SAFERWORLD IN KAZAKHSTAN

Bishkek KAZAKHSTAN

KYRGYZSTAN

Jalal-Abad UZBEKISTAN Osh

Batken intrdi o uct on

In 2010, political and inter-ethnic violence “ We believe that everyone should be able to Saferworld is an independent international organisation To do this we: between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the lead peaceful, fulfilling lives, free from fear working to prevent violent conflict and build safer lives. n foster and support the role of community members south of Kyrgyzstan resulted in many deaths. and insecurity.” We are a not-for-profit organisation with programmes in including women, youth and other marginalised 20 countries and territories across , the , groups in transforming conflict and building peace These events had significant implications and . Saferworld has been working in Central In the Ferghana Valley, the meeting point of Kyrgyzstan, n build the capacity of civil society organisations to for neighbouring states, as well as the Asia since 2009, predominantly in the Ferghana Valley, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, peace and security continue to engage in conflict prevention activities between international community working on stability which spans Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. be undermined by inter-ethnic clashes, conflict over different ethnic groups in the region. access to natural resources located in the border zone, Through our community security programming we are n support civil society organisations to engage in policy Although time has now passed and the security situation ethno-nationalist rhetoric, and people using illegal means enabling communities and civil society to respond more dialogue and better advocate for improved national in Kyrgyzstan has improved significantly through the to earn a livelihood, which can include drug smuggling effectively to conflict and security issues in the Kyrgyz and local policy and practice on accountable and joint efforts of the Kyrgyzstan government and the and human trafficking. In recent years, religious and Tajik cross-border areas, and improving inter-ethnic responsive delivery of security services that better international community, the challenge to provide a extremism and radicalisation among youth has further relations between Kyrgyz and Uzbek communities in the reflect the needs of local communities stable environment for growth and development remains. added to the security problems of this fragile region. South of Kyrgyzstan. We work at both local and national n support the capacity building of police officers working levels in the Kyrgyz Republic with an office in the capital It is clear that long-term efforts to prevent the spread The daily issues that people in the Ferghana Valley face with conflict-affected communities to better respond Bishkek, as well as in the regional capital of Osh, located of violence and conflict in this region require significant are most often linked to socio-economic problems which to their security needs through effective engagement in the Ferghana Valley. Most recently, Saferworld has investment to address their root causes and bring about in turn stem from isolation and the presence of disputed established an office in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. n promote a community security approach and inform positive change. borders. Against a background of economic decline and national processes on police reform through working hardship, Saferworld and partners have witnessed a trend At the local level, Saferworld supports communities and closely with the Kyrgyzstan government and other of increasing ethno-nationalism on both sides of the civil society in the Ferghana Valley to identify security international actors such as the Organization for border. At the same time, the unifying factor of a joint concerns and develop locally appropriate solutions. Security and Co-operation in Europe and the UN Office Soviet legacy and language feels increasingly distant to At the national level we support a network of civil society on Drugs and Crime the new generation of young Central Asians. organisations, known as the Civic Union for Reforms and Results (CU), to influence thenational police reform process, advocating for a responsive and accountable police service. 5. Evaluate, learn and plan improvements 1. Preparation and conflict analysis

Community Security Our work in Programme Cycle 4. Implement action plans and monitor 2. Identify and prioritise a community’s security the ferghana Our problems and needs valley

3. Action approach planning CSWGs and LCPCs

Saferworld has been implementing its community Community security (of which community policing is Since 2010, Saferworld and local partners Foundation CSWGs are made up of a cross section of society, including security approach in diverse contexts affected by one part) is a philosophy and participatory approach for Tolerance International (FTI) in Kyrgyzstan and the women and members of different ethnic groups. conflict and insecurity for more than ten years. Our pioneered by Saferworld to address a range of Association of Science and Technical Intelligentsia (ASTI) Saferworld and local partners have supported them to community security work in began in 2010. issues which make community members feel afraid in Tajikistan have been supporting around 20 target hold consultations and identify local security and justice The approach is participatory and aims to respond to or insecure. Saferworld’s approach encompasses communities in the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan to concerns, prioritise issues, and plan solutions. They have perceptions of insecurity and conflict among local people both ‘freedom from want’ and ‘freedom from fear’, find local solutions to safety and security issues affecting been encouraged to involve the wider community, local by promoting greater cooperation and accountability but vitally takes its lead from how communities their communities. We have done this by supporting authorities and other service providers. Many of the between communities, authorities and law enforcement understand their own security. The approach allows existing Local Crime Prevention Centres (LCPCs) in each community’s concerns and solutions, including inter- agencies. It also aims to change the kinds of relationships communities to identify their security problems, which of these communities, and establishing Community ethnic tensions, disputes between border communities and behaviour that leave conflict and security issues are often conceived of more widely than just policing Security Working Groups (CSWGs) where needed. over natural resources, and radicalisation highlight the unresolved and have the potential to lead to violence. and justice, and often include socio-economic, conflict important link between community security and under- Saferworld decided to work with the existing LCPCs and cultural issues. lying socio-economic and political drivers of insecurity. Together with local partner organisations in Central Asia, (set up by the government in Kyrgyzstan in 2005 to we have built relationships and cooperation between try to prevent and address conflict at the local level LCPCs exist throughout Kyrgyzstan and are the main communities and law enforcement agencies and local by increasing cooperation and joint activity between formal instrument of cooperation between the police authorities, as well as between ethnic groups in conflict- communities and the local police) as they had official and the local population. The LCPCs focus on crime affected communities in Osh, Batken and Jalal-Abad legal foundations which made them more sustainable. prevention, improving law/rights literacy among the regions of the Kyrgyz Republic and across contested In certain cases, however, the local LCPC lacked funding population, increasing public participation in maintaining areas of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. These changes are and its members did not have capacity to undertake the public order, and engaging in mutual patrolling with contributing to people feeling safer in their communities work, so we established a parallel CSWG to build the law enforcement agencies. The head of the LCPC is and creating a more conducive environment for peaceful credibility of its representatives. In some cases we have usually a senior representative of the local authority. development. subsequently succeeded in either merging the CSWG Each LCPC consists of representatives from the aksakal with, or alternatively placing CSWG members into, the (elder) court, youth committee and women’s council and existing LCPC in order to spread the community security closely collaborates with a designated neighbourhood approach and the good practice developed. police officer. case study: Cooperation between police LCPC in Mady district and local communities

In Mady district, located in the Osh oblast [region], “ I began to realise that it is very important to Saferworld and partners’ community policing work in “ Activities such as the round tables create Saferworld and partners established a CSWG of be proactive and to raise the issues of security, the Kyrgyz Republic focuses on creating relationships conditions to discuss issues together and community representatives in 2012, because the local without waiting for someone else to. I saw and strengthening cooperation between communities, solve the problem collaboratively. I am very LCPC had not been functioning properly following civil society and security providers at the local and the violence in 2010 and it lacked credibility with the many people who are really concerned for regional levels. Frequently law enforcement officials pleased that the project on Community community and local authorities. By 2014 the CSWG their safety and now I try to participate in all are seen as agents of state control rather than as Security in Ferghana Valley creates such had gained the community’s trust by tackling the very activities aimed at . I like how representatives of institutions whose responsibility conditions. I would like to see such activities issues that the LCPC had been set up to address. the programme works, I like that it helps us to is to ensure the security and safety of the community. also in other communities of the region, The CSWG members lobbied the authorities to reform solve the issues of our safety. With the help of In order to transform the relationship between police and because they also have such problems.” the membership of the official LCPC and eventually communities, Saferworld supports the CSWGs and LCPCs this programme we are building up our capacity The Deputy Head of the Local Authority in Bazar-Korgon succeeded in being appointed themselves to the LCPC, to engage with the police so that police can work more thereby gaining an officially recognised role in the and building relationships with other actors closely with communities and respond to their needs. community. The local authorities and local police also to jointly address community security issues. Due to lack of trust in local institutions, sections of Kyrgyz provided premises where the LCPC members could After I became a member of the group, I began society are turning to religious, ethno-nationalist and meet and allocated resources to refurbish the premises to feel part of the community.” criminal structures for livelihood opportunities as well in recognition of the useful work that the CSWG/LCPC Schoolteacher and CSWG member from Bazar-Korgon as for order and wider values. Youth with fewer socio- was doing for the community. economic opportunities are particularly vulnerable to radicalisation. In order to prevent radicalisation, the CSWGs, LCPCs, and local law enforcement officers visit schools to talk to young people about safety in their communities and organise sports and cultural events to engage young people and encourage them to take an active part in their communities. Bridging divides between case study: different ethnicities Bazar-Korgon community

Borders in the Ferghana Valley were drawn up in Soviet An important consideration in establishing the CSWGs Bazar-Korgon is a mixed Uzbek-Kyrgyz village in the group, a Festival of Friendship was also organised by times, with the land divided artificially between the or LCPCs was to ensure that they did not exacerbate Jalal-Abad district which was adversely affected by the FTI and Saferworld bringing together Kyrgyz and Uzbek newly created republics of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and ethnic divides but built bridges between them. 2010 ethnic violence. In 2010 Saferworld supported local youth. In December 2014, 200 children from local villages Uzbekistan. Ethnic differences were rarely an issue and all In establishing the CSWGs/LCPCs Saferworld ensured partner Foundation for Tolerance International (FTI) to gathered in a local school in Bazar-Korgon. Dressed in communities in the valley shared a common energy and that the groups were made up of different ethnicities. establish a Community Security Working Group made national Kyrgyz and Uzbek dress, they appeared on water grid. While the Soviet Union existed, the artificial By working together in CSWGs/LCPCs to identify and up of both ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz. Initially relations stage singing Kyrgyz and Uzbek national songs, and put boundaries had little meaning for the communities of address security issues in their communities, people from within the group were tense (reflecting the mistrust on theatre shows about friendship between Kyrgyz and the valley, however when the Soviet Union collapsed the different ethnic groups have been encouraged to interact which existed in the wider community) and they were Uzbek families. These activities have sowed the seeds of borders became official, leading to disputes and tensions and build constructive and cooperative relationships. not comfortable speaking about inter-ethnic tensions, trust and friendship between the two ethnic groups and between the border communities over natural resources. Group meetings provide a safe place to raise and discuss preferring to focus on tackling less sensitive issues, such enabled them to understand each other’s cultures better. sensitive issues and a joint, multi-ethnic mechanism for Uzbeks, Kyrgyz and Tajiks found themselves belonging as sanitation, street lighting and other infrastructure- addressing fears and tensions in a conflict-sensitive and “ I have been involved in Saferworld’s programme to states where they were not in the majority, leading related projects. Over time, members gradually built up locally relevant way. to tensions between ethnic communities that had trust and an understanding of each other. Eventually since the beginning of 2013. I participated in previously lived peacefully side by side. The divisions were the issue of inter-ethnic tensions was put on the list of the festival of friendship and trainings, which “ After the sports games and the joint events, particularly acute among youth from different ethnic priorities for the group to analyse, through a carefully were organised to establish relations between relations between children from mono-ethnic communities, who unlike their parents were not bound facilitated process, with the wider community consulted Kyrgyz and Uzbek youth… Zamira, my teacher schools [Uzbek and Kyrgyz] in the community on security issues. by a common Soviet past. Although there is no open and a Community Security Working Group hostility between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz, there is still latent have become much more positive.” Together with local authorities and law enforcement member, tries to involve us in all events aimed mistrust between the communities and a perception Schoolboy from an Uzbek school agencies, the group took the initiative to organise inter- at peacebuilding. For the last two years I have that they have been abandoned by local authorities ethnic round tables, joint sports events and training had friends that are Kyrgyz, we have often and security providers. sessions on preventing conflict between the ethnic groups. These particularly focused on young people, as started to communicate about interesting there had been several street fights between Kyrgyz and topics and my parents are also happy that we Uzbek youth, usually among those who attend schools are friends.” in mono-ethnic communities. At the suggestion of the Schoolgirl from an Uzbek school in the Jalal-Abad district case study: Influencing policy at the national level – cross-border cooperation the Civic Union for Reforms and Results

The security situation on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border has been One such problem was related to a road crossing on a In 2012, Saferworld and local partner organisation Liberal to involve civil society in the reform process. In 2013 the strained since the 1990s and there have been regular non-demarcated part of the border area where a Kyrgyz Youth Alliance (LYA) established the Civic Union for CU developed the Alternative Concept for Police Reform inter-communal tensions and incidents of violence during and Tajik road met. This crossing was prone to frequent Reform and Results (CU). This civil society coalition brings which focused on building trust between police and the past 20 years. The presence, behaviour and attitudes accidents, which often resulted in fights and violent together 25 local civil society organisations, with former communities. The concept gained over 10,000 signatures of law enforcement agencies (police and border guards) incidents, because the victims of traffic accidents did police officers, journalists, and researchers from all and was discussed at public hearings across the Kyrgyz in the border regions can exacerbate tensions between not feel that there was a fair means of investigation regions of Kyrgyzstan. The coalition has been promoting Republic. The government subsequently recognised the communities. Disputed borders and a lack of transparency or compensation and community members accused debate on police reform and engaging with police at concept’s value and began to welcome CU’s input into about legal border-crossing requirements, corruption, corrupt authorities and traffic police (particularly from local and national levels, recognising that buy-in from the reform process. The CU has also contributed to the and lack of awareness of rights and procedures among the neighbouring country) of abusing the situation. The and cooperation with security institutions is needed for reform process by developing a progress framework, with citizens have all led to frequent incidents. community security process brought together community sustainable change. indicators measuring engagement between communities representatives from five affected communities, as well and police. In 2015 the CU began developing legislation In 2010 Saferworld together with FTI in Kyrgyzstan and Saferworld supports the CU to contribute to the police as local authorities and law enforcement agencies from to enshrine police-community cooperation in national law. ASTI and Youth Initiatives for Development (MIR) in reform process by sharing information and evidence both countries to analyse the problem and find solutions. Tajikistan set up Community Security Working Groups about the impacts of the community security approach In 2015 the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic signed A joint working group was formed, measures were in parallel/neighbouring communities in Batken/Isfara in the Ferghana Valley (as well as its application in into law a mechanism to assess the police externally implemented to improve road safety at the crossing, oblasts. The groups participated in cross-border other contexts) to national-level authorities and law by the public. This is the first time that a government and the contact details of the relevant authorities were confidence building activities to prepare them for joint enforcement agencies. This provides practical examples in the post-Soviet space has recognised the need for distributed to both communities. community security work. Then, when two or more of how the current law enforcement system needs to external civilian oversight of the police and represents a groups from across the border prioritised the same be reformed to ensure it is responsive to people’s needs significant step forward in the reform process. High-level problems, they were brought together to develop plans and accountable to the people it serves. government officials in the Kyrgyz Republic, including to address them. the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, have publicly The initial government reforms were focused on acknowledged Saferworld’s and CU’s valuable contribution modernisation of equipment and operations, rather to the reform process. than focusing on changing attitudes towards and within the police. The government was also reluctant Contact us osh office 28/87 Sultan Ibraimov Street Osh city, Kyrgyz Republic, 723510 Phone/Fax: + 996 (3222) 5 01 74 bishkek office 27/36 Umetalieva Street Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic For further information about us and our work, please Phone: +996 (312) 91 07 57 / +996 (312) 91 08 58 visit www.saferworld.org.uk/central-asia. dushanbe office You can keep up to date with our work by signing up at Rudaki Plaza,127, Rudaki Avenue, www.saferworld.org.uk/stay-informed or by following us 734003, Dushanbe, Tajikistan on social media. Web: www.saferworld.org.uk Twitter: @Saferworld Saferworld’s Central Asia programme has received funding from the UK Foreign Saferworld is a UK registered charity (1043843) and Commonwealth Office, Swiss Development Cooperation, the European Union and a Company Limited by Guarantee (3015948) in England and Wales. Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic, United States Institute for Peace, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada, and the US Department of State. photographs: © saferworld, karen wykurz and nurbek arzyaev