees, lesbians, bi-sexual and transgender people, etc.

During the art workshop the guests – Mr. Zainitdin Kurmanov, the Speaker, Ms. Cholpon Baekova and Mr. Kubanychbek Isabekov, Vice Speakers of the parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic; Ms. Kalima Aknazarova, deputy chairperson of the Supreme Court; Mr. Robert Wunder, President of the Kumtor Operating Company; Mr. Kumar Bekbolotov, Executive Director of Soros-Kyrgyzstan Foundation, as well as the more than forty other participants – dusted off their arts skills to create beautiful and original art objects with the help of oils, acrylics and watercolours. Some bold guests also carved their beautiful creations from modeling clay.

All paintings, plates and vases were inspired by one theme, Life Free of Violence.

The art objects will be sold during a public auction in summer 2010 and funds will be donated to programmes of the Association of Crisis Centers.

There are only thirteen crisis centers working in Kyrgyzstan to protect women and girls from violence, attending to the needs of 7,500 to 8,000 women who annually apply for help. Of these 13 centers only one was allocated with municipal premises, while the others must pay the rent by themselves. The majority of the buildings where the centers are located need urgent renovation. Furthermore, even as volunteers are the driving force of the organization, regular investments are crucial to retain permanent staff, develop capacity of employees, and strengthen the infrastructure for efficient and high-quality help to their clients.  

Two more art workshops will be organized in April and May for representatives of arts, leaders of civil society organizations, government institutions and media.

The organizers also plan to arrange an exhibition of the art objects and publish a catalogue.

The art workshops are organized as a part of the Say NO - UniTE information and awareness raising campaign recently launched by the United Nations in Kyrgyzstan. The Campaign will include various activities targeting young people in all regions, government officials of all levels, members of parliament and the local councils, as well as the civil society organizations.

There are more than 15 partner organizations, which joined the Campaign since its launch on 5 March, including the Association of Crisis Centers, Development and Cooperation in Central Asia Public Fund, Soros-Kyrgyzstan Foundation, Rotary Club Bishkek, Kumtor Operating Company, American University in Central Asia, Alliance of Women’s Legislative Initiatives, women’s network etc.

For more detailed information please, contact:
Anastasia Divinskaya, UNIFEM Gender Equality Advisor in Kyrgyzstan at anastasia.divinskaya@unifem.org, Tel.: +996 312 61-12-13.

In the photos: Mr. Zainidin Kurmanov, Speaker of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic (left); Ms. Alexandra Eliferenko, President of the Association of Crisis Centers (right)

Event Type: Charitable art workshop
Date: 12:00 – 15:00, 27 March 2010
Location: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Organizers: UN Gender Theme Group, Kumtor Operating Company
Partners: Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic, Rotary Club Bishkek, International Business Council, Asia Universal Bank, Soros Foundation – Kyrgyzstan, Y-PEER Youth Network, Children Protection Center, Dusti NGO (Afghan refugees), Larbys LGBT NGO, Association of Disabled Women, the Union of Artists of Kyrgyzstan.