The Ferghana Valley: Current Challenges

THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES

2005 Cover design Cranes (leather) by Gaparov Abdishukur, created by the artist during the regional creative summit Handicrafts in the name of Peace and mutual understanding (Osh, November, 2005). Cranes has a double meaning. The stylised image of the sun, sky, earth and flying cranes symbolizes the world and prosperity and the three colours used in the composition, symbolise the three countries that share the Ferghana Valley. THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES

2005 Project Manager Zumrat Salmorbekova

Report written by Anara Musabaeva, Anara Moldosheva

Experts Marifat Abdullaeva, Manzura Mahkamova Jamilya Kaparova and Lobar Satarova

The following monitors from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan took part in collecting information: Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Abdrahmanov Aibek Abdurahimov Gufron Aslonov Jumabay Aminova Lubat Amirbekova Sanabar Boboeva Muhiba Abdyraimov Yrysbay Kurbanova Matlyuba Bolponova Jumagul Okilov Tojiboy Joroev Kylychbek Pardaeva Yahishoy Jusueva Gulmira Raupov Abdumannon Kasymalieva Tolgonay Rahimova Adolat Mataeva Gulnarayim Rustamov Temurmalik Nazarova Raisa Tahsinov Najmitdin Olokov Uran Teshaev Zabiuvlo Satyev Kubanychbek Urunov Golib Ukubaeva Kunduz Faizullaeva Gulbahor Usmanov Ulukbek Egemberdiev Asylbek Egemberdieva Jyldyz

UNIFEM is the United Nations Development Fund For Women. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality. Placing the advancement of women’s human rights at the centre of all of its efforts, UNIFEM focuses its activities on four strategic areas: • Reducing female poverty; • Ending violence against women; • Reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls; • Achieving gender equality in democratic governance in times of both peace and war.

The report presents the results of monitoring conflict risk factors and their influence on the situation of women and men in the Ferghana Valley. The monitoring was conducted under the global initiative of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) by the Gender dimensions of early warning and conflict prevention in the Ferghana Valley project. Statements of fact and opinion appearing in this publication are made by the authors alone and do not imply the endorsement of UNIFEM.

Design: ST.art Ltd. Layout: ST.art Ltd. Printed: ST.art Ltd. 7. 6. 5. 3. TABLE OFCONTENTS

8. 4. 2. 1. GLOSSARY BIBLIOGRAPHY WOMEN AND MENINCONFLICTS CONCLUSIONS PROBLEMS OFGENDERVIOLENCEIN THE REGION. THE PARTICIPATION OF YOUTH, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNICRISKFACTORS METHODOLOGY Executive Summary ANNEXES RECOMMENDATIONS GENDER INEQUALITY IN ACCESS TO RESOURCES THE FERGHANA VALLEY: SITUATION ANALYSIS INTRODUCTION General informationontheFerghanaValley Gender-sensitive EarlyWarning indicators Project MonitoringSystem in theFerghanaValley project Structure oftheUNIFEMGenderaspectsinearlywarningsystem Summing upthesection Women andmen’s participationinconflicts:roles,interestsandconsequences Gender violence:theambiguousroleandpositionofwomen Summing upthesection Ethnic andReligiousFactors Perception ofstatepolicybyyoungpeopleandtheirvisionthefuture Unemployment Education Summing upthesection Ownership andcontrolofproperty:atraditionfemaleinequality Deep rootedriskfactorsofconflictsemergingintheFerghana Valley History ofconflictsintheFerghana Valley UNIFEM Project Target Communities

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THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES List of diagrams Diagram 1. Registration of a land parcel for members of the family in southern Kyrgyzstan Diagram 2. Registration of a land parcel for members of the family in nothern Tajikistan Diagram 3. Receiving a land parcel in land distribution. Southern Kyrgyzstan Diagram 4. Level of awareness about rights to land and property. Southern Kyrgyzstan Diagram 5. If there is a ban on receiving information about the rights to land and property who imposes it …? Northern Tajikistan Diagram 6. Secondary school attendance. Northern Tajikistan Diagram 7. Secondary school attendance of girls is on a par with boys. Southern Kyrgyzstan Diagram 8. How the population rates the effectiveness of the state youth policy. Southern Kyrgyzstan Diagram 9. How the population rates the effectiveness of the state youth policy. Northern Tajikistan Diagram 10. Answers of respondents to the question: from whom do you feel any discrimination related to your nationality? Southern Kyrgyzstan Diagram 11. Answers of the respondents to the question: from whom do you feel any discrimination related to your nationality? Northern Tajikistan Diagram 12. Attitude of respondents to other nationalities. Northern Tajikistan Diagram 13. Attitude of respondents to other nationalities. Southern Kyrgyzstan Diagram 14. Attitude to people who have changed their religion. Southern Kyrgyzstan Diagram 15. Attitude to people who have changed their religion. Northern Tajikistan Diagram 16. Possibility of violent conflict because of converting to another religion. Southern Kyrgyzstan Diagram 17. Possibility of violent conflict because of converting to another religion. Northern Tajikistan Diagram 18. Level of women suffering violence during the transportation of agricultural and livestock products. Southern Kyrgyzstan Diagram 19. Women are exposed to violence by.... Responses of women and men of Southern Kyrgyzstan Diagram 20. Women are exposed to violence by.... Responses of men and women of Northern Tajikistan

List of tables Table 1. The three most urgent problems facing the youth of southern Kyrgyzstan Table 2. The three most urgent problems facing the youth of northern Tajikistan Table 3. Reasons for joining radical religious groups by young men and women of Southern Kyrgyzstan Table 4. Reasons for joining radical religious groups by the young men and women of Northern Tajikistan

FINCA UNIFEM UNDP UN RM KR NSC NSC NPRS NGO NAP MDG KAFC KR IMU CEDAW CIS Abbreviations Closed joint stock company, FINCA Micro-finance Company Micro-finance FINCA company, stock joint Closed Women for Fund Development Nations United Program Development Nations United Nations United municipality Rural Republic Kyrgyz the of Committee Statistic National Committee Statistic National Strategy Reduction Poverty National Organization Non-Governmental equality gender achieving on Plan Action National Goals Development Mellennium Corporation Financial Agricultural Kyrgyz Republic Kyrgyz Uzbekistan of Movement Islamic Women against Discrimination of Forms all of Elimination the on Convention States Independent of Commonwealth

THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report sums up the results of the Gender dimensions of early warning and conflict prevention in the Ferghana Valley pilot project, in the course of which, from March till December 2005, surveys to study social tension and the possibility of conflicts were conducted in the southern Kyrgyzstan and northern Tajikistan zones of the Ferghana Valley . The situation in the region was examined from the gender point of view.

Taking into account the importance of the gender component in the Ferghana Valley and the lack of gender – separated information, the regional UNIFEM office in the CIS implemented the pilot project under the United Nations Development Fund for Women’s Peace and conflict monitoring using gender sensitive indicators for early conflict warning global initiative, which was launched in response to Resolution 1325 of the Security Council of the United Nations dated 2000 on the issues of women, peace and security with the aim of involving women and encouraging their participation in peaceful initiatives and conflict prevention.

Information collected by a network of monitors (16 in Kyrgyzstan and 13 in Tajikistan) using gender-sensitive indicators developed in the course of the project, was used in preparing this report. In the course of monitoring both qualitative and quantitative methods of research, including focus group discussions, questionnaires, detailed individual interviews and case studies and material of an electronic forum on youth problems, were used.

Among the most important reasons for possible conflicts in the Ferghana Valley are lack of water and land set against a background of multi-ethnicity and high population density, a large percentage of young people in the population, high levels of unemployment and labour migration, unresolved border demarcation and delimitation issues, the existence of enclaves and disputed areas, strategic drug- trafficking routes coming through the region and the influence of radical religious and extremist groups. The region also has a history of ethnic and religious conflicts, the most violent of which were in Uzbekistan in 1989 with pogroms that involved the evacuation of thousands of Meshketinski Turks from Uzbekistan and the Osh-Uzgen conflict over land in Kyrgyzstan in 1990. The events of spring 2005 in Kyrgyzstan

Uzbekistan was not covered by the project due to the complicated political situation in the country, which was further aggravated by the Andijan events in May 2005. economic and social development fundamental region. the the together of comprehensive resolving to should, at problems order develop aimed In governments states, region. the strategies, entire factors, conflicts, the neighbouring the causing structural of with throughout many and conditions the the countries acknowledgement address own the the changing is of for their in involved of both recommendation responsibility people main governments key the of the their national Thus, the interests state to region. all this report long-term in between the Valley achieve countries Ferghana to cooperation the the and of in needed one governance stability report, structures the state in preserving for effective is considered conditions problems main main the the cases to conflicts. to single regard lead with With the and at combine tension troops can of the reasons frontier on detonators and direct assaults and become bodies are to and reports Structural murders enforcement of law by borders. the cases Monitoring and specific population region of the getting organizations. civil is through descriptions region extremist of the and and in full trafficking trade radical drug to of Security of borders basis. growth activity the the daily to cross necessity due to almost the an worse and on region the units of relatives state visit of population internal by local existence the the freedoms for and revealed rights data human monitoring conflict and direct analysis women’s of situation authorities. levels The low local and and and central traditions in strengthening and the owning and patriarchal representation men of numerous resources to of due dominance economic revival major aggravated continued the been unemployment. and have controlling high to women poverty obtaining of to due funds status limits increasing of and and lack people, and medical situation young of The land, education a arable percentages quality against water, good set of large are shortage resources services, concern other general special economic a of to of areas access in background survey, the of inequality results gender the conflict to high have According and directly region Valley entire Ferghana the the in of potential. countries destabilization the in influence dissatisfaction social Uzbekistan and 176 people being killed butalternative sources176 peoplebeingkilled at 750. putthenumberofvictims – in the course of a demonstration in Andijan, the authorities used military force,in May – inthecourse ofademonstration used military inAndijan, the authorities resulting in,according to official data, March 2005asaresultIn ofapoliticalcoup andmassprotests, there was achangeofpower inKyrgyzstan. Two months later –

– causing reasons, for instance: numerous violations of of violations numerous instance: for reasons, causing – demonstrated that internal political instability and and instability political internal that demonstrated

THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Basic conclusions

The following results and conclusions were arrived at in the course of this survey

Gender inequality in access to resources

 In the region there is still a strong tradition of men owning and controlling major economic resources. According to the monitoring results women are very rarely owners, as in more than 80% of cases land and other property is registered in the name of a husband, father, brother or son.

 Unequal ownership of land restricts women’s opportunities to escape poverty, in particular in obtaining and using various credits. Due to the collateral required to get medium and large loans, women, as a rule, can usually only raise small loans, making it impossible to develop sustainable forms of business and satisfying only daily family needs. Whilst demonstrating a great capacity to adapt to new economic and social conditions women, nevertheless find themselves restricted to subsistence economics – street markets and small and shuttle businesses and also have to bear the costs of expanding manufacturing from household budgets.

 In seeking to protect their rights women apply to informal authorities more frequently than men – to the Courts of Elders (of a village), women and makhalla (community, neighbourhood) councils, due mainly to the fact that official courts are expensive and that often applying to state structures involves bribing officials.

 The ties of family life, together with the limited possibilities for protecting their rights through formal institutions, lead to common law norms having a greater impact – 'Adat' the traditional code of behaviour favouring “male” interests in addressing numerous issues of interaction in the community, including property ones. Thus, women find themselves facing double barriers, exacerbating their inequality in accessing resources and protecting their rights to own and manage land and other assets.

Young people, religious and ethnic risk factors

 The Ferghana Valley is not only overpopulated, but also has a large percentage of young people, that make up between 40 and 50% of the total population of the region. With regard to the acuteness and seriousness of the problems faced by young people, there is reason to believe that the youth factor is a serious threat to stability in the region.

See in more detail at the end of each section. Adat – a traditional set of rules of behaviour.       

The decline of young people’s trust in state institutions could lead lead could institutions state in trust people’s young of decline The state the with dissatisfaction of level high a identified Monitoring girls both among religion in interest increasing of signs are There information and important more becoming is factor religious The and relations inter-ethnic of issue the survey, the by Judging most the as countries both in unemployment youth list Respondents infrastructure cultural and social the of destruction and Poverty for young men and women joining radical groups is “looking for a for “looking is reasons groups main the radical an of of one joining society”. survey, women fair the and establishment to men the groups and young According for radical state benefit Caliphate. secular the establishments could of Islamic which social denial state, alternative preaching unstable and seeking weak a to generation younger the in to problems youth high addressing bodies Especially state the in in women. than Kyrgyzstan. distrust distrust men of and among level improve state the scepticism is would the of more policy is policy the There that youth future. near expectations the low in and policy youth educational family. the higher inadequate within the schools, and in groups supplement received to religious establishments trying knowledge informal are of institutions in hand, levels other traditional one communicating the the on the on through and, replace how, to is to This trying socialization are looking of mosques. people frequently attend young and more popular hand, are become who madrassahs have in boys, and study groups girls study young Islamic among Informal boys. and become could future. religions the in religions traditional other to conflicts for region’s that the converted grounds of have believe who supporters Tajikistan those majority and and The between Kyrgyzstan have countries. in relationships who both both in people of respondents religions of other intolerance to of level converted high a quite shows than frequently more states discrimination the neighbouring to of ethnic due to services women. mainly subject acute Customs are and men still is and border the of ethnicity on actions based work. find to discrimination All countries other society. to in groups migrate of to one people unprotected become young lead have has socially they drives and and this education to vulnerable marginalized access most the being restricted people and young to Poverty problem. Tajikistan. acute or no Kyrgyzstan are in There for programmes paid families. be poor to investment has many for youth education education, special to Higher unobtainable access thus in is services. and social inequality and gender medical greater to lead have

THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Problems of gender violence in the region

 Women’s concentration on the interests of the family and home, strengthening the role of the family and relatives and neighbourly relationships as an informal mechanism of social protection, promotes women restoring traditional power hierarchies and is one of the reasons for the spread of subjugation and violence in the region. In this case, women’s role in conflict situations is mostly unlikely to be considered as purely passive and women can be considered only as victims.

 The current opposing male and female roles in considering conflicts and the statement that male roles promote violence and female – peace and stability, make it considerably more difficult to understand the existing experience of women and men’s participation in conflicts.

 In practice women and men’s behaviour in conflicts is, to a large extent, determined by their social status and in particular what group they belong to: rich or poor. Monitoring shows that women from poor families more frequently protest openly. Among women participating in protests vulnerable categories dominate: single women, widows and divorced women who are the heads of families and thus can rely only on themselves to protect their interests and the interests of their children.

 The presence of women and women’s organizations both in conflicts and conflict resolution does not mean that they have and protect their own particular political interests. In general, practice has shown that women’s activity is more likely to be tamed and used in the interests of various authorities and other interested groups of influence.

Basic recommendations

Based on the information received in the course of the survey, the authors propose the following recommendations for future activity in the area of gender sensitive early conflict warning in the Ferghana Valley.

For central governments, local authorities and political leaders of countries of the Ferghana Valley:

 The governments of the countries of the Ferghana Valley must take full responsibility for changing the conditions causing conflicts, both in their own countries and the entire region. To address the many structural factors of conflict the governments should develop comprehensive development strategies aimed at resolving the fundamental social and economic problems in cooperation with neighbouring states.

10      

For civil society organizations organizations society civil For Civil society organizations should support universal conflict early early conflict universal support should organizations society Civil Valley Ferghana the share that countries the of Governments development the promote must governments local and National problems the to connected are factors conflict many that Given due women of status and situation worsening the to regard With economic other and land water, of lack that fact the to Due warning efforts through developing initiatives for local communities communities local for people. young initiatives and women developing involving through efforts warning civil and media cooperation. mass and develop to regional individual order at support in doctors, and of society scientists levels networks and workers creating institutional cultural exchange, teachers, information support must the of discussions of ways practice. in widespread and introduce results also public and and of monitoring region results monitoring the of the in applying situation methodologies the assessing gender-sensitive facilities. adequate of recreational youth youth-oriented informal and communities, organizing formal local and forming positive developing for in in associations them of conditions ways expectations involving and creating possible through energy all and support people’s medical directions to young education, necessary opportunities is channelling demand It equal in and services. ensuring youth quality for other of good to issues conditions the access attention of creating addressing special Valley, speedily unemployment, to Ferghana given the be in should people young by faced decision-making the in including model, population the of of egalitarian model process. more male a categories of all creating mainly by the direction of involving the the in relationships changing re-orientation at gender governance the aimed for last the policy subjugating a conditions during dominant, place formulate to taken established have necessary is which it changes, decade, structural the to of possibility the decisions. ways also and tri-lateral beneficial and problems bi- on mutually energy focus find and reaching to to water in necessary is cooperation solving it of conflicts, to regional areas, leading developing trans-border factors in main the of particular one is resources 11 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 It would be expedient to develop programmes aimed at increasing women’s participation in decision-making in order to strengthen stability in the region based on actualising women’s interests through promoting the professional interests of teachers, doctors, businesswomen, parents and housewives, thus creating additional channels for expressing the specific interests of women, forming their political voice and strengthening collective solidarity and resources.

 It is also important to expand the opportunities for creating networks of scientists, cultural workers and NGOs, working in the area of strengthening regional cooperation and peaceful initiatives.

 It is necessary to concentrate on providing the excluded groups of women and young people services to develop their capacity and strengthen their impact and lobby their interests whilst observing the principles of involving the targeted groups themselves.

 It is important to conduct countrywide and regional surveys to study the gender impact of development policy and conflict prevention in the region, including the problems of individual and group identity among women and men as representatives of various social groups and categories of the population, types of leadership in the youth environment, capacity and levels of male and female authorities and their impact on local communities and the role and impact of the mass media in the region.

For international organizations

 International organizations are recommended to re-profile the current discursive approaches to the region of the Ferghana Valley, as a destabilized and conflict-prone zone and rethink the need to overcome the differences and gaps between academic, political and practical approaches and to have in place explanations and solutions for conflicts. It is important to pay attention to the problems of state structures inadequately reacting to the needs of the people as one of the key risk factors in various conflicts and violence erupting in the region.

 Donors should work on developing more consistent regional strategies aimed at the long-term goals of human development based on comprehensive gender analysis, and that these are not limited to focusing on conflict prevention or early warning. It is necessary that all key people understand the threats and challenges posed by drug trafficking, crime and terrorism as an inalienable part of the more complex and broader tasks of development and human security in the region.

12   

International agencies should use networks to develop the the develop to networks use should agencies International understanding its expand should community international The and development the promote to advised are agencies International the aim of putting conflict early warning in the Ferghana Valley on a on Valley with Ferghana the in situation the warning footing. early is It monitoring systematic of conflict more situation. putting the possibility of the aim the assessing consider and to countries gender-sensitive the in monitoring important adequate for out capacity work experts’ also methodologies and and region the of inter-disciplinary analytical, and family the region. state, the mind in in in women of bearing hierarchies status women of resolution, community risks subordinate and conflict and peaceful unequal in possibilities the and role participating ambiguous its of the of specificity necessary the Valley. is It account Ferghana into the of prevention. take working NGOs which countries conflict local and policy and approaches, warning use agencies to government early of into area international the of in indicators practice the and gender-sensitive of introduction 13 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 1. INTRODUCTION

This report is a result of the pilot Gender dimensions of early warning and conflict prevention in the Ferghana Valley project, which was implemented under the UNIFEM Global Initiative entitled Monitoring peace and conflicts using gender-sensitive indicators for conflict prevention, which was launched in response to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 dated 2000 on the issues of women, peace and security the aim of which was ensuring support to and the continued involvement of women in peaceful initiatives and conflict prevention.

The Ferghana Valley, with its great potential for regional instability, has for a long time prompted international and local organizations to carry out various programmes and projects aimed at lowering risk factors and conflict prevention, including projects to develop local communities’ capacity, infrastructure in trans-border areas, education and research.

UNIFEM renders technical assistance to various innovative programmes and strategies to promote women’s rights and their political participation in economic security. With UNIFEM support some projects aimed at improving women’s access to land and supporting the institutional environment for women’s rights have been implemented in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other international agencies support projects in local communities to renovate the social infrastructure, land reform and agricultural restructuring .

Up to now there has been a lack of gender-separated data and gender analysis of the reasons for conflicts and, in particular, their impact on women and men, whereas according to numerous experts’ assessments, the situation of women in the region is deteriorating with increasing poverty and unemployment set against a background of social disintegration of the whole valley.

In October 2003, taking into account the importance of the gender element in the situation in the region, UNIFEM organized a mission to the Ferghana Valley to study the activity of other donors and international and local NGOs in the area of conflict early warning. The mission held a series of consultative meetings with potential partners and project participants. The key issue of those consultations was

Sabates-Wheeler R. Land Rights and Economic Security for Rural Women in Tajikistan. Findings of: A Rural Women’s Needs, A 14 legislative Review, and An Institutional Assessment. Dushanbe, 2002. countries of the Ferghana Valley, international development agencies, agencies, experts. of the groups development of various and governments international the will of Valley, communities tasks efforts Ferghana local these conduct the joint to of the tasks Resolving set through countries basis. work and possible further be systematic indicators only the more Clearly a potential on the improve in to indicators. both monitoring fact situation the the to required due be gender-sensitive monitor will to using discussion problems zone attempt many first conflict additional of that, the and from was study this Apart not orientation that did deeper it gender of situations. and further, impact region conflict require and drug the in of of role media the impact of mass potential the the topic no and the was conflict upon there migration general touch the labour on instance: of For connected issues the trafficking on problems described. be focus to preparation important special and the potential all allow conflict not implementation with did project report for this of allowed time short The Trans-border UNDP Tajikistan. the Preventive in and UNDP the Programme were Kyrgyzstan in Cooperation partners Programme UNIFEM main the Development region project the in this For The situation view. the conflict. of of point consider to was gender possibility was the the survey survey a and from the of tension Tajikistan, December focus social till main northern study March and to from ran Kyrgyzstan conducted which southern in project, the 2005 of indicators. course gender-sensitive the In region. gender-sensitive collecting the of in ways developing and women and of determining violence status was and the information on results conflicts the of information One of preventing of exchange prospect active the of analysis an 15 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 2. THE FERGHANA VALLEY: SITUATION ANALYSIS

General information on the Ferghana Valley

Brief information on the Ferghana Valley The Ferghana Valley, situated in Central Asia covers an area of more Population breakdown: than 100 thousand square kilometres South-east Uzbekistan 6,983.632 and is home to more than 11 million (Namangan, Ferghana and Andijan people from three sovereign states – oblasts) the Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Southern Kyrgyzstan 2,497.827 Tajikistan and Republic of Uzbekistan, (Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken oblasts) which were established after the Northern Tajikistan 1,845.000 (Sughd oblast) collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, all of whom have territory in the Valley. Gender separation:

Country Women (%) Men (%) The Ferghana Valley zone includes the Uzbekistan 50.3 49.7 Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken oblasts of Kyrgyzstan 50.1 49.9 Kyrgyzstan, Andijan, Namangan and Tajikistan 50.0 49.0 Ferghana oblasts of Uzbekistan and Sogdiskaya oblast of Tajikistan. General region territory more than 100,000 square km 27% of the total population of Country Total land area by Area included Uzbekistan, 31% of the total population country in the Ferghana of Tajikistan and 51% of the population square km. Valley zone square km of Kyrgyzstan live in the Ferghana Valley . Uzbekistan 447,400 18,900 Kyrgyzstan 198,500 79,895 The region is densely populated. In the Tajikistan 143,100 26,100 Uzbek part of the valley, the population Population density: density is the highest in the former Soviet Union countries – 356 persons Country Average for the Average by oblasts country, included in the per square km. More than half of the Per square km Ferghana Valley population in the region is under 30. zone Per square km The population of the region is Uzbekistan 57 356 polyethnic. In the Kyrgyz part 65% of the Kyrgyzstan 25 32 population are ethnic Kyrgyz and 27% Tajikistan 48 71 are Uzbeks; in the Uzbek area 84.5% Main ethnic groups: Uzbek, Kyrgyz Tajik of the population are ethnic Uzbek, 5% Main economic activity: agriculture and livestock rearing Tajik and about 3% are Kyrgyz; in Sugdh farming Main crops: Cotton, wheat, tobacco, rice, vegetables and oblast of Tajikistan 57% are ethnic Tajik, meat. 31% Uzbek and 1% are Kyrgyz. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferghana_Valley

UNIFEM, project document, 2004, October. 16 Ibid. Map of the Ferghana Valley Ferghana the of Map �� 17 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 2. THE FERGHANA VALLEY: SITUATION ANALYSIS

History of conflicts in the Ferghana Valley

Since Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan gained their independence there have been a number of conflicts in the region, the most serious being:

1989 – a conflict between Uzbeks and Meskhetian Turks in Uzbekistan. Having started as a small dispute at the market about the price of strawberries, this conflict turned into a mass movement for social justice and the punishment of 'outsiders'. According to official data, 103 people were killed, more than 1,000 wounded and over 700 houses destroyed.

1990 – Osh-Uzgen conflict. The conflict arose from a dispute over irrigated land, and then became violent with elements of an ethnic purge. As a result, 300 people died and more than 1000 were wounded and over 5000 crimes were committed.

1992–1996 – the civil war in Tajikistan. During the years of fighting between the pro-communist forces and the Alliance of Islamic and Democratic parties more than 70,000 people died and about one million were displaced or became refugees and over 25000 women were widowed.

1999–2000 – the Batken events. In August 1999 groups of armed guerrillas invaded Batken oblast in Kyrgyzstan from Tajikistan and seized several foreigners as hostages. The guerrillas demanded safe passage through Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan. Having received a ransom, they released the hostages. In 2000 armed forces of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan again crossed into Kyrgyzstan and the clashes lasted for several months. In total, from August 22 till October 25 1999, 27 citizens of Kyrgyzstan died. In 2000 about 100–120 guerrillas and 33 Kyrgyz soldiers were killed .

2005 – the March events in Kyrgyzstan. During the parliamentary election campaign of 2005 various meetings, protests and initiatives to unlawfully seize land and other property were staged throughout the country, especially in the southern areas. The involvement and active participation of women, especially women from poor families, was typical of those political events. As a result of the political upheaval and protests there was a regime change.

2005, May – the Andijan events. In May 2005 during a demonstration in Andijan, Uzbekistan, the authorities used military force. As a result, according to official information, 176 people died, but according to other sources, up to 750, including women, children and elderly people, were killed 10.

Batken oblast was formed by splitting up Osh oblast at the end of 1999 in order to strengthen national security and border control and was an attempt to prevent an armed invasion of the country. Tabyshalieva A. in cooperation with NSC KR. Kyrgyzstan: Common Country Assessment. Bishkek, 2001, p. 95. 10 18 International Crisis Group. Uzbekistan: The Andijon Uprising. Briefing № 38, Bishkek/Brussels, May, 25/2005. 12 11 countries neighbouring of between residents conflicts by of areas subject already the misappropriation often trans-border in agreements are the of interested disputes communities the Territorial between implementation various to reached. due cooperation inadequate of and complete lack yet a boundary parties not of is including working process been the reasons, delimitation have and there commissions, 1950s demarcation the demarcation since and that to groups fact the access of spite strategic In the with in land enclaves fertile several mostly sources. are are water Kyrgyz-Tajik There areas the and reached. Disputed along been parts valley. Uzbekistan yet many not on between has October points in border consensus and disputed Commission 100 interview an Kyrgyzstan, about are Demarcation during According there Kyrgyz employees the 2003, discussion. of have UNIFEM under Head they by the 1991, with currently in obtained are and and established information Kyrgyzstan to were delimited of fully Uzbekistan borders citizens been the for people. in not up regime Although, ordinary dreamed entry many visa Tajikistan. for a borders the reality introduced become has (1992–1997) have times Tajikistan in Soviet war have civil the enclaves Since the Shahimardan de-mine and would cleared. Sokh it areas. the said of partially areas been trans-border Uzbekistan in of of border and mines cases by with government been border up the have borders blown 2004 the there being June mined then In since livestock and contravention and unilaterally in of people Tajikistan Uzbeks events, and the oblast Batken Batken the treaties, Kyrgyzstan of After of invasion the international guerrillas. of Movement IMU during an by Islamic the 1999–2000 supporting in Kyrgyzstan did as Osh (IMU) slogans the Valley, the voiced During in Uzbekistan state Diaspora have countries. Uzbek border both the autonomous in Uzbek 1990 the in of influence Kyrgyzstan Uzbek conflict and periphery the the (25%) around strengthened Tajikistan in concentrated Diasporas (14%) Uzbek puzzle. previously a the like Considerable transformed something greatly that into suffered 1930s areas has the of economic region The policy interconnected were geographical, national Valley residents. the the local from Ferghana ignored of the and mix of times ethnic and countries Soviet in three the of established borders current The

rights to landandsustainable livelihood. inBrief. Legal assistance 2005,Report component. Bishkek, disputes Territorial in emerging Valley conflicts Ferghana of the factors risk rooted Deep Information on disputed areas can be found in: Report on a sociological survey byInformation the UNIFEMProject ondisputed onasociological areas survey inKyrgyzstan, canbefound in:Report Women’s Early Warning Preventive Report. Development Programme. UNDP2004,pp. 27–33. 11 . There have been cases of land land of cases been have There . 1 2 . 19 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 2. THE FERGHANA VALLEY: SITUATION ANALYSIS

In the opinion of many residents the conflicts are caused not so much by the existing disputed areas or undefined borders, but by the establishment of border and Customs checkpoints, limiting people’s free movement across the borders. There is also racial discrimination by the Customs and border services and the authorities of the neighbouring state.

For instance, as Reeves 13 wrote, in January 2003, citizens of both countries destroyed border checkpoints established earlier between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan around the Voruhsky enclave and although the reason was the dissatisfaction of the people of both countries with fees and bribery, this event was considered in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as a further indicator of interethnic tension. The author says that people believe that the conflict is not between the Tajiks and Kyrgyz but between the state and the ordinary people. Similar reviews of boundary incidents are often considered from the point of view of the state structures of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Social and economic factors

With the collapse of the Soviet Union the countries of Central Asia lost their settled economic ties and traditional markets. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were the poorest countries in the Soviet Union. For instance, in 1990 Tajikistan had the lowest GDP per capita among all Soviet republics; about 47% of the budget revenue of Tajikistan came from subsidies out of the central Soviet Union budget and in Kyrgyzstan alone direct centralized subsidies amounted to approximately one seventh of GDP, disregarding hidden donations through price policy.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union all financial inputs to the former Central Asian countries ceased, crippling their economies. Unemployment has soared to dangerous levels and in the Uzbek part of the Ferghana Valley 35% of the workforce is unemployed, including most of the under 25’s.

There has been a sharp growth in migration in the region. According to some assessments, Tajikistan has lost about 11% of its population as a result of migration 14 since 1989, Uzbekistan – about 4%, and Kyrgyzstan – more than 7%15. The majority of migrants were representatives of non-indigenous nationalities, leaving for political reasons to go to Russia and other republics during the first years after the collapse of the USSR. The other migrants are labour migrants, leaving their countries in search of work in the neighbouring Ferghana Valley countries or Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation.

13 Reeves M. Locating danger: conflict science and the search for stability in the Ferghana Valley border areas. Central Asia Survey 24 (1), p. 68, March 2005. 14 The demographic situation was also influenced by the civil war from 1992–1997, as a consequence of which about half a million people emigrated to Russia and about 70,000 to Northern Tajikistan. Source: Ecological effectiveness activity review. Tajikistan. UN European Economic Commission. Geneva, 2004. Available online at: http://www.unece.org/env/epr/studies/ Tajikistan/russian/Chapter00.pdf. 15 20 Human Development in Central Asia Report. Regional UNDP office for European and CIS countries, 2005, p. 160. irrigate their extensive cotton fields and market gardens in the summer. the in 16 gardens market to and water fields need winter, cotton in Kazakhstan and extensive necessary the very their uses Uzbekistan for irrigate electricity, Kyrgyzstan countries neighbouring example, three generating for whereas the for of Thus, River needs other. and transport each Syr-Darya and one on interests energy the contradict water, dependent water of were Frequently region. network the valley in the common facilities. a of supplies parts through communities. water in main another different the conflicts times have Central many of Soviet of In Kyrgyzstan cause climate and the dry is the in water Tajikistan of resource lack and valuable Asia most the is Water male by to attended being according from women principles services prohibit patriarchal family doctors. medical to the existing in falling, access the men is to which women’s owing health villages that in raised restricted doctors reproductive be is of the of should number alarm the As worsening the a women. been and has health. men there of for family’s time the same for the difficulties At social other additional responsibility and bear created health they have public since of decade women, last the in availability the in services and water of deterioration The quality There bad reported. and been people. lack of a have lot to a due malaria for money, TB, of of of cases lack inaccessible and incidence become high a have is unemployment services poverty, of medical increased background a to lead Against violations frequently other serious and and are trade region the borders regarding of illegal crossing crime, residents and particularly the for in goods policy, obstacles of trade differences importing of The and issues issues on exporting different unresolved. on states of remain and agreements issues region positions the many of eternal of multilateral and countries cooperation, existence the abuses the bilateral of of between spite numerous number In agreements large a registering services. and with friendship and along Custom borders and regimes crossing border visa destination, by of for of The law. country the introduction requirements the by of in the by protected difficult not complication aggravated are the extremely been and in has wages work situation minimal migrants get these cases conditions, region. of the majority traders, the throughout In informal market small to of estimates, 80% to market forced from almost According for being daily sector. women, moving account land informal currently the particularly in including women population, employment resources, the seek to to natural led of has lack and water, and unemployment Poverty,

Water shortages Water Early Early Warning UNDP, Report 2004,pp. 29–30. 16 . 21 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 2. THE FERGHANA VALLEY: SITUATION ANALYSIS

Inefficient water use in agriculture owing to the poorly functioning or entire failure of the existing drainage systems and irrigation canals aggravates the problem of water shortages, resulting in floods and increased soil salinity, which negatively impact the life of local communities and promote interethnic tension.

Water problems directly concern women, as it is they who are responsible for providing the family with water. Being the main agricultural workers they more frequently experience the difficulties caused by a lack of water for irrigation. According to the available data, about 60% of the 10 million population of the region has no access to good quality drinking water 17. This problem is especially acute due to the high population density in the valley and has several aspects related to gender issues. Traditionally in the region, water is fetched by women and children and as a rule women use the water for cooking, washing and other everyday needs of the family. Due to a lack of good quality drinking water, people frequently use water from trenches, irrigation canals, and various reservoirs. Low water quality leads to the proliferation of various diseases and negatively impacts the reproductive health of men and women.

The problem with irrigation water is no less acute. Women are the main workers in the fields, working on their individual farms or as hired workers, thus, they are responsible for irrigating agricultural land and face the problem of conflicts in local communities caused by competition for irrigation water.

Drug trafficking

War and instability in neighbouring Afghanistan and Tajikistan have contributed to the growth of drug trafficking and militarisation of the region. After the defeat of the Taliban, an unlimited flow of drugs has poured from Afghanistan into Central Asia.

Mass unemployment, political instability and the separation of Central Asian countries are favourable grounds for increased drug trafficking. It is reported that in Tajikistan paramilitary groups are involved in drug trafficking, it being their main source of funding. It is believed that up to 65% of drugs originating from Afghanistan enter European markets via the Central Asian region 18.

Drug trafficking is the principal source of finance for criminal and extremist groups and organizations, some of which are presumably linked to global terrorist groups. What is worrying is that not only poor people, but also civil servants and officials are involved in drug trafficking. There has been an alarming trend for women and children to be involved in drug trafficking and they quite often agree to do this in exchange for food and clothes.

17 Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan: focus on drinking water and sanitary issues. IRIN Agency. Available online at: http://www.irinnews. org/report.asp?ReportID=37655 18 Tabyshalieva A. Regional cooperation to prevent conflict. Central Asia: a New Space for Cooperation. Institute for Regional 22 Studies, Bishkek, 2000, p. 24. 19 children. and women which are whom states, of region sovereign majority the in the the of relics independent access, Moslem various of pilgrims’ of disintegration lot a limits The to territory led the important region. has on an the in being plays republics living Islam soviet people of former propaganda, lives the atheist in of role years 70 Moslem of spite between justice. In passage social Caliphate free and and Islamic establishing an trade and poverty free of creating of countries levels propagate idea high financing the region in the of the also given in but Adherents region important activity, the is in unemployment. which success underground some members, had party has (the well-organized in only Hizb-ut-Tahrir not Hizb-ut-Tahrir state. party, Liberation) theocratic Islamic religious-political of party trans-national considerably Another which law, radical This Shariat of rights. the 1999–2000. of women’s in imposition the members limits Kyrgyzstan in supports Al-Qaeda, by oblast movement trained Batken and Islamic invaded an countries IMU Afghanistan four and in establishing Opposition, of active Kyrgyzstan aim United being the and Tajik from With the with Taliban. emerged Caliphate the has and that cooperated has (IMU) Al-Qaeda Valley Uzbekistan of Ferghana an the Movement forming for Islamic The conditions instability and ideal men opposition. created young Central of in Islamic Tajikistan in armed exclusion extremism war the economic religious and of following focus political the The be to Asia. known is Valley The addicts infection. drug HIV/AIDS of causes injecting of and incidence health numbers higher a addicts public Higher to to drug led crime. of threat of have a number levels the represents increased which trafficking, drug in increased, has growth the Alongside

investigation for being involved inreligious extremism.Source: RFE/RL Central Asia Report, Vol. 19. 6,No. 2, 2006,January to beanextremistorganisation andcurrentlyRussia consider hundreds theparty ofitsmembersare orare inprison under aim isto establishanIslamiccaliphate inCentral Asia. The governments ofUzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan 1990s. state Representativesare that their peacefulactivities and they are of this party not engaged in political struggles. Their factor risk Religious Hizb-ut-Tahrir inCentral ofIslamicLiberation) Eastandbecameknown was Asia set upintheMiddle onlyinthemid (party 19 , propagates a non-violent route to a to route non-violent a propagates ,

– Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, – 23 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 3. METHODOLOGY

In order to provide good quality monitoring of the situation in the Ferghana Valley, gender-sensitive indicators 20 were developed, based on the classification proposed by Schmeidle and Pizza-Lopez in their work, Gender and Conflict Early Warning: A Framework for Action 21.

The UNIFEM CIS Regional office, project staff and key project partners, such as the UN Preventive Development Programme in Kyrgyzstan and the UN Cross-Border Cooperation Programme in Tajikistan, helped develop the indicators. The indicators were divided into qualitative and quantitative ones and classified into four categories: socio-economic, including the access of men and women to economic and natural resources, the position of young people in the region, violence against women and the level of women’s access to decision-making. The total number of indicators developed was 26.

Monitoring was conducted in the Jalal- Abad, Osh and Batken oblasts of Kyrgyzstan and the Sogdyskaya oblast of Tajikistan, covering a total of 14 communities in Tajikistan and 26 in Kyrgyzstan 22. 29 monitors were recruited (14 women and 15 men) to collect data – 16 in Kyrgyzstan and 13 in Tajikistan. The monitors were selected and trained by the UNIFEM project and all of them actually live and work in the communities in the studied area.

During the monitoring both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used, in particular discussions in focus groups, questioning, individual in-depth interviews and case studies. During the monitoring a total of 1510 people in Kyrgyzstan and 1537 in Tajikistan took part in the Access of men and women to economic and natural resources survey and 514 in Kyrgyzstan and 520 in Tajikistan took part in the Problems and perspectives of Young People in the Ferghana Valley survey. As part of the youth factor study in the region an electronic forum, Problems and perspectives of Young People of the Ferghana Valley was conducted on the websites of the news agencies Akipress.kg and Ferghana.ru 23.

20 See annex 4. A list of gender-sensitive indicators. 21 Sussane Schmeidl with Eugenia Piza-Lopez. Gender and Conflict Early Warning: A Framework for Action. International Alert, June, 2002 pp. 13–23. 22 See annex 3. Target communities. 23 24 Fergana.ru: http://forum.ferghana.ru/viewforum.php?f=17; Akipress.kg: http://ferghana.akipress.org/youth important for women when there is weak state support of the social social the of 24 support is state which weak is assistance, social there of when mutual kind sector. of a relatives women as means for with a work as can in important based, relationships mechanism, are which especially on to protection connections household, traditions, and problematic community very family and a is Patriarchal of it necessary head areas. women also the is for of rural It that role fact the consider property. to the to not the contest right in account act tendency into a a take see independent to an frequently can either we of having fathers this as families From women women’s the of women. the of divorces, of parcels In name land in father. a distribution or of included moment brother were the land at married privatized not existing were the who under Women rights husband a of woman’s a name of perceptions. the were in violation family land a traditional one in of registering considered members and not of distributed was land were another of allocated one was to parcels parcels land land close the the rule that been a As way had because a was land family. such it of the injustice of no particular there members distribution In to the married extent in was her resources. large to a woman land to a done to if women that of access in status mentioned family differences the in determines respondents to registered often According is and men property of 2.6% family’s name Only the the is that wife’s women. This of the stated husband’s 10.1% parents. the women and in of men of 6.7% husband’s the registered 10.7% is is of interviewed the parcel opinion of preference land 77% next and The family’s men a name. that interviewed replied the of women 81% parcel land Kyrgyzstan a question, In of the to owners results Thus, rarely land very property. unequal monitoring are The their women immovable to and property. due that largely confirm is controlling and clearly resources owning to in access status restricted Women’s 4.

a tradition of female inequality female of tradition property: a of control and Ownership accordance withtheprocedure determined by theGovernment of Tajikistan. For more detailsseeUNIFEM/ Tajikistan, 2005. In Tajikistan alandparcel isdefined asaplotofland for agricultural use given in ownership to acitizen of in Tajikistan UNIFEM/Kyrgyzstan, 2005. of theKyrgyz inaccordance Republic with theprocedure determined by theGovernment oftheKR.For more detailssee KyrgyzstanIn alandparcel isdefinedasaplotofland for agricultural use(excluding pastures) given in ownership to acitizen 2 4 of the family normally registered? registered? normally family the of TO RESOURCES GENDER INEQUALITY IN ACCESS (see Diagram 1) Diagram (see

. the answers were as follows: follows: as were answers the

In whose name is the the is name whose In 25 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 4. GENDER INEQUALITY IN ACCESS TO RESOURCES

Diagram 1. Registration of a land parcel Diagram 2. Registration of a land parcel for members of the family for members of the family in southern Kyrgyzstan (%) in nothern Tajikistan (%) Women Men Women Men 0.0 9 .0 81 .0 .0 78 77 5.0 1 7 1 0. 0. 1 1 .0 7 . 8 .0 7 6 . 6 5.2 4 6 1 2. . .0 .0 1 1 1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

of husband of husband On the name On the name Other relatives Other relatives On wife’s parents On wife’s parents On the name of wife On the name of wife On husband’s parents On husband’s parents

A woman becomes the head of a Our traditions do not yet allow a woman to say household when she is widowed or “this is mine”, (if) your husband is alive, it is not divorced. A single woman and her decent to declare your rights to something family are more vulnerable when addressing many issues, including (man, 58 years old, focus-group “Access those connected with obtaining land. to resources”, Jamoat25 Kistakuz, Tajikistan). As a rule, widows or divorced women were the last to receive land and it was of poor quality. 25 Men and women have land of the same quality if they are part of one family because a land parcel is allocated in one place to a family and Thus women without men’s protection a husband’s parcel will be close to his wife and have less chance of receiving their children’s parcel. Another issue arose when due land parcel and it is necessary to a woman was divorced or widowed and most mention that the status of a divorced frequently they were the last in line to receive land woman is even lower than the status and when there was little fertile land they received of a widow. Widows at least can rely land that was not very good on some support from the family of their husbands, especially when they (woman, 67 years old, focus-group “Access to resources”, Suzak rayon, Kyrgyzstan). have children. By accepting leadership of the family after the death of their husbands, they also have a chance to

25 26 Jamoat – local community council (village government). their rights to land. There is also an opinion that women use credits credits use women that for up 27 opinion an standing also is from 26 work There Tajikistan organize land. of to to that women unable rights the are opinion their and held prevents managers land, widely the the good on that very not are demonstrate women surveys UNIFEM the in The made is the relatives in registration his that or parcel land husband a acknowledge of cases also of name majority respondents of overwhelming majority the monitoring this figure the 3.9% 1999 was In in women. of registered name the been had dehkan farms (farmers) registered of of number 6% only total the Tajikistan, of of Republic Committee the Statistics State registry the the of to according 2004 27th document their the on include to names able land been had received parcels had they where from women families interviewed than the of Less 50% son. eldest her of name widow a or of case brother the in husband, a of issued name the normally in are certificates these assessments, was UNIFEM As in mentioned certificate. land special registered a is it with use to ownership right the private and in not because is there Kyrgyzstan land in even than seen be clearly can more in resources women of controlling inequality the Tajikistan In resources. of key the on redistribution of process issues from excluded decision-making the power themselves of find bodies women in Without representation property. to right contesting their or on claiming impact women considerable government a local makes female in of level low representation the with status, connected family factors the Besides tries rights. and her protect business to woman a independent when an has clearly cases is in family the demonstrated in depending status women their for on position the possibilities in and become Differences can and owners. decisions influence

Women’s rights inthecourse oflandreform of intheRepublic Tajikistan, UNIFEM,2005, p. 28. Use ofagreements onhumanrightsto protect therightsofrural women to landin Tajikistan, UNIFEM, 2004,p. 18. 2 7 . According to the results of of results the to According .

– even in the the in even – 2 6 . As of May May of As . (see Diagram 2) Diagram (see woman, who according to villagers, is of dubious of is villagers, to according a who woman, and woman divorced a of status the had she society traditional our in case the is As land. her cultivating started Mairamkan year This native village. her in parts hundred 60 of parcel land a former resident a of with her native it village and exchanged now owns and husband her with held she parcel land the split she difficulty great With village. native her to returned and ago years two husband her divorced old, years 39 Mairamkan, that iswhytherearefewbuyers among the land is parcel of her former it husband and and land of parts very hundred 3-7 is about parcel small, Her it. buy will nobody former husband her with solidarity in land, the buying in woman a frequently cannot practice, sell her land. Even in if someone is but interested land, her sell can woman divorced a law the to According ie ht il h eeig hn h gt od and didn’t waterherland cold got she when evening the till that like stood She her. rape to tried had they that militia the tell would she water the on turned nobody if that men the shed, threatened and clothes her off irrigation took the near stood She measures. extreme taking to driven was she crops, would no have children her and she that and water any men only laughed. Fearing that she would not get ignored men parcel. Then she started threatening them but her the irrigate The to requests land. numerous Mairamkan’s their watering turns took who landowners, male 15 were there shed she was blamed. Once in summer at the irrigation court. Every day and everywhere a she through land went, her she obtained felt had who character, . to resources”, Uzgenrayon,Kyrgyzstan). (man, 43yearsold,focus-group“Access (case study, Kyrgyzstan). 27 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 4. GENDER INEQUALITY IN ACCESS TO RESOURCES

Diagram 3. Receiving a land parcel in land Privileges were granted to men because (the distribution. Southern Kyrgyzstan(%) decision was made by the village municipality)

mainly male village municipality officials participated in land distribution. It was easier for men to negotiate with men to get land and as a Women Men result they received better parcels

(man, 23 years old, focus-group “Access to resources”, Alay rayon, Kyrgyzstan). 8 2. 6 .0 8

Many women work only to get essentials – potatoes 5 and carrots – and do not expect to receive any money. They are almost never paid money on the kolkhozes. A dehkan farm is only a sham. In reality it is a copy of a kolkhoz. Khukumats (local authorities) as in Soviet times, plan the harvests. There are monopolies – a company called 1 .

“Cotton” buys cotton very cheaply … 4 2 7 . 19 (from information provided by monitors, Tajikistan). 4 1 0. 0. 1 1 3 . 7 9 1 . 5. 4 6 2. ineffectively, though the current statistics for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

show that women-only Do not know Did not receive No need in receipt groups of credit recipients necessary amount Received less than Received full share have high repayment rates28. This form of hidden, unacknowledged and frequently not realized discrimination can make a considerable impact on the decision of officials engaged in land reform implementation 29.

Women’s assessment of their entrepreneurial abilities is influenced by the opinion of their immediate circle of people, which is frequently based on prejudices and stereotypes. When success is traditionally considered as a male characteristic a woman, who claims to be a successful entrepreneur, is rarely considered in a positive light. Women who are successful in business or manufacturing are believed to be unhappy in their family life or do not have high moral principles.

Meanwhile, women are currently the main labour force in agriculture. As in Soviet times women’s work picking cotton and tobacco continues to be cheap and economically irrational. This situation is especially evident in connection with the mass labour migration of men 30. For instance: in 33%

28 El-Pikir Public Opinion Study Centre, Institute for Assessing Development Public Association. – UNIFEM, 2005. 29 Use of agreements on human rights to protect the rights of rural women to land in Tajikistan. – UNIFEM 2004 pp. 5–7. 30 The scale of this in the region can be judged based on the number of labour migrants: in Kyrgyzstan there are 350–500 thousand migrants and in Tajikistan – 650 thousand migrants. Of labour migrants leaving Tajikistan 85% are men and 15% women, whilst from Kyrgyzstan the figures are 60% men and 40% women. S. Olimova, Migration in modern Tajikistan. Demoscope Weekly, #223–224, 2005, November 21 – December 4. Available online at: http://demoscope.ru/ 28 weekly/2005/0223/ on receiving information usually imposed by husbands, parents and 32 and parents 31 ban husbands, a by to due imposed is rights usually their relatives of information receiving non-awareness on the women’s about Frequently was knowledge it men their of than monitoring level lower of the land course to about the assessed know In rights not women land. did that who received more observed the not were of did there not they quality or the that land respondents stated women men received had than among sector they frequently agrarian whether the more labour know in women manual work of general, forms child In productivity, and lower primitive female of not of further use filled to leads dissemination increased the frequently by turn, due and in most but are this appeared and they machinery have and labour gaps modern that villages of migration fact to out introducing the due by to migration mainly attention men labour no draw to are experts there Tajikistan Migration in households of 4. Diagram

2005. Material from theworkshop onDevelopment and foodstrategies security inmountain regions ofCentral Asia. – Dushanbe Use ofagreements onhuman rightsto protect therightsofrural women to land in Tajikistan UNIFEM,2004,p. 10.

40.7 (see Diagram 5) Diagram (see Yes 61.0 Kyrgyzstan Southern property. and land to rights about awareness of Level

42.5 (%) No 27.8

Women . But bans on receiving information are not not are information receiving on bans But . (see Diagram 4) Diagram (see 16.8 Difficult to answer 11.2 Men Diagram 5. Diagram (see Diagram 3), 3), Diagram (see . 54.0 Husband/wife 29.0

16.0 Tajikistan Nothern it…? imposes who property, and land to rights the about information receiving on ban a is there If Parents-in-law 0.0

11.0 Parents 57.0 and also also and Women

31 11.0 Relatives . (%)

3 4.0

2 .

0.0 No ban 0.0 Men

0.0 Do not know 0.0 29 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 4. GENDER INEQUALITY IN ACCESS TO RESOURCES

mentioned by Kyrgyzstan respondents Men and women do not know about their rights because there is no information, especially for among the very important reasons for women. Men might attend meetings and have non-awareness of their rights by both some information but women sit at home and women and men. don’t know anything In Tajikistan even men frequently (woman, 38 years old, focus-group “Access face bans on receiving information. to resources”, Aravan rayon, Kyrgyzstan). For instance: 57% of the interviewed men specified bans on receiving information imposed by parents. I married 21 years ago and have not received a land parcel from them (father and mother in law), This may be due to parents’ caution I do not have even 1.5 hundred parts (of land) because of the doubtful legality of the for myself. I applied to the kolkhoz chairman but information received and fear of their he turned down my request. Now I want to argue children getting involved in terrorist about it and get some land … and extremist religious groups. Parents may also be concerned that receiving (woman, 39 years old, focus-group “Access information about rights might not be to resources”, Jamoat Vorukh, Tajikistan). welcomed by representatives of the authorities and could become a reason for young men being arrested by the Women frequently apply to a village municipality, law enforcement bodies. This high women’s councils or Courts of Elders and LARC (the Legal Assistance to Rural Citizens project of level of parents’ concern needs to be the Swiss Coordination Office on Land Reform), studied in more detail from the point of who earlier provided free of charge advice and view of forecasting and early warning this year are charging for it of conflicts on the grounds of violation of human rights. (man, 48 years old, focus-group “Access to resources”, Leilyak rayon Kyrgyzstan). One of the factors influencing the status of women in disposing of property and resources is the established custom whereby all property belongs to a husband or a husband’s parents. A woman and her parents occupy a secondary position. Under these conditions a woman is unable to claim her rights because it might lead to her husband or his relatives physically assaulting her. Nowadays we have practically no cases of a married woman demanding and registering property, in particular, a land parcel in her name. Thus the situation is best described by a common saying: “duhtar – moli kas”, which means “a daughter belongs to others” in Tajikistan and in Kyrgyzstan: “kyzga kyrk zherden tyiuu”, which means, “for girls there are 40 bans”.

Women’s rights protection mechanisms are an important aspect of the problem of women’s unequal access to resources. Discussions in focus groups discovered that as a whole both in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan women prefer applying to the authorities to protect their rights to land. For instance: they initially apply to ayil-okmotu and jamoats. In general, young women, considered 'active and knowledgeable' by local

30 women’s councils women’s correspond to the traditional norms and rules of behaviour. behaviour. of to rules 33 try and women public norms in Thus linen family. traditional and dirty the that her to husband mean washed her will will on and correspond she which shame herself because codes, brought it and for cultural discredited knows fight and has not women woman a will on the if behavioural she by Even land to legislation hindered over right be inheritance. the and has precedence she divorce takes that law marriage, of common issues is traditional there land rule, law, to a As that access in traditional mentioned under is inequality men it to gender given Human particular, on being in increased Report where women, the preference for in Asia, to due Central barriers mentioned in of negative were types The women, Development such of resolved. rural conditions being existence such of especially the Under of chance men. of little specified In have consequences favour genders in both problems disputes. of resolved women’s being resolving in respondents of disputes 70% important land than not is more gender Tajikistan that 4% and believe men women of of favour 2% in Only resolved men. of disputes land frequently that more are stated men of 50% Kyrgyzstan and in women of 52% About gender- in role situations. related contradictory interests a play men’s by and law, guided common and of Adat, norms the by guided makhalla local of governance institutions Traditional to delays. subject and bureaucratic seen unfair are bodies corrupt, as enforcement authorities law the by and reported also actions They the free. that are informal of institutions is services this the because respondents, councils. to women’s According and (Councils elderly) the Elders of of institutions, Courts namely, to government local applying are informal women institutions. more legal and of More role the traditional of informal, a strengthening been has noticeable there years recent In getting when land divorced. to particularly rights property, their and protect residents,

Report onHumanDevelopment inCentralReport Asia. Regional UNDPoffice onthe countriesof Europe andCIS,2005, p.182. (groups of neighbours) and and neighbours) of (groups

– the Courts of Elders, Elders, of Courts the –

– are more frequently frequently more are – uiiaiy wih eomne te g to go they recommended which municipality, to applied many authorities: Courts of have Elders and the village concerned people young and members NGO The conflict. to led has this and local municipality. The owner is claiming the trees the of head the of help the with man rich local a by privatized was growing were trees the which on land, the but year, last spring in construction start to planned was it and grown had trees The land. un-owned then was planted what on Villagers saplings the houses. build widows 4 and her in native village to help the trees 6 poorest young families plant to organization international an from grant a received 2000) (in ago NGO, years 5 an of leader the old, years 48 Naryngul, they use traditionalwaysofresolvingproblems family the preserve to order In up. breaks they after that visit legal and law enforcement bodies, the family aware are women our see You they hamperandhinderthem so do to wants someone if and poverty fight not they do not do what they are supposed to and do because structures state the among rights their about out find to trying of tired are They poor families. for expensive too are fees court but court 33 (in-depth interview, woman,52yearsold, Tajikistan). . (From monitors’ information,Kyrgyzstan). 31 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 4. GENDER INEQUALITY IN ACCESS TO RESOURCES

The situation is problematic because women frequently may not know their rights either under Moslem or secular law 34. This applies especially to divorce when according to Shariat law women have the right to a share of the property. The issues of protecting legal rights are even more difficult in the Ferghana Valley because there are widespread unofficial and polygamous marriages based on religious rituals. Though many parents encourage their daughters to get married officially, this frequently takes place after the birth of several children. Taking into account these tendencies, it is of some concern that the gender statistics in the region do not adequately reflect at least some of the dynamics of the scale of the spread of traditions and their impact on cases of polygamous unofficial marriages and divorces 35.

The limited access of women to controlling property considerably influences the chances of women receiving loans and using them to conduct independent economic activity. Frequently women are the main beneficiaries of micro-credit organizations. Without adequate property for collateral and information If a credit organization requires substantial about their rights they simply cannot collateral, a house, the application is made by a receive medium sized and large man as head of the family. When a loan is small credits36. The value of the received and the collateral is a TV or a carpet, it is taken credit does not allow women to engage by a woman in more profitable types of activity. (man, 43 years old, focus-group “Access to resources”, Suzak rayon, Kyrgyzstan). Livestock breeding, mostly frequently engaged in by men, is considered a more economically profitable activity. Heads of credit unions are mainly men because Traditionally men are engaged in they need to be well educated and have money livestock breeding and medium sized and connections and women do not have them and large credits are necessary for this type of activity and the cost of loans (woman, 43 years old, focus-group “Access to resources”, Leilyak rayon, Kyrgyzstan). can be quickly recovered through the sale of cattle, milk and other products. Having received a credit, women, for instance, buy cattle for subsequent breeding. That is why micro credits are mainly used by women for small-scale trading rather than for agriculture.

Land cultivation with its numerous challenges related to lack of water, machinery, degradation of soil etc. together with difficulties in finding markets for agricultural products, leaves peasants with practically no profit. A monitor in one of the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan states

34 Sabates-Wheeler R. Land Rights and Economic Security for Rural Women in Tajikistan. UNIFEM, Dushanbe, 2002, p.11. 35 See also Report on Human Development in Central Asia. Regional UNDP office on the countries of Europe and CIS, 2005, pp. 183–184. 36 32 El-Pikir Public Opinion Centre and the Institute for Assessing Development Public Association, UNIFEM, 2005. 42 41 40 39 38 enough 37 not the but clearly is family income their activity feed them generating helps stated income their beneficiaries 44% that jobs; of interviewed lack the and of their is poverty groups such families’ for joining motivation villagers main the programme that of showed reduction beneficiaries poverty of UNDP a survey sociological A self-help of groups. based responsibility are usually collective on are agencies credit and (KAFC) UNDP Corporation Agricultural Financial Kyrgyz and interest 48% the is rate (FINCA) Micro- FINCA Company the in finance interest instance high for carry rates, collateral micro-credits without rule a loan As of term repayments. short the interest and high rates to poverty due of means a elimination as credits small ineffective that are people worried that very are showed groups discussions of focus in results short- the the in but term, living of improves standard women the of by use the credits that small male believe both female, and respondents of 70% About nothing” have thus the and for year soms entire family a thousand 20 only kilogram cotton per earns a som At 8–10 cotton. of of price tons 2 cotton of yields hectare field One hectare. of one soms average an thousand a costs 20–25 it feed to because family on impossible is and it land themselves bare hundred feed being 35 from of cannot him time parts parcels same disbars have the land who “At of people parts unemployed. as hundred 6 of counted ownership his that

women to economic resources. 2005, pp. UNIFEM,Bishkek, 34–35. withbeneficiaries “accrued” interest rates in ofaUNFEMproject wereKyrgyzstan, inthe described report Access ofrural in thearea ofsmallandmedium businessfor developing income generation UNDP, 2003,pp. Bishkek, 8and65. andemploymentmedium business, at micro-crediting locallevel, UNDP, 2004,p. Bishkek, 67. Kyrgyzstan 2005. Bishkek, Complicated schemesfor forming anddisbursingcredit resources, coming through several agenciesandreceived by final ofaUNDPprogramme theneedsanddemandsofbeneficiaries Determining reduction report, onpoverty Sociological survey A onthesurvey, theimplementation Monitoring Report oftheNPRSinareas ofsocialmobilization, development ofsmalland Economic and legalproblems ofresidents alsotheUNIFEMReport, See oftrans-border rayons intheBatken oblastof USD $1isapproximately 41Kyrgyz soms. komok

– 12% – isakiosk. 40 41 39 . The schemes of such such of schemes The . 37 to cultivate cultivate to 4 2 . 38 .

– he continued he – oe tk ot on ad ie hm o men. to them give and loans out take Women women areleftwithoutahouseandproperty money to women buttherearemanycaseswherethe give they as much, very organization dislike I (micro-credit) which Finca, called a is there Jalal-Abad In properly andgobankrupt money use cannot Women komok market. a nearest the in trading small-scale for for it women money uses a the and uses breeding he livestock or loan agriculture a gets man a If Money isinmen’s hands buy.and sell men the and apricots pack pips, and sort collect …They …women by processed is (They) sell pips and dried apricots. But everything (woman, 49yearsold,focus-group“Access (woman, 47yearsold,focus-group“Access to resources”, Suzakrayon,Kyrgyzstan) to resources”, Suzakrayon,Kyrgyzstan). (man, 41yearsold,focus-group“Access

– even even – to resources”, Tajikistan). 40 or 41 . 33 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 4. GENDER INEQUALITY IN ACCESS TO RESOURCES

According to the monitoring results, more than half of respondents both in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan do not know of the existence of special lending programmes for women. This shows the inadequate number of targeted credit programmes for women and low awareness of the population of the existing programmes.

The effectiveness of how women’s micro-credits are used is clearly influenced by the fact that frequently men and other family members control the received credits and their use. Frequently, whereas women are the loan recipients and bear the responsibility for repaying them, they do not spend them, as the men in the family, usually their husbands do this.

Summing up the section:

The above-mentioned material on the regional peculiarities of women’s inequality in access to resources allows the following conclusions to be drawn, which nevertheless require further study:

 According to respondents’ assessments, the highest priority problems of the region include lack of water and land resources, unemployment and poverty. It is remarkable that unclear boundaries and disputed areas were not considered by respondents to be key problems in the region and are primarily considered as political restrictions making it very difficult to do business, receive salaries and maintain contacts with relatives due to the need to cross the existing borders almost on a daily basis.

 Differences in men and women’s perceptions of the most crucial problems of the region, which are mainly determined by the gender separation of labour. In the opinion of female respondents the zones of special tension after the collapse of the Soviet Union are the socio-cultural and welfare infrastructure of the region, such as roads, hospitals, schools, bath-houses and the destruction of the environment.

 Although they have demonstrated great abilities in adapting to new economic and social conditions, women have nevertheless found themselves restricted to subsistence economics – street markets and small and shuttle businesses. Women form the majority of workers in the agricultural sector.

 In the region there are still strong traditions of men owning and controlling the main economic resources. According to the monitoring results, in more than 80% of cases land and other property is registered in the name of men, i.e. husband, father, brother or son.

34   

Women being restricted to family matters, together with the limited limited the with together matters, family to restricted being Women than frequently more women rights their protect to looking When and property of control and ownership land in inequality is There in access to resources and ownership and management of rights to to rights of management inequality and their assets. ownership other women and increasing and Thus, land barriers resources to interests. double including access male in facing society, in favours law themselves law common find interaction common of of issues, institutions, issues many influence property formal the the of through addressing rights In strengthening their a to led protecting have for law. secular possibilities or religious full have common, not of in do norms women the especially that about family, mentioned the also information also independent outside was might It from It people with Tajikistan. prohibited officials. contact applying bribing and frequently direct are and entails expensive women are frequently because be services neighbours) (village court structures state Elders official to of (community, Courts because makhalla as and such councils women’s and authorities, elders) informal to apply money. men the control like members they how family it frequently use other and or cannot loans husbands effectiveness hide out because loans’ taken frequently have reduce that who which that fact women the rates on repayments, based for interest family are high everyday schemes responsible are businesses satisfying women at level micro-crediting aimed develop Many to are subsistence them into needs. The allow they forced not are rule do business. a of as women which and forms collateral women credits, for need small sustainable excludes on in The loans rely poverty, credits. only large of can and out various of medium breaking use of raise the to through possibilities particular women’s restricts this

– Adat. Adat. – 35 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 5. YOUTH, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC RISK FACTORS

The population of the Ferghana Valley is young and increasing quickly. In Tajikistan, 52% of the population is under 20 43. In the Ferghana part of Kyrgyzstan, the figure is about 40% 44. Some studies indicate that a disproportionate number of young people lead to demographic bulges in the structure of a society and this is linked to higher conflict potential 45.

What are the reasons for such a statement? Firstly, due to age- specific characteristics, under certain conditions young people can form or be involved in social movements and ideologies, for example, movements giving them a feeling of common identity, and this can be both positive and negative for society. Secondly, such high numbers of young people put additional burdens on society because of increased pressure on education, health care and other public services, which are a drain on the resources of weak states. In addition, for various reasons young people are unable to be integrated into society and social relationships and lose the opportunity to obtain the skills required for a peaceful life.

After the collapse of the USSR, the young people of the states in the Ferghana Valley faced many problems connected with the difficulties of transition, formation of independent states, break up of existing economic relations and falling living standards, stratification of society and high unemployment. The civil war in Tajikistan had a very negative impact on the population of the country. Poor access to education, its bad quality, unemployment and lack of an effective youth policy are the key problems for young people in the region and they increase the possibility of conflict.

43 Tulsky M. Results of the Census of Tajikistan in 2000. Demoscope Weekly, № 171–172, 27 September – 10 October 2004. Available online at: http://demoscope.ru/weekly/2004/0171/analit07.php 44 Available online at: http://www.turkiye.net/sota/sota.html 45 Goldstone 1991, Fuller and Pitts 1990. Available online at: http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting_programs/conflict/ 36 publications/docs/CMM_Youth_and_Conflict_Toolkit_April_2005.pdf 49 happening events in 48 women of is 47 interest the university and and 46 life school at daily in gained for school. to a have go as uncalled to women and that beliefs daughters their their Knowledge school of allow the of not violation do a action they and the to be protest will of consider law disrespect sign the as families with Tajik comply administration not religious do of Some who khidzhabs those of Republic expelled. and the On wearing of schools the ban schools. Education to secular of some in decided Ministry Tajikistan in the Tajikistan (headscarf) girls 2005, by ruimol 19th the school at October wearing on ban the non-attendance is for after reason look do Another mothers often their girls help to have families, they Kyrgyz home. and because the Tajik to school both access In attend not are limited school. and high women that education especially of noticed quality educational project poor the education the boys and about deteriorating monitored and who girls for concerned Those poverty education to increasing of infrastructure. access equal conditions is under issues key the of employment, hand One opportunities. other life limited the have on social who one and, active the women or on education young which many education school for of that said problem kindergartens, quality a the is into Tajikistan in women children of influences 49% responded their hand, for and who get men those of of couldn’t facilities 54% 70% they other and and monitoring, women the Kyrgyzstan to in both kindergartens among of According lack destroyed. concern the infants. been serious has is regarding men there education and shown have pre-school of 70% Surveys 1990, by to system fallen compared has previous The are Kyrgyzstan, institutions In teachers levels. pre-school thousand of ten Ministry staffing the number full of the Tajikistan, country data of restore the the to to left Republic needed fifth the a of teachers According war of civil Education hundreds professions. the of and their during destroyed changed Tajikistan or were in schools all assessments, of some the to of 32.9% According only was prices capita per comparable of in Tajikistan 2.4% education in to level on 3.1% 9.7% 1990 to from spending 8.3% fell from and Kyrgyzstan, independence. education on on their Kyrgyzstan in gained spending GDP expenditure states the State by the fell. 1990–2001, after From education states to Valley plummeted access Ferghana education Union, the of Soviet the of population collapse the After

Development underthePresident oftheKyrgyz 2004,p. Republic. Bishkek, 23. Education – the scarf that women Muslim wear according – thescarf Khidzhab to Shariatlaw. ontheStatus ofwomen intheKyrgyzReport 2000–2005.National Republic Council for Women, Family andGender DevelopmentUN. Kyrgyz oftheDeclaration onImplementation Goals. on Millennium Bishkek2003,p.180. Republic. Report onHuman Development inCentralReport Asia. UNDPRegional Bureau onEuropean andCIScountries. 2005,p. 150.

– at present girls are being prohibited from going to school, school, to going from prohibited being are girls present at – 47 . 49 (scarves) in all all in (scarves) 46 48 . In 2001, in in 2001, In . . 37 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 5. YOUTH, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC RISK FACTORS

in their own households and Diagram 6. Secondary school attendance. rarely, in the community, Northern Tajikistan (%) shrinks. Thus, preconditions exist for the further Women Men segregation of girls and 7

young women whose future 2. 8 7 is limited to domestic . 76

work. In Tajikistan, there 7 . 7 . 69 are cases where school 68 directors and teachers motivated parents by organizing dressmaking courses in order to get girls to attend school. Parents consider these courses more useful from a practical point of view. .0 3 7 2 Levels of non-attendance 20. .0 14 have also increased in .0 7 . 11 3 9 . 3 . 8 3 Kyrgyzstan and the situation 7 is most urgent in rural 5. areas where the majority No No of children not attending Yes Yes 50 answer answer

school (79%) live . In Difficult to Difficult to both states, the available statistics do not reflect the Do boys attend school Do girls attend school actual number of missed along with the girls along with the boys lessons because most absences are not formally recorded.

As to equal access to education, there are differences between the Tajik and Kyrgyz communities. In Tajikistan, poor families prefer male children to get an education. According to the survey, 60% of girls and 80% of boys in Tajikistan do not attend school (see Diagram 6). In rural areas, non-attendance is due to the use of child labour, prohibitions by parents and lack of money. Among respondents in Tajikistan, men (14.6%) have more education than women (11.9%). This applies to secondary-special education as well – 17.2% of men versus 13.6% of women. Thus, girls lead only in secondary education (54.3%).

In Kyrgyzstan, girls lead in secondary and higher education. In spite of difficulties in the transition period, the majority of the population tries to provide their children with both Today, women are extremely smart. If we give elementary and secondary education – them their freedom they will sit on our necks about 95% of children aged 7 to 16 years old attend secondary school 51. (in depth interview, Tajikistan). Respondents in Kyrgyzstan do not face obvious discrimination by gender

50 UN. Kyrgyz Republic: Report on Implementation of the Declaration on Millennium Development Goals. Bishkek, 2003, p.180. 51 38 Ibid. still prestigious while economists or or economists while is education prestigious still higher buy, to devalued, easy being are of which spite in that diplomas, interesting is It physicians farmers. and policemen, economists, specialists, lawyers, IT be on Young to prefer demand. paid. in men concentrated are poorly are are girls of which Seamstresses seamstresses jobs, choices nurses, main the intellectual teachers, and be more to girls of physicians obtain prefer and to Girls orientation society based and professions. gender families in previous boys and discovered survey Tajikistan. Kyrgyzstan in The in pay to men women of of money 70% 59% of and and men women in shortage of of is 72% 61.7% problem to and main institution The according fees poverty. educational of the out higher way a only the entering as considered is 7. Diagram

80.7 Yes Southern Kyrgyzstan Southern boys with par a on is 83.0 of attendance school Secondary

13.3 No 9.8 Women (%)

6.0 Difficult to answer 7.2 Men

girls girls families and earn money. money. earn and their families support that should boys believe they as boys of expectations higher Parents have sons. all the it to as goes anything will inherit not they and expected is marriage good a moreover, women, of independence economic the it that promotes considered is girls it to as given is high education getting in preference families, Kyrgyz In 7) Diagram boys the with school along attended girls said men that of 83% of and 81% women about so, school to education, boys and girls access of equal of terns in of poverty. Today, marriage marriage Today, levels poverty. high of to linked is closely education to access girls in of differences obvious that is it national differences, certain of spite In work inRussia,othersstayathome to go them of Some can. they whatever do and education get to funds of lack work of because locally them of many and study can men Young (from E-forum,woman,26–35yearsold,Jalalabat, female . and and male (see (see

Kyrgyzstan). 39 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 5. YOUTH, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC RISK FACTORS

lawyers are unable to find jobs, unlike The main problem is lack of funds. Fees have to be paid everywhere and higher educational carpenters, labourers or seamstresses. institution teachers are hungry and have hungry A higher education diploma is children, relatives etc and they milk the students. accepted as a mandatory certificate I will say nothing about medicine. People in the of the social ability of the individual region say, “God save me from having to go to the and this, combined with inequalities police and hospital” in educational policy, could have a negative effect in terms of employment (from E-forum, man, 35 years old, Batken, among young people in future. Kyrgyzstan). About 60% of respondents in Kyrgyzstan, both men and women, Problems of the young generation in accessing medical services and education are linked to were unable to answer the question on corruption in higher and secondary education, the availability of special investment poverty, shortage of ways of getting loans and programmes to support young people. grants for education, lack of part-time jobs and About 43.1% of interviewed women unemployment after graduation in Tajikistan failed to answer that question. It is not surprising as there (from E-forum, woman, 35 years old, Osh oblast, are no such programmes in the Kyrgyzstan). Ferghana Valley states. Young people have no chance of getting loans to build houses for young families and students have no chance of finding hourly paid work to offset the cost of their education.

Unemployment

As the survey showed, the most pressing problem among the young people of the region is unemployment. According to the results of the pilot monitoring, almost 77% of those interviewed in Kyrgyzstan listed unemployment as the most urgent problem. Next are poverty (15%) and financial difficulties in getting education (4%) (see Table 1). The three highest priority problems of young men and women in Tajikistan are unemployment (26%), poverty and shortage of land for building houses

Table 1. The three most urgent problems Table 2. The three most urgent problems facing the youth of southern facing the youth of northern Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Women Men Women Men (%) (%) (%) (%) Unemployment 78.7 74.7 Unemployment 25.9 26.2 Poverty 12.0 18.1 Poverty 17.7 15.4 Material constraints in Material constraints in getting education and 6.4 2.3 getting education and 16.2 13.4 health care services health care services

40 migration are unemployment (32.7%) and the unfavourable economic economic 53 unfavourable for the and 52 reasons main (32.7%) the unemployment Tajikistan, in are conducted migration the surveys on reducing to Based factor a migrants considered labour is of an get people, conflict. outflow to of the young risk money save Moreover, to especially house. a chance Russia, the build and or work education providing considered is lifeline, a Often, Russia to countries. migration other youth to for reason migration E- of main the as participants forum the by mentioned in money country earn to the lack and opportunities of unemployment for pay to education, money of Shortage to order in jobs. countries find CIS to republic, the especially outside or areas urban suffer particular unemployment in from people people. young registered Rural total the of 30 48% and under women; people 4,364 young including unemployed 13,379 is registered of oblast, Soghd number of the the of Centre data the to Employment For according people. example, young is unemployed 9% about is rate 11.3% The unemployment register. not actual do benefits majority the unemployed social of paid benefits are the of Only to level Due 3.2%. to low unemployed month. 1.7% a the USD from registered years 1.5 the risen of five of has last the quarters Tajikistan in during three rate statistics, unemployment unemployed. official the to official of According accurate structure no rate are there age-specific unemployment the the on so Unfortunately, statistics women. unemployment, among and the higher levels is reality is in higher activity although much Kyrgyzstan is economic in men, rate rate among 14.3% unemployment. and unemployment unemployment general the women and data, among youth 11.2% on official to statistics According reliable health no and are There education getting in (14.8%) constraints services care material and each) (16%

http://www.ca-c.org/journal/15-1998/st_02_beljaeva.shtml Belyeva A. Social factor economyBelyeva factor A. Social development in Tajikistan. Central Asia andCaucasus, 1998,№15.Available onlineat: relationsGender intheKyrgyz Republic. National Statistic Committee oftheKyrgyz 2005,p.55. Republic, Bishkek, 5 3 . The largest proportion of of proportion largest The .

– male 12.3% and female and 12.3% male –

– all these things were were things these all –

– they migrate to to migrate they – (see Table 2) Table (see

– 4,802 i.e. i.e. 4,802 –

– 52 . . There is a gender imbalance in in imbalance gender a is There . in theFerghanaValley then the level of conflict potential would be higher left hadn’t they If jobs. have people young Now others divorce parents, their to go them of Some children. their despair.beat of Others out suicide commit Some traditions national reactions… different mentality.have and Women on entirely depend Rural women problems. household and worries the all to Russia and stay there. The women are left with are low. Most young and middle-aged men migrate wages and jobs many not are there know you As that pray will We Putin. Russia isstilltolerant… and Allah to Thanks (in depthinterviewwithoneoftheheadsalocal

(from E-forum,man,26–35yearsold). (from E-forum,nopersonaldata). committee in Tajikistan).

41 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 5. YOUTH, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC RISK FACTORS

situation (30.7%) in the country. According to data of the State Statistics Committee of the Republic of Tajikistan, the majority of labour migrants (89.2%) are men 54. Because many able-bodied men have left their homes, the burden of everyday life falls onto women’s shoulders. In some cases, the men do not return for years or do not send remittances, and as result, women and children suffer.

Data on migration are contradictory and often unreliable both in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Based on unofficial estimates, the number of migrants from Kyrgyzstan to Russia is about 200–500 thousand (10% of the population), and the number of migrants from Tajikistan to Russia ranges from 5 to 18% of the total population 55.

As a result of changes in the transition period, young people face the situation where it is difficult to talk about self-fulfillment. The poorest young people have limited access to education and a higher education diploma does not guarantee employment. On leaving their alma mater the young specialists are not able to find jobs quickly and lose their knowledge and skills. In Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan education has to be paid for and so the young unemployed often have no chance of getting re-trained or additional education. It makes them uncompetitive in the labour market because of their lack of practical experience. Their destiny is low paid or unskilled work. There is little in the way of organized leisure and they are isolated from the traditional social environment because of their unemployment and this leads to increased crime, drug abuse and other unwanted phenomena.

Due to unemployment, young people depend more and more on the elder generation, their parents. In the Ferghana Valley where parents don’t have jobs, young people are left without any support. Mass unemployment among them disrupts the continuity in developing labour skills and human resources capacity. If this trend continues the general intellectual and education capacity of the states of the region will fall in the near future.

It is important to say that youth unemployment in the region has not been well studied and that it is necessary to study the structure of youth unemployment in terms of the educational level and gender differences of the unemployed. Special attention should be paid to the shortage of technical-vocational education, the poor quality of education in high schools and their low adaptation to market needs, as these make the problem of youth unemployment worse.

54 Olimova S. Migration processes in modern Tajikistan. Demoskop Weekly, №223–224, 2005, 21 November - 4 December. Available online at: http://demoscope.ru/weekly/2005/0223/analit05.php 55 Central Asia Human Development Report. Bringing down barriers: Regional cooperation for Human Development and Human 42 Security. UNDP Bratislava Slovak Republic, 2005, p. 140. Diagram 8. Diagram the resolve to state short-term. the the of in ability people the people’s young in of young Tajikistan believe in solve problems not to do years; able five women Kyrgyzstan be of in next will 21% the the women in of within 29% government improve and the will men problems that of policy 41% believe low: state not do also that are future respondents near the of policy youth Expectations and ineffective men an of of 31% and spoke 9) Diagram positively interviewed it (see policy women think of youth 23% women of state about 19% the and view youth men of women state 16% of the only almost and and consider effective men is of ineffective 64% Kyrgyzstan be youth in to state region. policy the with of interviewed women of population 50% dissatisfaction the of among level high a policies shows survey The their vision of the future future and the of people young vision by their policy state of Perception

18.9 Effective 15.8 Kyrgyzstan Southern policy. youth state the of effectiveness the rates population the How (see Diagram 8) Diagram (see .

49.8 Ineffective 64.2 Women . In Tajikistan, about 37% of men and 32% 32% and men of 37% about Tajikistan, In .

31.3 Difficult to answer 20.0 (%) Men Diagram 9. Diagram

– 29.5% of men and and men of 29.5% –

32.7 Effective 37.9 Tajikistan Northern policy. youth state the of effectiveness the rates population the How

22.0 Ineffective 31.8 Women

45.3 (%) Difficult to answer 30.3 Men 43 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 5. YOUTH, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC RISK FACTORS

It is interesting that scepticism and distrust are higher among men than women. We can assume that the increased number of young men dissatisfied with the state youth policy could threaten stability, as they are fertile ground for various extremist ideas. Discussions in the E-forum identified the great anxiety of young people concerning corruption, its size in the country and I am a civil servant and do not see any future in growing distrust of state structures. my country. Corruption is the main obstacle in our economy. Young people have no real chance of The surveys also showed a high level finding work. No factories or plants are working. of passivity of Tajik women with regard Everything has been stolen. How can young to this policy, probably due to the level people find work? It is possible to get a job working of education of the respondents: almost for the state, why? Because it is possible to earn 45.3% of women in Tajikistan didn’t money through taking bribes. Who can find a job give an opinion on the effectiveness of there? Only the young people whose parents or the state youth policy. relatives work there (i.e. corrupt people or bribe takers) or children of those criminals who are Nevertheless, in spite of the increased linked to the corrupt people and pay them their share. We need a real revolution, where people negative attitude to the state policies, with clean hands and thoughts will come here…. there is a certain level of trust by the population of Kyrgyzstan and (from E-forum, man, 26–35 years old, Osh oblast, Tajikistan. 40% of women and 35% Kyrgyzstan). of men in Kyrgyzstan and about 52% of interviewed men and women in Tajikistan believe the government can partly solve the problems of young Actually, young people are leaving Kyrgyzstan people. and they are right. In Bishkek and the other cities and towns of Kyrgyzstan there is nothing left to Young people are patriotic and during do the E-forum, in spite of the prevalence of apathy and negativism, young (from E-forum, woman, 18-25 years old, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan). people feel optimistic and want believe in the future of their country and are willing to work, study and go into Your motherland is not chosen, it is beloved. It is business. bad that many of you, dear contemporaries, think like weak people, like parasites, therefore, young During the E-discussion, young people people’s problems are like a dead burden. We said that government actions were have to express our political interest, willingness populist when they declared the need to cooperate with the authorities, to unite and to solve young people’s problems actually love our own nation and country without understanding their essence. Young people consider that they need (from E-forum, woman, 18–25 years old, Osh oblast, Kyrgyzstan). the opportunity to stand for local and national parliaments.

44 and establish different social movements, i.e. to be actively involved in in involved actively be to i.e. movements, social politics. different positions establish parasitical and young ignore urging to people patriotism hand, and other the optimism on feeling and a and despair see of we hand, disappointment one the spite, On attitude and state. role the to their on range broad the a opinions of of have youth Valley the that Ferghana clear discussion is it the from forum, material on Based society. to threat groups serious a political be could various drug by and people traffickers young of the that manipulation expressed were opinions revolution” Kyrgyz pointing analysts that out some people to led young by this and was participation There greater 2005 Kyrgyzstan. in March the events in participation people the at young is of look It to ideologies. interesting violent supporters various the of by used if force manipulated and can destructive very movements a be Youth is there threat. However, another become force. could they positive the a of generation, mobilization younger the and to lead to consolidation were state separation the that from If and growth security. basic and economic strong states, of lack stable a and generation area elder the the in of ideology authority formal and the from and women separation and among men young the disappointment is there Thus, adolescents carried out “the “the out carried adolescents

. At the same time, time, same the At . ai polm i ay tt.Pvry a a negative a has Poverty state. any in problems basic Yes, poverty is poverty everywhere, and it is one of the be will able toearnmoneyandsolvetheirproblems generation elder the and people young and develop their capacity. By going into business Free In generation should take part in any activity Students to show the young The movement. SIFE Entrepreneurship – in participate actively Valley Ferghana the of youth the that suggest I future localresourcesoftheFerghanaValley the the young, the of potential that the use to how pay know is not do not do problem and problems people’s young to oblast attention urgent Ferghana in and governments main … child. Pleasechangeyourmentality one even feed to difficult is it when Why children 7–9 have family. laundering. your plan money please Ferghana, and of Citizens positions of redistribution power,things: other with busy is government The did. ask this government not to ignore them as the last one known well for this. We just need to understand young people and is Ferghana The smoke crime. or to turn drink or towns drugs small in live who Those do? of study.they not should poverty,do What people young Because people. young and future the on impact (from E-forum,woman,18–25yearsold,Oshoblast, (from E-forum,man,18–25yearsold,Bishkek, (from E-forum,withoutanypersonaldata). Kyrgyzstan). Kyrgyzstan). 45 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 5. YOUTH, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC RISK FACTORS

Ethnic and Religious Factors

Interethnic relations

Traditionally, it has been considered that the multi-ethnicity of the population of the Ferghana Valley presents a constant source of tension and threat of conflict. However, such an opinion is not always sound. Monitoring data shows that the conflicts in the region are provoked not only by interethnic enmity, but also by a group of various factors – economic, social, political and ethnic. As a rule, emphasis on interethnic tensions leads to false statements that incite conflicts.

During monitoring, about 48% of women and 36% of men interviewed in Kyrgyzstan answered that they did not face any racial discrimination (see Diagram 10). It is interesting that racial discrimination expressed by representatives of the border and Customs service of the neighbouring state was indicated by almost 31% of interviewed men in Kyrgyzstan and 41.4% in Tajikistan, and 19% of women in Kyrgyzstan and 38% in Tajikistan (see Diagram 11).

Diagram 10. Answers of respondents Diagram 11. Answers of the respondents to the question: from whom do you to the question: from whom do you feel any discrimination related to feel any discrimination related to your nationality? your nationality? Southern Kyrgyzstan (%) Northern Tajikistan (%) Women Men Women Men 4 . 48 4 . 4 41 . 4 . 38 36 9 0. 3 6 25.2 4 22. 8 . . 6 19 . 18 16 6 . .0 .2 11 11 4 11 1 8 . . . .2 9 9 8 .2 8 .5 7 6 .5 1 1 . 4 4 . 9 3 6 . 3 9 . .2 2. 1 1 1 0. 0.0 wife state Police Police Neigbours Neigbours Authorities Authorities Border and Border and Do not feel Do not feel Do not know Do not know discrimination discrimination neighbouring states neighbouring states Customs services of Customs services of Relatives of husband/ 46 Citizens of neighboring the Customs checkpoints of the neighbouring state. There have been been have at There state. procedures 12. Diagram the neighbouring in humiliating the to of subjected contradictions checkpoints are of relations locals Customs Because the interethnic the region. at legislation, the affects in customs adversely tensions discrimination to this Representatives worsens and of and subject past. the often freedom in checkpoints are the region of customs affected nationalities borders integrated the the other on in of significantly Valley enjoyed checkpoints Ferghana movement Customs the and of states crossings the and border (9%) up Setting authorities (21%), services police Customs (8.3%) and (40%), state border neighbours the from neighbouring ( the of and discrimination of nationalities racial other tolerant more of were they that 12) representatives said towards borders. Tajikistan in cross neutral they additional when respondents of running safety 93% traders personal probably, and shuttle of women, health of role than their the men to by play risks representatives more women and only experienced policemen because was by expressed authorities the discrimination Racial . At the same time, answers of respondents show that they feel feel they that show respondents of answers time, same the At . 44.4 Tolerant 42.6

Northern Tajikistan Northern nationalities, other to respondents of Attitude

3.8 Intolerant 8.2

(see Diagram 11). Diagram (see Women

51.4 Doesn’t matter (%) 49.2

Men 0.4 Other 0.0

Diagram 13. Diagram

58.2 Tolerant 55.5

Attitude Attitude Southern Kyrgyzstan Southern nationalities, other to respondents of see Diagram see

4.0 Intolerant 7.5

Women

35.3 Doesn’t matter 34.3 (%)

Men 2.4 Other 2.6 47 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 5. YOUTH, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC RISK FACTORS

cases of open extortion by representatives of the law enforcement bodies.

In Kyrgyzstan, 58% of women and 55% of men who replied are tolerant of other nationalities and about 34% of men and women are neutral (see Diagram 13). Hence, the interethnic factor only becomes relevant when additional factors become detonators. In spite of the fact that the majority of the population of the region is tolerant of other nationalities, national aspects “reveal themselves” at border crossings and there are violations by the Customs and border services of the neighbouring state. Similarly, faced with difficulties in selling goods in the neighbouring state, the anger of the people is immediately shifted to the neighbouring state and associated with the citizens of that state.

Religious relations

According to the results of the monitoring, the religious factor in terms of conflict potential is more significant than the ethnic factor. In Kyrgyzstan, whereas about 6% of respondents were intolerant of other nationalities, about 42% were intolerant of those who had switched to another religion (see Diagram 14). In Tajikistan, the survey showed

Diagram 14. Attitude to people Diagram 15. Attitude to people who have changed their religion, who have changed their religion, Southern Kyrgyzstan (%) Northern Tajikistan (%) Women Men Women Men 9 . 1 . 47 47 8 2. 4 .0 37 3 . 4 7 . .5 2. 33 3 .2 31 31 9 2 9 . 4 2 1 20.2 20. 1 4 4 . 1 0. 0. 0.0 them Other Tolerant Tolerant Intolerant Intolerant Doesn’t matter Doesn’t matter I do not understand them, I am sorry for

48 in the new religion they have been made to feel welcome and given given and that welcome feel noticed to have made been women. have Christianity 56 to they vulnerable Islam religion missions from new the socially by of the and in converted religion have audiences children own who their target homeless to People main non- The people, of population young local are assistance. the majority representatives material the the convert giving where line, events religions country poverty a sporting the in and traditional that below and live cultural assumed hold is people medical It of regularly people. activities hospitals, and of young for charitable facilities, in construction the engaged educational support actively often are the and organizations Religious The people of sects. registered. number are religious least churches them “new” the of has other three protestant also Christ only eight along Jesus oblast; of present, Republic At Church liberal. Jalalabat ones. Kyrgyz in very the is in active registered are active missionaries are formally the the to missions with relation in unregistered Many Kyrgyzstan of policy The Baptists. and including oblast, Krishnas Hari Soghd in and Dushanbe religious Church three of “new” Korean that reason activity Sunbogym a the was Sonmin Islam prohibited have forsaking Tajikistan locals sects of visited of People have government thousands religions. the and other missionaries Valley, to foreign Ferghana converted the different of states the who independence, those of gaining After cemetery cases, the religion. some in In another burial to outcasts. because prohibited converted social have family have become the some of have been out communities they have cast and local been There changed belief, have them. have their people who of threaten young people been and where other see apostates cases as traditionally followers. they has new and beliefs and attract Muslims their population to be Bible to the local trying the in considered distribute because languages, Valley valley local occurs the the Ferghana in in Tension the in literature missionaries people other young Foreign years. towards particular, in trend recent a been has population, there and local that family known the is on It to influence community. its the converting and of with women beliefs and their men relations consequences for its the changed are have religion what they and another why and gender of who terms between study in to tensions problems of necessary religious is layer It future religion” to the in complicated that “newcomers think additional to an be people could force was (31.7%) figures religion women These their and changed (32.4%) had men who both by people towards expressed intolerance that

Early Early Warning Preventive Report. Development Program. UNDP –Kyrgyzstan, 2004, p. 25.

religions have started mission activity in the capital of Tajikistan, Tajikistan, of capital the in activity mission started have religions – – Jehovah’s Witnesses Jehovah’s and those who believe in in believe who those and

, , Alliance of Baptists-Evangelicals of Alliance . Besides these organizations, other other organizations, these Besides . the Seventh-Day Adventists, Adventists, Seventh-Day the “Christianising” “Christianising” “traditional” “traditional” (see Diagram 15) Diagram (see 5 6 . There are are There . religion. religion. and and the the the the .

49 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 5. YOUTH, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC RISK FACTORS

help. In recent years, a trend of converting to other religions has been observed among Tajik women.

It is important to mention that a significant number of interviewed respondents in Kyrgyzstan (53%) both men and women, consider that young people converting to other religions could be grounds for conflict (see Diagram 16), while the figures for a similar answer in Tajikistan were 37.2% for men and 34.4% for women (see Diagram 17). The reasonably high proportion of intolerance to those who have converted to another religion could be transformed into a deeper schism in communities and growing enmity based on religious belief. In both republics, the number of men intolerant of those who have changed religion was higher than that of women. Most women are neutral towards those who have converted to another belief.

The differences between the answers of the respondents in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are the subject of further analysis and study. In Kyrgyzstan, the average percentage of respondents indicating the probability of conflicts because of local young people converting to other religions, and intolerance of those who have changed their religion, was higher than in Tajikistan. It would be logical to expect that

Diagram 16. Possibility of violent conflict Diagram 17. Possibility of violent conflict because of converting because of converting to another religion to another religion Southern Kyrgyzstan (%) Northern Tajikistan (%) Women Men Women Men 1 1 . . 3 3 5 5 8 . 41 .2 1 . 4 37 . 36 34 7 . 9 8 6 . 8 2 . 4 25. 1 3 2 2 .0 1 22. 2 No No Yes Yes Difficult to answer Difficult to answer

50 recent years the religious movement Hizb-ut-Tahrir has concentrated concentrated has Hizb-ut-Tahrir 57 movement religious during the years monitors, Tajik recent the data from on Based received radical groups. joining religious for motivation the women study young to of interesting is It (11%) socio-economic difficulties and see we (12%) do this religion after Only political their beliefs. of radical because extremist join groups women joining opinion that women the for was respondents of mentioned result reasons 60% the About political unexpected groups. An concerning constraints, beliefs. radical respondents (16%) join of men socio-economic religious that of or because (14%) consider groups interviewees of in religious 43% prevail (22%) Tajikistan, In beliefs Social (29%). religious and groups ideals (38%) answers religious religious women’s then constraints radical and (about join economic reasons and Kyrgyzstan initially men from socio-economic young for that respondents mentioned interviewed 46%) the E-mail. of or students half Many Internet About the clubs, people. young sports computers, for have in not about cafés do or replaced nothing be region discos know the could in theatres, education communities cinemas, Many including life region. all the social that of threat a elements is the there state policy, effective youth an of lack unemployment the and universal almost Given are here missions active various country 30 the in about and 54 present from are countries missionaries that Republic Kyrgyz reported the the of under the Government religion of on Agency specialist State the So, and Uzbekistan. Tajikistan than higher is neighbouring in non- religions to converts traditional of Kyrgyzstan, number in the freer and feel the that missionaries is explanation One assumption. an such survey the support not however, did are they Muslims; as Tajiks stronger would the among religions higher who other be to those of converted had intolerance of level the

“Orientiry iPractica”,“Orientiry №4(45),November 23,2005. Shadrova for N.Capacity inter-religious tolerance inKyrgyzstan. for – Institute Regional Studies. – Information bulletin 5 7 . (see Table 4) Table (see (see Table 3) Table (see . . money receive and of notice taken are and groups join us support temporarily and then… And then we can say they can They somehow. people young only our help and to try NGOs and problems agencies international people’s young solving to attention much pay not does state The Islamists. radical and etc.) (Hizb-ut-Tahrir groups various joining into people young push problems social and poverty unemployment, high Unfortunately, resist socio-economicunfairness to way only young the as extremism to established turn will people not are prevention poverty and development economic for foundations the If el e hr I a ji te ra” at. Leave party. your commentshere” “real” the join can I where me tell can somebody Maybe enrolled. have Uzbekistan and Republic Kyrgyz the of Security National of but everywhere party, Hisbut-Tahrirformer and the present join staff of to the like Ministry would “I (from E-forum,womenof26–35yearsold,Batken (from E-forum,man,26–35yearsold,Oshoblast, (from E-forum,woman,26–35yearsold).

oblast, Kyrgyzstan). Kyrgyzstan). 51 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 5. YOUTH, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC RISK FACTORS

Table 3. Reasons for joining radical religious groups by young men and women of Southern Kyrgyzstan

Young men join radical Young women join radical religious groups religious groups Women Men Women Men Because of socio-economic constraints 41.5 49.7 36.3 39.1 Political beliefs 1.9 4.7 2.1 0.7 Religion 31.4 26.3 22.6 23.1 Forced by family members: wife, sister, brother... 7.5 7.0 15.8 18.1 Because of illiteracy, low level of education 0.6 2.9 0.7 1.4 Other 0.6 1.2 1.4 1.4 Difficult to answer 16.4 8.2 21.2 15.9

Table 4. Reasons for joining radical religious groups by the young men and women of Northern Tajikistan

Young men join radical Young women join radical religious groups religious groups Women Men Women Men Because of socio-economic constraints 37.1 48.1 12.1 10.1 Political beliefs 15.7 12.7 54.8 65.7 Religion 11.4 20.3 13.6 11.0 Forced by family members: wife, sister, brother... 2.9 5.1 3.0 4.8 Difficult to answer 32.9 13.9 16.6 8.6

on enlisting women into their organization; special training centres have been established abroad for ideological training. The idea of the party ideologists was that after training the young girls come back to their native land and promote the ideals of Hizb-ut-Tahrir, i.e. will set up Islamic families and change public attitudes.

In general, young people are more deeply interested in Islam: 33.4% of respondents indicated that men express their interest in Islam by performing religious and traditional ceremonies and attending mosques. Young people’s participation in Friday and regular prayers has also increased.

A similar trend – interest in Islam – is also noticeable among young women. 43% of women and 49% of men pointed out that young women express their interest in Islam by performing traditional ceremonies. As with the men, there is a trend towards a deeper interest in Islam through prayer, studying in madrassahs and participating in informal women’s groups studying Islam. In Kyrgyzstan, for example, numbers

52 approaches need to be considered carefully. For example, the the example, For their hand carefully. other the education considered on be into to however need religion Positive awareness, approaches integrate men religion. to people’s for through young attempts contempt in and women was seen public it are against and example, women motives violence For for of use policy. physical respect the using gender urge of cultivate to tool E-forum a the as of proposed Islam participants the “enlightened” to hand, one turning the On are society. women in young status why the their reasons meet religions. the not lowering of does at other one women men is aimed it and is among and imams the Probably, by opinion women, an of is regarding There women interpretation interests of life. its in their opinion in Islam the that note religion to of interesting influence is it Therefore, divorce. other on and land of property to rights violation to property leads women rights by their of gender knowledge for Poor grounds equality. Islam fair to establish according also rights questions property of Muslims, opinion the In enlightened of things. such do (non-believers) can women, atheists only against and religion, other violence any like prohibits Islam, gender and relations. violence considering in domestic Islam of canons traditional the use enlightened often Islam the so-called of that note to supporters interesting is It “ “ between Thus, Islam. difference about the more groups knew they extremist if not any in would they involved that be about people explaining young Islam of increase to awareness is the needing about opinion the expressed Often, radicalism terrorism. and with people Islam young some associate that clear discussion, is it E-forum the on Based or education of awareness. young give feeling a groups people These supervisors. supervision the in of under Koran the groups read informal collectively girls of distorted “bu-otynchi” ” Islam is made. made. is Islam ”

– elderly religious religious elderly –

right ” and and ” be themoredangerousandunpredictableone will Islam traditional of propaganda underground licence to necessary and illiterate the otherwise muftiyat the with them is It oblast. Batken from come republic the in mullahs and imams of 80% About naivety. their of because god-fearing and people still consider themselves as very Islamised ordinary Khizbutovets. I mean Batken oblast illiterate where resist to able not to were who villages the in imams due ago time long other weaker became and Islam present. traditional at weaker are the Islam of branches both of impact The humiliates herisdamned” and tortures who he and noble, is her respects and woman a of greatness the recognizes who man “A Mohamed: prophet the of khadises the of one from statement a was It participant. one of words the down wrote I meeting a at Recently ikd ih oen cec ad ny hn can then Islam itselfchoosetherightdirection only and be science modern should with Islam linked of fundamentalism the when time a is there therefore properly; believe should ….Everyone has his/her own belief, but everyone (from E-forum,woman,36–45yearsold,Oshoblast, (from E-Forum,man,18–25yearsold,Kyrgyzstan). (from theE-Forumdiscussion,Batkenoblast, Kyrgyzstan). Kyrgyzstan). 53 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 5. YOUTH, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC RISK FACTORS

difference made between “our” religion A prejudiced attitude to the authorities is one of the numerous reasons why the young people of and “our Islam flow” and “another’ type the region are affected by various extremist and of Islam indirectly demonstrates the radical branches of Islam … Probably, we have capacity to contraposition “our” and to follow the practice of those native residents “another”, generating preconditions for of the Ferghana Valley who have converted to stronger intolerance. 58 Christianity – there are no polemics, because Christian priests explain the pillars of their religion without any tension. Of course, I am not talking about sects within Christianity

(from E-Forum, man of 26–35 years old, Batken oblast, Kyrgyzstan).

It seems to me that Islam has more impact on young people. Our men take from Islam what they need and are violent towards women. It has become normal that a man has a second wife and the clergy supports them and within five minutes registers the marriage. But that moldo57 never says to the husband that in Islam in order to have a second wife he should meet a number of conditions. Firstly, it is by agreement with the first wife, secondly, equal, fair moral and material provision for all wives and children and other requirements

(from E-forum, woman, 36–45 years old, Osh oblast, Kyrgyzstan).

The role of Islam has increased and it is impossible to reverse the trend in the short-term. The conservative influence of those visions is felt and they do not meet the spirit of Eurasians

(from E-forum, man, 26–35 years old, country not known).

58 54 Moldo – Imam.      

Summing up the section: the up Summing According to the survey, the question of interethnic relations relations interethnic of question the survey, the to According with dissatisfaction of degree high a revealed monitoring The urgent most the as unemployment, youth indicated Respondents heavy a is it therefore and for paid be to has education Higher infrastructure cultural and social the of destruction the and Poverty a has (40% but people young overpopulated of only element not is large Valley Ferghana The more exposed to racial discrimination than women. are women. men than of states; discrimination behaviour neighbouring the racial of to to Racial services exposed referring in more Customs relevant. and mentioned still is border mostly the is ethnicity on based discrimination discrimination and in women of 23% and ineffective, men be to interviewed male policy of of Tajikistan. youth 31% 64% youth to and state the solving opposed female to as of 50% consider regard where with especially respondents bodies an Kyrgyzstan is youth state in in There state problems the women. distrust to of than the men in level relation in among high shown are higher would distrust is and policy differences policy the scepticism that Gender following: short-term. expectations the low in and improve policy youth state the reducing factor to a be to people young region. of considered the is in migration tension youth countries labour for other and or reasons states Russia people. main other the young to are of poverty poverty migration and marginalization education, to to lead Unemployment access limited unemployment with and Combined problem. build or no education is an get there to Also, people young investment houses. Kyrgyzstan. for or special no programme Tajikistan are in loan There either families. programmes poor many for burden a get to opportunity the Kyrgyzstan, lose in often The and education. increasing is work higher Tajikistan. boys in school after young many attending school particularly and not seen, those social attending be of and not can number girls grade of education 8th to cases access more completing in and More inequality services. increased to led have destabilizing of risk major serious a a pose years, political many people and region. for young the the economic unsolved of social, remained proportion facing have is that region the problems that Considering

– 50%) in the population. population. the in 50%) – 55 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 5. YOUTH, RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC RISK FACTORS

 The religious risk factor, in general, is becoming more important. The level of intolerance of those who have converted to another religion is quite high in both states. In Kyrgyzstan, 42% of respondents indicated intolerance of those who had converted to another religion; In Tajikistan the percentages were – 32.4% of men and 31.7% of women. More than half of the interviewed men and women in Kyrgyzstan consider that relations between supporters of traditional religions and those who have converted to other religions could be a reason for conflict in future; and in Tajikistan – 37% of men and 34% of women. It is interesting that in Kyrgyzstan the proportion of those who see potential sources of conflict in converting to other religions is higher than in Tajikistan.

 In future, religious tensions may arise because of converting to non-traditional religions. It could create a complicated layer of problems between the “newcomers” and those who believe in the “traditional” religion. It is necessary to study, from a gender point of view, who is converting to other religions and why and what are the consequences of changing religions for men and women and the influence on the family and its interrelation with the community.

 Interest in religion among girls as well as boys is increasing. Young women often meet together in informal groups to learn Islam under the supervision of “bu-otynchi” – elderly religious supervisors. Young men are learning about Islam in madrassahs and discussions in the mosques. Thus, young people are, on the one hand, trying to replace traditional institutions of socialization by communicating in informal religious groups, and on the other hand, trying to get more knowledge that is missing in schools, higher educational institutions and communication within families.

 Analysis of the E-forum showed that young people do not accept the negative associations of Islam with radicalism and extremism expressed by the authorities and the international community. It is also clear that girls and young women perceive interpreting Islam as being aimed at lowering the status of women compared to men or tendentious interpretations restricting private and economic rights of women. In general, both men and women expressed their dissatisfaction with the educational level of the Muslim clergy; the authority of imams is doubted – it is one of the reasons why young people are turning to various alternative religions including Christianity.

56 

Social and economic problems, lack of trust in the state, separation separation state, the in trust of lack problems, economic and Social and men join radical groups is the “search for a fair society”. society”. fair a for women “search young the the why is of groups reasons results and main radical the of join E-forum one men the establishing on and that show unstable advocating Discussions and groups monitoring weak a look to caliphate. radical to by Islamic contrast used people an in be young could society It force of government could state. forms in it trust since involved alternative threat and for Lessening a getting is people groups. young institutions self-fulfillment of extremist for and threat the radical to in opportunities lead of can lack education ideology, state the from 57 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 6. PROBLEMS OF GENDER VIOLENCE IN THE REGION. THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AND MEN IN CONFLICTS

Gender violence: the ambiguous role and position of women

Extracts from the E-forum entitled Why are we always surprised at the high level of trafficking in women and young people (in the Problems and perspectives of young Ferghana Valley)? Because they grew up in an people in the Ferghana Valley opening environment of slavery: they worked as slaves this section, show the problems of for their parents; the state made them cotton gender violence in the region. pickers and they became slaves of well-respected presidents Rakhmonov, Akaev, Karimov… Firstly, the presented opinions clearly show the role of the existing (from E-forum, personal data is not mentioned). generational hierarchies at family level and the role of state and political institutions as key factors defining The majority of women face violence from the nature and scale of violence their husbands, sons, families of husbands, in the region, including the gender own families, male colleagues, every hour. It one. Actually, the negative, violent is accepted as the norm; no one doubts this, capacity for spreading traditions of including women subordination in the region, where the value of young people is determined (from E-forum, woman, 25–36 years old, Kyrgyzstan). by the possibility of using them for economic or domestic needs when social institutions – schools, public and professional associations, are weak, can lead to conflict. In its turn, the state recognizes its responsibility for the current situation. It is known that in Soviet times exploiting female and child labour guaranteed the harvest of cotton and tobacco, the main agricultural crops in the region.

Secondly, the opinions of the participants of the E-forum reflect the important fact that the established and developed practice and cycles of violence at structural level form the “naturalness” of the situation, which is accepted by women as the norm and the rule.

The most obvious direct forms of violence against women can be seen in family relations where forced marriage is a common phenomena – bride kidnapping is common in Kyrgyzstan and arranged marriages are common in Tajikistan.

58 makhallya (neighbourhoods) where the elder women again play the key key the 59 play again or ideas women religious elder communities of as in the where has groups conductors of women informal for role in (neighbourhoods) mainly education meet makhallya they religious of and role the increased time, same the At women” of and/or violence disinheritance birth, marriage, chores, forced and domestic women’s lives, of it social control life: men’s community indulges in and family influential private, very be to says: continues sources religion. of the of one So, a interpretation of region the conservative in connected spread the closely and to are reasons socialization these and gender of expenditures specifics family of priority reasons main determined is three by opinion, situation, This experts’ form. in school eighth leaving the are after girls that more and indicate more example, Tajikistan For in trends. sources these drawn to have attention studies education. to regional Other access young girls’ limit and women the marriages in Early marriage region. early linked of cases directly with is marriage Forced but women, running and young of too. for risk men only functions the to not tribal woman’s leads a violence of often one Maintaining is undertaken household the the relations marriages. for and responsibilities arranged connections of through responsibility community on type women based internal elder is specific as by a which well forms as family leadership, household the in household roles many women’s of married a combination for The family. requirement the husband’s by the in extent live to certain a woman to community the in determined are relations and sphere control life and woman’s power a of are in objects husband and main the father- the mother-in-law Then in-law, case the in kidnapping. or bride agree of marriages, parents forced the in when mother, mother-in-law i.e. bridegroom’s role, the important an especially play women Older

Human Development inCentral UNDPRegional Bureau onEuropean Asia Report. andCIScountries. 2005,p. 181. “bu-otynchi”

(religious supervisor). supervisor). (religious

– the private, family family private, the –

– poverty, poverty, – 5 9 .

“Religion “Religion

– they were previously mentioned mentioned previously were they –

ie. o eape a 5ya od ut had mufti old 75-year seven wivesincludinga17-yearoldgirl a example, For wives. many take to power their use leaders Religious sleep well and relatives husband’s the from rest some get and away get to just pregnant when hospital to tragic results. It is no secret that many women go to leads families in violence physical and Moral not onlyintheFerghanabutoverworld exists Violence undeveloped. and bad is society thing. If there is conflict in the family it means that holy a is family The example. his follow will and family. A son sees how his father a beats his in mother happen can that thing worst the is Violence bad. was she that means it wife his kills husband say a and If being. human a not and her foolish was she that condemn neighbours her all and are cases where a wife has been beaten to death Every year she gives birth to another child. There night. at late sleep to goes and hard 4 works a.m., at up wakes woman a normal: is it Ferghana centuries for have beaten their wives, especially men oriental men. In the if help can …Nothing (from E-forum,woman,18–25yearsold,Kyrgyzstan). (from E-forum,woman,18–25yearsold,Kyrgyzstan). (from aninterviewwithawoman,51yearsold, Chorku village, Tajikistan). 59 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 6. PROBLEMS OF GENDER VIOLENCE IN THE REGION. THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AND MEN IN CONFLICTS

Gender violence is Diagram 18. Level of women suffering violence not limited to family during the transportation of relationships. As mentioned agricultural and livestock products. above, female shuttle Southern Kyrgyzstan (%) traders daily cross borders Women Men and are exposed to the risk of violence. Respondents said that the main violators of women are not only .0

their husbands but also the 68

Customs and border officers .2 and bazarkoms 60. The 61 answers of respondents to the question: “Do you know of cases of violence whilst 7 .

transporting agricultural 38

produce?” showed that 2.0 3 border crossings are linked to the risk of sexual abuse and rape for women as well as problems such as extortion and intimidation by the law enforcement bodies, which are also met by men No (See Diagrams 18 and 19). Yes

The opinion exists that women and children can easily cross the border as they attract less attention from the law enforcement structures. Respondents used this fact to explain the larger proportion of women, including pensioners and children, selling goods in border markets.

At the same time, the commonly used stereotype that “women arouse less suspicion” makes women more vulnerable in terms of their involvement in smuggling, particularly drug smuggling and drug trafficking61. Women used to do this for less payment than men. Another concern is that girls are more involved in these illegal types of business. So, one of the commonly used techniques of female drug couriers crossing borders is that they pretend to be mother and daughter.

The involvement of women in drug trafficking is also connected with another growing type of violence in the region, that of human trafficking62. A specific feature of the trafficking in the region is the close link with flows of illegal labour migration mainly of women and

60 Bazarkom – Market administrator. 61 In Kyrgyzstan during the last five years the number of women arrested as drug carriers has increased several fold. Madi M. Central Asian Survey. Vol. 23 (3–4), 2004, December. 62 60 See also Human Development in Central Asia Report. UNDP Regional Bureau for European and CIS countries. 2005, p. 183. 64 so 63 been not had that Tajikistan out and pointed Kyrgyzstan sex in Epidemic dramatic AIDS HIV/AIDS commercial the of of and Uzbekistan spread drugs in the Development injected noticed most of report, been The use has UNAIDS region. increased the infection the smuggling in HIV to drug of due in HIV/AIDS of women incidence of spread the dynamic involvement the accelerated and have markets exploitation Uzgen. and trading Sexual Osh sex known well Kara-Suu, jobs the commercial as of for such around lack markets valley, poverty, the of of concentrated regional threat that the sexual are developed, for have besides crime, region, trafficking increasing of the and scales within the exploitation. exploitation forms sexual determining and factors Widespread labour for Among cities. people the to Kyrgyzstan, to selling areas are rural Uzbekistan from and trafficking of migration Tajikistan from internal and example, for children, 19. Diagram

Ibid, p. 55. Development oftheHIV/AIDSEpidemicUNAIDS, WHO, 2005 December p. 54. 33.9 Customs 34.4

19.2 Border guards 64 20.1

of Southern Kyrgyzstan Southern of men and women of Responses by.... violence to exposed are Women .

16.9 Husband 16.5

16.3 Bazarkom 18.4

6.3 Women

Villagers 4.9

1.8 Unknown persons

0.7 (%)

3.7

Other Men 3.4

1.2 Do not knowт 0.7 Diagram 20. Diagram

35.4 Customs 31.3

of Northern Tajikistan Northern of women and men of Responses by.... violence to exposed are Women 34.9 Border guards 26.6

63 19.0 Husband

. The The . 24.9 Women

9.8 (%) Bazarkom 15.5

Men

0.9 Villagers 1.7 61 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 6. PROBLEMS OF GENDER VIOLENCE IN THE REGION. THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AND MEN IN CONFLICTS

There is concern that the AIDS Visiting a self-organized labour exchange on the border with Kyrgyzstan, the girls wear nice clothes. epidemic, initially localized among Officially they are considered to be looking for injecting drug users, is currently widely work but in reality they sell their bodies… spread among commercial sex workers and their clients 65, and people working (from monitor’s information, Tajikistan). in the informal sphere of the economy, most of whom are women 66.

Women and men’s participation in conflicts: roles, interests and consequences

Conflicts arising in the region are mainly seasonal in nature and in most cases have a fixed localized area – enclaves, disputed territories and border and Customs checkpoints. Violations by local people and representatives of state structures are grounds for conflicts. For example:

 Vague rules on water distribution, interruptions to the water use schedule for irrigation purposes and water pumps breaking down;

 Self-acquisition of land parcels, violation of rules related to land leasing, use of pastures and rustling;

 Violation of the rules regarding buying and selling houses (Kyrgyz citizens often sell their houses to Tajik citizens based on oral agreements);

 Illegal logging in border areas;

 Competition for jobs between the local population and illegal labour migrants within the region;

 Death of livestock and people on mine-strewn areas along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek and Tajik-Uzbek borders;

 Groundless inspections and extortion of bribes at border checkpoints;

65 According to UNAIDS, due to physiological characteristics, young women aged 15–24 are three times more likely to be HIV infected through one-off unprotected sexual contact with an HIV infected partner than young men of similar age. 66 62 Development of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic UNAIDS, WHO, 2005 December p. 49. 68 67 male and conducted respondents survey female the of that victims. show as results them The show monitoring Prevailing the rule, a unambiguous. as during not is contradictory. women, it and to Actually, relation interesting in most the of stereotypes one in is role conflicts women’s of question region. The the in situation the to contribute destabilizing and population the of discontented majority the governments make where state the people the between for and looked be interaction the should sources in that tension obvious social is of It provoked or ignored confrontation. took either that the in action representatives, state, its of the and person slant, interethnic an with inter-religious conflicts. conflicts provokes all In areas management border the of ineffective show the often examples that above-mentioned The people to ordinary of attention any complaints pay the not did national and local authorities conflict that their in assessments areas conclusion the border to the came of population the traders and ordinary by residents border necessity the the cross and to water resources common land of place and use take the of conflicts because about local 66 border that of all shows of results Asia half five the the of Central in of study a areas states that border says in 2004 women. of conflicts than could Report more Bank this resources World A believe over men men conflicts conflict; and interviewed the of violent in 67% disputes in and that specific result women think very interviewed Kyrgyzstan conflicts of in make 62% land About and region. water of shortage The   

Ibid. Human Development inCentral UNDPRegional Bureau Asia report. for European andCIScountries. 2005,p. 45. Competition between clans for influence (especially demonstrated demonstrated (especially influence for clans between religions; Competition non-Islamic of of activity Missionary installation the and borders of closure sudden and Groundless during the election campaigns of 2004–2005 in Kyrgyzstan). Kyrgyzstan). in 2004–2005 of campaigns election the during checkpoints; border additional 67 . In most cases, cases, most In . 68 .

state authorities.Pleasedowhattheywant” the to young “Don’t argue. These soldiers represent the say they situation this in here are adults such situations... The soldiers are always right…If respond in a peaceful way, as we are powerless in and patient be to try we rough are soldiers when You see, local people accept such treatment. Even something similarinresponse against the Kyrgyz a few days later our side does Every time the Uzbek border guards do something relations betweenthetwonations on impact no is There bodies. amongthe enforcement cases law few a People just are there Tajiks. officers) and Kyrgyz understand that (violence by Customs and border between visible clearly not is it but discontent probably is There (man, 58yearsold,JamoatKistakuz, Tajikistan). to resources, JamoatFarmonkurgan, Tajikistan). (woman, 43yearsold,focus-group“Access (man, 50yearsold,focus-group: Access to resources” Suzakrayon,Kyrgyzstan). 63 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 6. PROBLEMS OF GENDER VIOLENCE IN THE REGION. THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AND MEN IN CONFLICTS

respondents ranked “women’s roles” In May 2005, Kyrgyz border guards wounded three residents of a Tajik border village and later firstly as an observer, then organizer/ one of them died. Residents of the Tajik makhalla, direct participant, intermediary, victim who had heard about the death – the old, young, and human shield 69. women and children went to the scene shouting, “kill them!” They took three border guards hostage The list showed that “women’s” and kept them for 5 hours. The women were roles during conflicts determined by afraid that there would be another murder and both men and women are within the released them. The women managed to prevent traditional perceptions that consider a conflict, but many of the residents of the Tajik women to be observers. However, village thought that the women had 'defended' the recognizing that women can be other side organizers or direct participants in (from monitor’s information, Tajikistan). conflicts should prove that changes are happening public perceptions – from a passive to active role. The role of victim is not considered as a main In autumn 2005, Kyrgyz border guards beat up “women’s” role. four boys grazing their livestock on the Kyrgyz- Tajik border. The mothers of the boys were angry, however they did not say anything. When they One of the subjects studied during the were asked why they did not complain to the monitoring was the question of the authorities, they said that men should do that role of young people in initiating and resolving conflicts in communities. 37% (from monitor’s information, Tajikistan). of respondents in Kyrgyzstan think that both men and women of different ages are active initiators of conflicts in In principle, women’s participation in negotiations communities. Next are young men and is the exception. However, reality shows that the then men of mature age. In Tajikistan, structure of public order in decision-making and based on survey data, young men are participation in political processes is changing. considered as the category most likely The role and status of women in society are to initiate a conflict (39%). Men and increasing women of mature age are less involved in initiating conflicts; this category of (man, 29 years old, focus-group “Access men actively participates in conflict to resources”, Isfana, Kyrgyzstan). resolution (42%).

Questions about the role of young men and women in initiating conflicts need more detailed study. A study of border incidents provided by monitoring specialists and conflicts in local communities regarding pastures, water and other resources, has identified a trend of using young men as a force to frighten the enemy. Young people often play the role of defenders of the honour of representatives of their ethnic group.

Attempts to identify differences in the impact of conflicts on men and women showed that in Kyrgyzstan almost 71% of respondents do not see any difference and male respondents are more confident of the lack of difference of the impact of conflict on the lives of men and women than women are. In general, almost 64% of respondents could not give any reasons why the impact of conflicts on men and women

69 This term was widely used by the protest movement during the election campaign in 2005 in Kyrgyzstan when groups of 64 women were in the front lines of protestors. region and weak involvement of women in the decision-making process process the in decision-making women the of in women of Taking subordination levels. in involvement all multi-level also at weak of but and family structures tradition region the the in only account not decision-making into and positions community the public subordinate and in are political Women organizing difficulties and have goals parties. women weak and of political movements Because their administrations, level. excluded local formulating local the in at actually in local are or process women that representation administration means decision-making It local Kyrgyzstan the in the bodies. from of enclaves) leader governance land, female a self- has (disputed area Tajikistan and border no present, At still is interests open. their of decision-making advocacy on and of protestors influence female actual the the of However, question divorced widows. and and single women poor, women, of particularly participation involvement active the and was officials rich, state the of and regime president, the previous against the property other and self-acquisition) land on demonstrations, initiatives in (meetings, movement Kyrgyzstan protest the of specific a feature became Actually, country, active. the in more of areas especially southern women, political the 2005, of of course events the in in that Kyrgyzstan mentioned been has It (bribes men). the family the release an on to place burden corruption additional of and levels bodies high the detained be enforcement to law the likely by such more from are men that families said discontent. Respondents their express families poor openly from women Often, resolution conflict in objects manipulations. the participants various become of active they them be send to actually and seem and that, women purposes surface, special explaining the for women problems, deeply. use more settle often to Tostudied men be men. to and conflicts needs In women the of among question both this aspects picture gender this population of full the the on answering get awareness when low conflicts a of confident impact not demonstrates were It women question. different; be should

“they would not be beaten up” beaten be not would “they o eybg eiet o h ilg wne to wanted village the of Residents big. very not was harvest cotton the year This Kyrgyzstan. in and Uzbekistan cotton harvest in to border the cross women young villages border of Women force law, Shariat cannot beusedagainstwomen to according Also, shields. human as women use Kyrgyz The procedures. court during women supports law the the that think than more women TajiksTajiksthe Therefore, problems. solve to do their use Kyrgyz The more politicallyactive are religion on opinions stronger having Women to village work… their to come to not Uzbekistan from of the Uzbek border village and asked the women women the with met village Kyrgyz the of leaders have they enough workers. To that solve explaining the issue, women women- Uzbek the out kick (interview withawoman,37yearsold,Khochai (from monitor’s information,Kyrgyzstan). (from monitor’s (from monitor’s information, Tajikistan).(from monitor’s . On On . village, Tajikistan). 65 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 6. PROBLEMS OF GENDER VIOLENCE IN THE REGION. THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AND MEN IN CONFLICTS

both at national and local levels, it is obvious that women’s groups have difficulties in formulating their own political strategies. Women face a high risk of being used by “other” interests. In Kyrgyzstan this was clearly shown when women were used as human shields during the election campaigns of 2005 and in Tajikistan we a lot of women in political parties, in particular, in the People’s Democratic Party, which is pro-president, about 40% of the members are women. Considering the low level of women’s independence in Tajikistan and their limited access to education, it is clear how and why such a high percentage of women’s participation in the parties was achieved.

In general, the studied experience of women’s participation in various conflicts in the region has shown that women’s activity, firstly, is not always the result of increased opportunities for self-achievement and political participation, and secondly, women’s activity is used by various groups to achieve their own goals.

66    

Summing up the section: the up Summing The presence of women and women’s organizations both in conflicts conflicts in both organizations women’s and women of presence The determined is conflicts in behaviour men’s and women practice, In roles women’s and men describing of approach existing The increased the and household and family the on focus Women’s and used for the interests of various power structures and other other and structures power “cultivated” various being that of of shown risk has interests stakeholders. high a the protect to practice for and used have exposed general, is and they In that activity interests. indicator women’s an not political is own their resolution conflict and interests. their protecting for Also, responsibility high. take very women and is of release to corruption categories of divorced bribes level pay vulnerable the to as bodies, most money lower the to person, find try to enforcement has law detained families the the family by that the fact protests detained the open to otherwise, being in has men linked of be risk monitoring can participate the This women, families to what As poor and conflicts. from and resolution. conflicts women open that in conflict in shown strategies use what on they participating between motives depending directly men in differences and apply great women they are of there groups so various status, social their by in participation men’s difficult and it women make of facilitate stability, experience and conflicts. roles the peace men’s roles that understand to women’s stating and and violence, opposites as conflicts in considered women be and cannot role traditional non-violent, the women’s informal continue definitely sense, an as as women that just In help relations hierarchy. protection power social neighbourhood of and mechanism family-relatives of role

– prevail in the group of women who are heads of families families of heads are who women of group the in prevail –

– only as victims. victims. as only – – single, widows and and widows single, – 67 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 7. CONCLUSIONS

The approaches of many analysts and representatives of international agencies to considering conflicts in the Ferghana Valley are mainly determined by the current definition of the region as a potential source of conflict due to the poly-ethnicity of the population, complex borders and the existence of disputed areas and enclaves.

Monitoring confirms that the local population of the Ferghana Valley does not share the above-mentioned traditional cliché. For the local population, these factors are relevant since they have led to the establishment of various restrictions, mainly political ones, on crossing borders to trade and visit relatives in the region, which used to be one common political, economic and cultural space.

Conflicts in the region are caused by various factors including economic, social and political, interwoven with interethnic relations. Madeleine Reeves, one of those who have studied the Ferghana Valley, states that the perception of the region as a conflict zone is based on the concept of a nation-state where ethnicity, territory and citizenship should create isomorphous integrity, and any incompatibility between those three components of the nation – state is dangerously exposed to crises and conflicts 70.

Such approaches are not always applicable to the situation in the region where historical, cultural, geographic and political borders have not stayed the same, and for long periods throughout history, people living here have had close economic, religious and cultural ties. There were no nation-states as in the western world, although during Soviet times some attempts were made to create a common economic space and subordination to one political centre.

The collapse of the Soviet Union pushed the large soviet republics of Central Asia to establish their own sovereign states and delimit international borders with neighbouring states and these inherited borders have created disputes between the three countries of the Ferghana Valley – Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which have not yet been resolved. The absence of common positions and lack of cooperation between the governments explain the unsettled border problems.

70 Reeves M. Locating danger: Conflictology and the search for fixity (sic) in the Ferghana Valley borderlands. Central Asian 68 Survey. 24 (1), 2005, p.68. situation analysis and monitoring data also identified the existence existence the identified The also data impossible. not is by monitoring and and conflicts of analysis structural warning are early situation region the them, in groups. is addressing problems radical of society joining fair majority a people and The for weak young search but for the that secular reasons the main showed to people the of young one Monitoring problems of alternative the an state. as sympathy resolve the to unstable by the caliphate of ability raised Islamic is trust an their of for and concern level So, institutions society. decreasing of the state in in religions. seen other be to can population threat converted religious have of specific A who growth those increasing the to the and to relation layer linked in religion is in Another people intolerance attention studied. young men be of and requiring should women interest of definitely resolution roles and peacemakers problems as of different roles the initiation media. and mass women’s conflict of in reviewed be in sensitive to perceptions gender have a participate of will to discursive role the the and participation organizations Probably, women’s initiatives political of the of peaceful capacity the discussion women, of deeper these be of should impact There the of and 60% are specifics gender migrants in models the and female are and men, What migration are male of available to Tajikistan respectively. 40% from proportions and According 80%) the region issues. (almost the Kyrgyzstan in gender of migrants migration situation most terms the in data, labour on impact countries example, its for and specific study, states further foreign to require and questions development Many added economic are of and region. level the of low central interlinked the in as are women such overpopulation of reasons many factors of these All general representation to restoration low to the the authorities. men and for local resources, and tendency traditions has the economic women main of poverty, patriarchal the social and status control increased and of and education own position because people The quality worse young good jobs. of of become to getting lack numbers for and access large of services opportunities problems services; problems land; social limited main and other The and agricultural region. and economic the healthcare to water in of access concern in shortage are special of inequality is gender resources showed, religious conflict. and survey to the As cultural leading real the ethnic, of directly factors considering as understanding to analyse and not warped do a differences to problem that conflicts, the leads in of region the states in essence which the participant of or state, assessments the motives of catalyst the living of Situation for role position the The omitted. fighting play etc. is groups could primordial ethnic in self-definition some potentially various state the the envisage resources, of between role space, the approaches antagonism analysing conceptual of natural terms Existing in conflicts. important is example This

– this question is still open. open. still is question this – 69 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 7. CONCLUSIONS

of direct reasons, for example, numerous violations of human rights and public liberties in specific states and on the borders. Monitoring material contains descriptions of individual cases of murders and beatings of the population by the law enforcement and border forces on the borders. Together with the structural and direct reasons, such individual cases can serve as detonators of tension and lead to conflicts. Security has become worse in the region due to the growth of drug trafficking within and through the region and the activity of radical and extremist organizations.

Effective state governance and cooperation in order to achieve the long-term interests of the citizens of the states within this region are key conditions to maintaining stability in the Ferghana Valley, taking into account the main problems addressed in this report. Therefore, the main recommendation of this report to the national governments involved is that they should recognise their key responsibility for the changing conditions causing conflicts both in their own states and in the region in general. To address the many structural factors of conflicts the governments should develop comprehensive development strategies aimed at solving the basic social and economic problems jointly with neighbouring states.

There are certain conditions for moving forward and promoting regional cooperation. The Human Development in Central Asia Report (2005) showed that expectations of state disintegration, ethnic separatism and interstate conflict have fallen compared to the first years of independence and this has allowed the leaders of the countries to follow regional interests. However, barriers in the form of centralized presidential institutions of power and the interests of specific sections of the business sector linked to state structures still exist. Unfortunately, the March 2005 events in Kyrgyzstan and later events in Andijan led to victims among the civil population and new refugees, which have played a negative role. The ability of social discontent, public disorder and revolts to cross borders or to snowball to some extent hampers understanding the need for regional cooperation.

70      8.

To central governments, local authorities and political leaders of of leaders Valley Ferghana political the and in authorities countries the local governments, central To Governments should put their efforts into establishing appropriate appropriate establishing into efforts their put should Governments to due status women’s and situation worsening the Considering is Valley Ferghana the of development that fact the on Based economic other and land water, of shortage that Considering Governments of the countries of the region have to accept their key key their accept to have region the of countries the of Governments this sense, it is necessary to encourage cooperation between the the between In communities. cooperation needed. border are in encourage other to country, and own authorities necessary medical their local is in when it sense, available not this particularly borders, services, social crossing for conditions the in population the of egalitarian process. more a categories of all re-orientating favour decision-making for in includes dominant- which conditions governance of model, existing is creating it the model “male” decade, changing relations the at last gender the aimed during policy a subordinate form happened to have that necessary changes structural into taking tension should social factors. programmes with reduce to gender states reduction measures account and relevant poverty the specific all National development contain involving the regional at responsibility. look strategies to equal sensitive gender reduction advisable be poverty would developing it of states, possibility three to interest of solutions and appropriate laterally. water tri- finding to of and bi- solutions on possibility problems joint the the efforts find and to to problems, concentrate particular to cooperation in energy regional necessary conflicts, is for it developing areas, reasons basic border the the of in one is resources problems. those of states, aspects neighbouring gender basic with the solving jointly account at into develop aimed problems taking should economic strategies many and the governments social the development address To both conflicts, general. of conflicts in comprehensive factors region causing the in structural and conditions states changing their the in for responsibility RECOMMENDATIONS 71 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 8. RECOMMENDATIONS

 Considering that serious conflict factors are connected to the problems of young people in the Ferghana Valley, specific attention should be paid to immediately addressing youth unemployment and creating conditions to ensure equal opportunities in accessing good quality education, medical and other services. Governments of the region have to take into account the specificity of young people’s problems when they elaborate the policy, since they are linked to problems of survival as well as lack of opportunities for self- fulfillment, individual freedom and self-expression.

 In order to integrate young people into communities and social relations in general and to cultivate constructive skills for a peaceful life, it is important to involve young people in the development of local communities, create conditions to form formal and informal youth associations and organize their leisure focused on their needs.

 Taking into account the refusal of the authorities to pay attention to them is one of the key sources of tension in the region, it is necessary to undertake specific actions to organise public ways of communicating with the population both at national and local levels. It is important to create the conditions for men and women and all social groups of the population to participate in this communication.

 Local authorities should initiate and implement trans-border projects on cultural, scientific and experience exchange between communities based on cultural-educational and research institutions.

 Civil society organizations should be relied on to promote cooperation and integrate the neighbouring states into the social, economic and political spheres.

 National governments and local authorities have to facilitate the development of suitable gender-sensitive methodologies of monitoring and evaluating the situation in the region, and use various ways of ensuring public and widespread discussion of the monitoring results.

 Governments of the countries of the Ferghana Valley should support information sharing, the setting up of networks of physicians, teachers, and scientists at individual and institutional level and support the regional mass media, civil society and network associations of cultural workers, in order to develop cooperation.

For civil society organizations

 Civil society organisations have to make efforts aimed at the early prevention of conflicts through developing initiatives and the participation of local communities, including women and young people. 72       

For international agencies international For Donors should work on developing more consistent regional regional consistent more developing on work should Donors their re-orient to recommended are organizations International of sensitivity gender the increase to made be should efforts Special sensitive gender regional and country support to important is It women of groups marginalized provide to made be should Efforts networks creating of possibility the increase to important is it Also, women’s promoting programmes develop to advisable be would It development and human security in the Ferghana Valley and the the and Valley of general. Ferghana in the objectives in an region as Asian security comprehensive Central terrorism, human and more and and and crime broader development threats of the trafficking, of part drug to integral understanding related common a on challenges based strategies violations and as conflicts people various the region. of the the in in needs inadequate factors the daily occurring of the risk and to key problems the state of the the structures at one look state between to of more a to response important interrelations is relations It the of citizens. destabilised interethnic analysis and from focus conflict a the comprehensive as region changing by the to zone approach existing region the in situation the and conflicts general. in highlighting media region. mass the the in media local mass in the in influence aspects and capacity the gender authority and to female environment, advisable and communities, be youth male the of would social in It levels other and and leadership population. of women the religious types and of men study of ethnic, categories important and identity is different It of group groups and region. and the in representatives individual as of development in of prevention issues working study policies conflict to and and organizations warning programmes local early the and of impact the international at looking studies using interests, their their lobby build and to principles. influence services with their participatory groups improve and target the of capacity people young and improve initiatives. to peaceful working and NGOs and cooperation workers regional cultural scientists, resources. of and political solidarity their form collective their interests, additional strengthen create specific and to and women’s voice parents possible voice be to should professional businesswomen it channels the the Thus, on physicians, promoting based housewives. through teachers, bodies of unions, interests trade interests self-governance women’s through of local process and priority associations decision-making the public in participation 73 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES 8. RECOMMENDATIONS

 Attract and focus the attention of the international community to the problems of the region through projects and programmes designed to meet the long-term goals of human development based on a comprehensive gender analysis and not only focusing on prevention and early warning of conflicts.

 Facilitate the development and introduction of gender sensitive indicators in government policy and practice of international agencies and local NGOs working in the sphere of early prevention and warning of conflicts.

 Get the international community to understand the poly-semantic role, opportunities and risks of women’s participation in peaceful resolution of conflicts bearing in mind the existing unequal and subordinated position of the women of the region in relation to state structures, the family and elder men and women within the family- tribal ties.

 Promote the development of expert, analytical, multidisciplinary capacity to develop suitable gender sensitive methodologies of situation monitoring and evaluation in the countries of the region.

74 Available online at: http://www.un.org.kg/english/unlink.phtml?217 12– March http://www.un.org.kg/english/unlink.phtml?217 at: the Kyrgyzstan, online in assessing to Section reform Available UNIFEM dedicated agrarian 2004. and 13th land Conference of decade International first the of the of Materials 2005. Government Bishkek UNDP. and development. of Republic stage new a Kyrgyz of at is 2003. Declaration Kyrgyzstan the Bishkek of Goals. implementation Development the on Report Millennium Kyrgyz Republic. the in Kyrgyz and Foundation 2004. Ebert Ilim, Afghanistan in Fredrik Bishkek: drugs Asia of Republic, state Central in modern spread and their history Briefing The A. Uprising. Knyazev 2005. 25th, Andijon The May Uzbekistan: Bishkek/Brussels, Group. №38, Crisis Committee International Statistic 2005. National Bishkek, Republic. Republic, Kyrgyz Kyrgyz the the in of Review. relations Analytical Gender elections parliamentary 2004–2005. and 2005. local UNDP/SIDA. of data Bishkek of aspects review Gender UNDP/UNIFEM. gender Republic. Goals: Kyrgyz the Development to related Millennium the and and land 2005. to Gender Batken rights of Bishkek, areas “Women’s border livelihoods”. project of UNIFEM citizens sustainable the of Kyrgyzstan of problems oblast legal and 2000. Economic Bishkek, A. by Studies, Edited Regional for cooperation. for Institute space New Asia: Central Central Tajikistan. in №15. http://www.ca-c.org/journal/15-1998/st_02_beljaeva.shtml 1998, Source: development Caucasus, economy and factor Asia Social A. border Belyeva 2005. resolving of Bishkek experience Kyrgyzstan, and 2005. of history Bishkek problems Brief UNIFEM. S.K. resources Alamanov economic to women rural of Access BIBLIOGRAPHY In Russian Russian In

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Olimova S. (2005, October). Migration processes in modern Tajikistan 2005, October. Available online at: http://demoscope.ru/ weekly/2005/0223/

Report of the sociological survey, Needs assessment of the beneficiaries of the UNDP Programme on poverty reduction in the field of small and medium sized business to develop income-generating activity Bishkek, 2000.

Report on human development in Central Asia. UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and CIS countries. 2005.

Report on the study, Monitoring the implementation of the NPRS in the sphere of social mobilization, development of small and medium sized businesses, micro-crediting and employment at local level. UNDP, Bishkek, 2004.

Tabyshalieva A. in cooperation with NSC KR. Kyrgyzstan: Common country Assessment, Bishkek, 2001.

Tabyshalieva A. Regional cooperation to prevent conflict. Central Asia: A New Space for Cooperation. Institute for Regional Studies, Bishkek, 2000.

Shadrova N. Capacity for inter-religious tolerance in Kyrgyzstan. Institute for Regional Studies. – Information bulletin “Orientiry i Practica”, № 4 (45), November 23, 2005.

Tulsky, M.. Results of the Census of Tajikistan of 2000 Demoscope Weekly, № 171–172, 27 September – 10 October 2004. Available online at: http://demoscope.ru/weekly/2004/0171/analit07.php.

UN Kyrgyz Republic. Report on Implementation of the Declaration on Millennium Development Goals, Bishkek, 2003.

In English

Central Asia Human Development Report. Bringing down barriers: Regional Cooperation for Human Development and Human Security. UNDP, 2005.

76 Youth and Conflict Toolkit. The Office of Conflict Management and http://www.usaid.gov/our_ and at: and_Conflict_Toolkit_April_2005.pdf. online Management Available Conflict of USAID work/cross-cutting_programs/conflict/publications/docs/CMM_Youth_ Office (CMM) The Toolkit. Mitigation 1999 Conflict UNDP, and Youth Programme, 2002. Development June, Valley Early Alert, Ferghana Conflict The and International Gender Action. for Piza-Lopez. Framework A Eugenia with Warning: UNDP/ Schmeidl Province. Sussane Batken 2002. report. Batken, Warning Early Kyrgyzstan, January. Level 19 2006, regional 2, No. Second 6, Vol. Report, Asia 2004 under Central Bishkek, RFE/RL Development Republic. Gender Kyrgyz 2000–2005. and the of Family Republic Women, President Kyrgyz for the the in Council women of National Status the on 2002. legislative A Report Needs, Assessment. Rural Women’s for Rural A Institutional of: Security An and Findings Economic Review, and Tajikistan. Rights in Land Women R. (1), 24 March in Sabates-Wheeler, Survey, fixity for Asian search Central the and borderlands. 2005 Valley conflictology December Ferghana danger: 2004, the (3–4), Locating and 23 M. Vol. Reeves, Survey. implications Asian Structure, Central Kyrgyzstan: in countermeasures. trade Drug M. http://www. Madi, at: online Available 2005. beyondintractability.org/m/early_warning.jsp. Warning. Early E. UNDP/ Brahm, Program. 2004. Development Osh, Preventive Kyrgyzstan, Report. Warning Early 77 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES GLOSSARY

Ayil okmotu (Kyrgyzstan) – local self-governance body.

Adat – traditional law.

Bu-otynchi – women elders, religious supervisors. In Kyrgyzstan in recent years, the bu-otynchi have organized informal groups for young girls to collectively read the Koran and khadises, learn Arabic and discuss topics dedicated to morality.

Jamoat – local self-government bodies in Tajikistan.

Discourse – this report considers it as the availability of a certain approach and thinking on the early warning and prevention of conflicts in existing literature, which is accepted in the academic and political environment as the basis or starting point for explaining or analysing conflicts.

Aksakals’ court – Council of Elders in a village (Kyrgyzstan).

Khidzhab – headscarf worn by female Muslims in accordance with the religious rules of Islam.

Shariat – Islamic law.

Egality – (French Egalite – equality) – concept of equal opportunity. This report uses it to equate the number of female representatives in political power bodies.

78 ANNEXES

THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES ANNEXES

Annex 1

Structure of the UNIFEM Gender dimensions of early warning and conflict prevention in the Ferghana Valley project

UNIFEM Headquarters New York, USA

UNIFEM CIS Regional office Almaty, Kazakhstan

Regional Coordinator (Manager) Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Country coordinator Country coordinator Country coordinator Osh Khujand

Project Monitors Project Monitors Project Monitors

KYRGYZSTAN TAJIKISTAN UZBEKISTAN

80 collaboration. effective for organizations international and structures Coordinating Data collection Data Project Monitoring System Monitoring Project making structures making Gender-sensitive analysis and recommendations used to inform and lobby decision- lobby and inform to used recommendations and analysis Gender-sensitive Wide dissemination dissemination Wide civil society, state state society, civil Gender-sensitive analyses and recommendations developed developed recommendations and analyses Gender-sensitive Women’s organizations supported organizations Women’s more active participation in the decision-making process. process. decision-making the in participation active more by a network of field monitors using questionnaires, in-depth interviews interviews in-depth questionnaires, using monitors field of network a by and focus groups based on gender sensitive indicators. sensitive gender on based groups focus and and national strategy papers such as NPRS, NAPs, MDG, CEDAW CEDAW MDG, NAPs, NPRS, as such papers strategy national and for improved peace building. peace improved for by a team of of team a by and of analytical of feedback sought feedback Analysts report report Discussion forums Discussion encouraging peace organized. peace encouraging Events collaboration. interagency and inter-regional encouraging and stakeholders gathering themes, and capacity built for for built capacity and among stakeholders stakeholders among and regional festivals festivals regional and held on urgent urgent on held Annex 2 81 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES ANNEXES

Annex 3

UNIFEM Project Target Communities

Tajikistan – Sugdh Oblast

# Name Jamoat Bordering of community

Isfara rayon

1 Vorukh Vorukh Tojikon, Tajikistan – Ak-Sai, Kyrgyzstan

2 Todjikon Tojikon Ak-Sai, Kyrgyzstan

Naiman, Tajikistan – Kok-Tash, Ak-Sai, Ak-Tatyr and 3 Chorku Chorku Samarkandek, Kyrgyzstan

4 Hojai Ajlo Chorku Uch-Dobo, Ak-Tatyr, Ak-Sai, Kyrgyzstan

5 Lakkon Lakkon Kara-Bak, Chon-Gara, Chon-Taala, Shor-suu, Kyrgyzstan

Djabor-Rasulov rayon

7 Madaniyat Tadjikabad, Selkan, Tajikistan – Leilek rayon, Kyrgyzstan

8 Selkan Leilek rayon/KR, Madaniyat, Djuvildon /RT Gulhona 9 Tajikabad Kirgizkishlak/KR, dj. Gulakandoz, RT

10 Kairagach Tajikabad /РТ, Leilek rayon/KR

Bobojon Gafurov rayon

11 Kistakuz Kistakuz Jany-jer, Arka Leilek rayon/KR

12 Gafurov Leilek rayon/KR

Spitamen rayon

13 Farmonkurgan Farmonkurgan Bekabad, Uzbekistan

Asht rayon

14 Oshoba Oshoba Dangara, Uzbekistan

82 24 19 10 26 25 23 22 21 20 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 1. # 6 8 9 7 5 4 3 2 Kyrgyzstan Isfana Kyzyl-Kiya Batken Jalal-Abad Osh Charbak rayon Leilek Dostuk, rayon Leilek Andarak, rayon Ak-Tatyr, Batken rayon Leilek Aksai, rayon Batken Jany-Jer, rayon Leilek Zumbula, rayon Lelilek Kulunda, rayon Batken Kyshtut, rayon Ala-Buka Ala-Buka, rayon Nokken Nooken, rayon Bazar-Korgon Bazar-Korgon, rayon Maasy,Nooken rayon Suzak Atabekov, rayon Suzak Kara-Dariya, rayon Uzgen Kashkaterek, Rayon Aravan Tuya-Moun, rayon Uzgen Myrza-Aki, rayon Alay Gulcho, rayon Kara-Suuski Kara-Suu, rayon Aravan Kerme-too,

– town, administrative center administrative town, –

– town, Leilek rayon center rayon Leilek town, –

– town, administrative center center administrative town, –

– town, Kadamjai rayon Kadamjai town, – – town, administrative center administrative town, – Community Jalal-Abad Oblast Jalal-Abad Batken oblast Batken Osh oblast Osh Batken Tajikistan rayon Jabor-Rasul Tajikistan, Tajikistan Chorku, Chorku Jamoat and rayon Isfara Tajikistan, Tajikistan Tajikistan Tajikistan Tajikistan Tajikistan Tajikistan Tajikistan rayons Yangikurgan and Chustskii, Kasansaiskii, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Namangan Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Uzbekistan oblast Andijan Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan oblast Andijan Uzbekistan, oblast Andijan Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Bordering 83 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES ANNEXES

Annex 4

Gender-sensitive Early Warning indicators

Category Indicator Observation points/questions for monitors/ Measure researchers Social and economic Influence of migration on the socio-economic Do women work outside the rayon, oblast, and Number of women, status of women and country? age difference men. Proportion of women If outside the country then where? Within or migrating inside and outside the region? outside the region Time, differentiate If so, how long do women work outside the by rayon, oblast and rayon, oblast, and country? country level What kind of things do women do? Types of activities How often do they visit their families? Frequently, rarely How often do women remit financial support to Impact of migration on Frequently, rarely their families? living standards What is the income level in families with labour Low, high, medium migrants? Income level from activity outside the rayon, High, medium, low oblast and country? Number of children in Do women leave their children with parents/in- Labour Migration the families, age and laws in villages? gender difference How has labour migration affected the Number of homeless children? children, by gender How has migration changed the traditional Impact of labour gender roles? migration on the traditional gender role What is the age difference between women and men migrants? Changing values in How labor migration influenced to the family Values traditional families values Is labour migration a factor of instability in the Yes, no, why? region? Is labour migration causing interstate tensions? If so, in what aspects (border crossings, Degree of deterioration tensions with law-enforcement bodies and Frequently, rarely, of intergovernmental Customs, migrants do not follow local laws, cases of tension relations migrants do not integrate into the local society etc…)? Are there special intergovernmental Effective, ineffective, agreements supporting labour migrants? why?

84 Labour Migration Labour economic and Social Category men in border areas border in men and women on situation political internal unstable of Influence migration labour increased alongside smuggling drug of Degree migrants men and women against violence of cases of Number markets to travel and borders cross men and women as security personal of Level Indicator

– moved to other regions temporarily regions other to moved male/females by headed families of Extent migration”? “creeping in women of role the is What reasons security for relocated Families relocated? temporarily have that areas border in households there Are countries neighbouring of inhabitants by seizure land illegal of Cases smuggling? drug in involved women and men are How officials? law-enforcement by lines ethnic along etc.) harassment, sexual arrests, (rapes, rights women’s abusing of cases there Are Valleycountries? Ferghana between travelling safe feel men and women Do bodies? enforcement law- the from men than more suffer women Do officials? law-enforcement from abuse facing sector informal the in involved men and women Are rights? human basic their of aware migrants labour Are rivers? border crossing while life to risks and security personal to threats guards, border to bribes paying as, such borders crossing whilst problems face women Do Observation points/questions for monitors/ for points/questions Observation researchers researchers more women than men than women more of informal activities by by activities informal of Number of women and and women of Number than men. Differences Differences men. than Safe, unsafe, reasons unsafe, Safe, women, more women women more women, households, indicate indicate households, men involved. Types involved. men Number of incidents of Number Political, economic, economic, Political, heads of the family family the of heads exact border areas border exact Number of families families of Number Almost even, more more even, Almost High, medium, low medium, High, men than women, women, than men Families, who are are who Families, of participation of of participation of females . Identify Identify . females Number of cases of Number Number of cases of Number headed by male/ by headed women and men and women women and men men and women women or men? or women More men than than men More which regions which Number of of Number Measure social 85 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES ANNEXES

Category Indicator Observation points/questions for monitors/ Measure researchers Social and economic How have economic reforms, including Existence of special land privatisation, considered the needs of state programmes or vulnerable groups of women? other activities Quality of the land Have women lost out in land distribution? (stony, clay, soil, etc.) Do women have access to irrigation water? Yes, no, far away Is there access to agricultural equipment for Available, not available female landowners? Land and property Are women aware of their rights to land and Incidents of women owners by gender property? protecting their rights If so, are they likely to stand up for their rights? Availability of irrigation Is there access to irrigation water? water Access to land and Female members of local committees or property rights Are women involved in water and land resource commissions on water management decisions? and land resources disputes Do women and men follow common law? If Usually, sometimes, yes, in what cases? never In what cases do women and men follow the Indicate cases formal law Degree of common law Find out the reasons for following common law prevalence over formal Do widows without sons and divorced women law have access to land? Does it supersede the formal law? What kind of property Do women have land and property registered in (land, house, their names? apartments…)?

86 resources to Access economic and Social Category women and men and women of standards living the on credits of Impact men and women on shortage land and water of Impact men and women on disputes resource water and land of Impact Indicator men and women)? and men (by go credit received the does activity what On women by headed unions Credit around? man no is there and households of heads the are women if credits, micro allocate to not pressure community there Is credit? receiving for conditions the are What men? as organizations credit reaching of possibilities same the have women Do organization? credit the is away far How credits of value on gender by Difference it? manage and credit for apply to how women teaching programmes or organizations there Are programmes? micro-credit oriented gender have they do so, If region the in organizations credit of Existence associations waterusers in men and women of Share resources to access over disputes solving in organizations women’s of Role disputes resource to related incidents in men and women of Involvement differently? women and men affect border the across communities two the between competition resource Does disputes of Incidence conflict? and tension to lead two the between clashes Can Observation points/questions for monitors/ for points/questions Observation researchers researchers The location of a credit credit a of location The disputes (successfully, (successfully, disputes always, women rarely, women always, Cases when women’s women’s when Cases women, more women women more women, Women always, men men always, Women organization from its its from organization Always, sometimes, sometimes, Always, Frequency, reasons Frequency, Financial resources resources Financial Different, the same same the Different, organizations have have organizations Existence of credit credit of Existence Type of activities activities Typeof Number of credit credit of Number been involved in in involved been main customers main unsuccessfully) unsuccessfully) More men than than men More percentage… organizations organizations programmes programmes Percentage men rarely rarely men Mortgage, Mortgage, Existence than men than Measure Number Number Cases Cases never never 87 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES ANNEXES

Category Indicator Observation points/questions for monitors/ Measure researchers Youth Existence of strategies on youth affairs, do Have governments got special youth policies? people know about them? Does state policy positively or negatively affect young people? Existence of programmes, and Are there special investment programmes the number of young Impact of state policies aimed at young people? people in each Official policy on the status of young programme women and men. Number of cases of What is the level of trust in government applying to the state agencies by young women and men? agencies by young people and More active young women than young Participation of young women and men in men; more active solving community problems young men than young women More boys, more Do girls and boys attend school equally? girls….. Girls being kept back from school, giving Number of girls not reasons attending school Are there schools in cross-border villages and Existence School attendance by enclaves with native language of education? Education girls and boys Existence of schools teaching minority languages (KG, UZ, TJ) Number of young Is there equal access to higher educational women studying in institutions for young women and men? higher educational institutions

88 Perspectives Religion Youth Category ethnic marriages ethnic inter- of Existence region the in men and women young for perspectives The men and women young on influence religious of Degree Indicator a citizen of a neighbouring state neighbouring a of citizen a to married if citizenship, receiving of Possibility marriages interethnic of Frequency future? their see men and women young do How do? men and women young things of kind what not, If region? the in jobs finding people young for chance any there Is behaviour? and norms social in changes been there Have people? Muslim young and faith another to converted have who people young between tension there Is reasons? the are What women? the or men by more transferred is so, If religions? other to converting men and women young Are Tahriractivists? Hizb-ut- arrested among women there Are gender by groups, religious radical in represented more communities ethnic which from Identify men and women by (values…) groups religious radical joining for reasons the Identify groups? religious radical to belong participate men and women young Do ethnicity? to according divided groups these are so, If groups? self-study Islamic attending women Are women? young and men young for life everyday in Islam of role the is What Observation points/questions for monitors/ for points/questions Observation researchers researchers Frequency of attending attending of Frequency what kind of things do do things of kind what No, yes, often, rarely, often, yes, No, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Tajik,Uzbek, Kyrgyz, What kind of tension of kind What marriages becoming becoming marriages Industry, agriculture, agriculture, Industry, spreading, arranged arranged spreading, transferring worship transferring livestock breeding, breeding, livestock Number of Islamic Islamic of Number Lowered marriage marriage Lowered self-study groups, self-study Social, economic, economic, Social, Social, economic, economic, Social, orthodox, bahhai, bahhai, orthodox, Number of young young of Number political, spiritual political, women and men men and women age, polygamy polygamy age, Protestantism, Protestantism, informal trade informal Plans, wishes Plans, political, spirit political, the mosque the Measure they do? they common Number Number other other 89 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES ANNEXES

Category Indicator Observation points/questions for Measure monitors/researchers Position of women in the society Are women being abused by the law- Number of cases enforcement agencies? How would men react if the authorities Negatively react abused a woman? towards the abuser How would men react if a man of another Conflict ethnic origin abused women? Do women and men see domestic violence as abuse or violence? Is this a source of tension within families Yes, No Extent of violence against or between groups (if couples are from women in the region different ethnic groups)? Number of divorces, What is the situation with divorce? Economic and social reasons What is the incidence of rape, physical Number of incidents and psychological abuse? What is the incidence of self-immolation? Number of incidents What is the incidence of trafficking of Violence against Number of incidents women for sexual exploitation? women What is the incidence of bride kidnapping? Number of incidents Are there women’s NGOs protecting the Existence of women’s Extent of type of rights of women? NGOs organizations that support Are there crisis centres and hotlines violated women and men Existence designated to support women? Existence, in practice, Existence of law on Domestic violence not in practice Existence, in practice, Extent of legislation that National laws on gender equality not in practice supports the rights of women and men Existence in the national statistics committee, Do gender separated statistics exist? law-enforcement agencies Number of cases of abuse/ Increased imprisonment, harassment of Cases harassment by security men and women forces/law-enforcement Cases of abduction of men and women agencies towards women Number of cases and men and rumours of it

90 women of participation Political society the in women of Position Category stability in the region the in stability and peace maintaining at aimed Activities society of levels all at governance in participation women’s of Extent Indicator bodies and decision-making councils? decision-making and bodies governmental in represented women Are women’s groups more vulnerable? more groups women’s makes pressure such that signs there Are conservatives? religious and NGOs women’s the of activities the between tension there Is basis? religious on men arrested protect to unrest organize women Do demonstrators? female against brutal less be would police the that hope the in protest to men by inspired they Are hardship? (political) socio-economic against protest to men than likely more women Are women by initiated activities tolerance and peace of Diversity organizations? women’s by initiated areas, border cross with events cultural joint of effect the is What undertake? women did activity prevention conflict of kind What management resource land and water about decisions in involved are Women issues? border cross on process making decision the in participate organizations women’s Do level? regional local/ at networks women’s there Are issues? important and urgent on negotiations in officials female of role the is What organizations? based community- in leaders women’s there Are Observation points/questions for for points/questions Observation monitors/researchers monitors/researchers Promote understanding, understanding, Promote Protests organized by by organized Protests by organized Protests members in decision- in members members on decision decision on members pre-conflict situations situations pre-conflict Cases of disputes or or disputes of Cases making committees making Participation cases Participation Number of women women of Number women of Number Number of female female of Number making structures making Existence, facts, facts, Existence, Kind of activities of Kind Significant, poor Significant, unawareness Awareness, Awareness, Measure Activities activities conflicts created leaders women women Cases 91 THE FERGHANA VALLEY: CURRENT CHALLENGES ANNEXES

Category Indicator Observation points/questions for Measure monitors/researchers Position of women in the society Number of programmes Extent of International organizations and projects ongoing on International organizations working in Ferghana Valley conflict prevention and supporting conflict resolution prevention and resolution Number of programmes activities in the region International organizations supporting and projects with a organizations addressing gender needs gender approach Political participation of Existence of programmes addressing development women Number of programmes and peace with a gender perspective Festivals, meetings, Gender sensitive actions information exchange and programmes initiated activities by professional by the Governments groups (teachers, farmers, etc.)