(English) ”They should respect girls like they respect each other” – International Women’s Day in Osh

Today is International Women’s Day and in Kyrgyzstan this is a public holiday. Banners are put up all over the city, wishing women happiness and prosperous lives with many children. For two days the streets in the city center has been filled with flower stands and everywhere you see men caring bouquets and gifts for their wives, mothers and sister. Even I have gotten my fair share of well wishes (for instance, a lady I met at the banya (russian sauna) two weeks ago, sent me a text with roses and hearts). To tell you the truth, I have...

Non-violence training in Osh

In June Centralasiengrupperna visited Novi Ritm in Osh for a week and hosted a training in non-violence intervention with Per Herngren, non violent trainer and active within the plowshares movement, at the Novi Ritm house. The lectures focused mainly on tools to improve the democracy within meetings, how to approach problematic situations and how to intervene when a conflict arises. During the trainings the participants got a chanse to try out different non-violent methods by reenacting possible situations. For example how to repond to sexist comments or other discriminating acts. The participants from Novi ritm discussed how they could...

(English) Comics workshop on Gender Issues in Osh

Novi Ritm in Osh hosted a unique two days workshop on how to create comics and share girls problems in a patriarchial society. Workshops were organized by four members of the Swedish feminist collective of cartoonists Dotterbolaget with the collaboration between Centralasiengrupperna. During the first day participants learnt basics of comic drawing and different methods. On the second day, girls depending on their interest and will, were divided into 4 small groups, where they created their own comics on themes such as: bride-kidnapping, street harassment, violence against women and stereotypes. ”Girls group” played a big role in organizing the...

Föredrag: Post-soviet Kyrgyzstan in transition to WHAT? – perspectives of feminist youth and teenagers

Centralasiengrupperna i Malmö arrangerar ett föredrag om feminism i Kirgizistan. Varmt välkommen på onsdag 5 november kl 18.30-20.00 på Garaget Malmö! ”Speaking up among tokenization and misuse of the girl empowerment agenda” with Dariya Kasmamytova from Girl Activists of Kyrgyzstan ”Human rights as a radical agenda, youth activism in times of backlash” by Saadat Baigazieva from Bishkek Feminist Collective SQ The seminar will be held in english. For more information please contact Gustaf Sörnmo, gustaf@centralasien.org, 0736467661 Centralasiengrupperna arranges a lecture on feminism in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. Warmly welcome the 5th November at 18.30-20.00 @ Garaget library in Malmö,...