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*All names of victims have been changed in order to protect their identities
What You Can Do:
Please write to the Kyrgyz government officials below, calling on them to ensure that cases of bride kidnapping are properly investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law and to raise public awareness about the crime of bride kidnapping and the importance of equal rights within society. Request that they strengthen current legislation against bride kidnapping, including accomplice liability for relatives complicit in the kidnapping, and introduce amendments to guarantee protection of victims and provide easy access to medical, social and legal services.
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Letters should go to:
President Almazbek Atambayev
Administration of the President
Government House
720003, Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan
Tel: +(996) 312 63 85 65
E-mail: okmotkg@mail.gov.kg
Minister of Justice Muhamedjanov Abylai
Ministry of Justice
32 Mahatma Gandhi
720000, Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan
Tel: +(996) 312 65 64 90
Fax: +(996) 312 65 65 02
Minister of Internal Affairs Zarylbek Rysaliev
Ministry of Internal Affairs
469 Frunze Street
720040 Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan
Tel: +(996) 312 66 24 50, +(996) 312 26 60 27
E-mail: pressa@mvd.kg
Minister of Education and Science Kanat Sadykov
Ministry of Education and Science
257 Tynystanov Street
720040 Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan
Tel: +(996) 312 66 24 42
E-mail: minedukg@gmail.com
Public Prosecutor Mrs. Salyanova Aida
Jenishbekovna
72 Orozbekova Street
720000, Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan
Tel: +(996) 312 625979
Letters:
Dear ____ :
I write to you with deep concern regarding the practice of bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan, which violates women and girls’ rights to bodily integrity, freedom of movement and freedom from violence.
I was concerned to learn that an estimated 11,500-16,500 incidents of bride kidnapping occur a year in Kyrgyzstan. I realize that bride kidnapping is an offense under Kyrgyz law, however it is my understanding that very few cases have ever reached court and been successfully prosecuted. Victims lack knowledge about their rights and where to go for help and often cases are not properly investigated. It is my understanding that many, including within the criminal justice system, regard bride kidnapping as a Kyrgyz tradition and as such culturally protected. The fact that relatives and friends of the kidnapper and those performing marriage ceremonies are not prosecuted under the law further entrenches social acceptability of this crime.
I respectfully urge you to ensure that cases of bride kidnapping are fully investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law in keeping with Kyrgyzstan’s own Constitution which guarantees equality under the law and with its international obligations including under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. I understand also there is strong support among Kyrgyz women for a public awareness campaign on this grave abuse and I hope your government will heed their call to take this matter seriously and do all that it can to prevent bride kidnapping from happening. In order to support the women subjected to or at risk of kidnapping, I further urge you to champion the demand for strengthening the current law against bride kidnapping by making amendments to guarantee protection of victims and provide them access to medical, social and legal services; and to introduce a separate liability for relatives and/or friends who are complicit in bride kidnapping.
Thank you for your attention.
Respectfully yours,
