Bishkek, August 29, 2022 - A bike ride under the motto "Health Starts with Me!" was held in the capital, timed to the Independence Day of the Kyrgyz Republic and dedicated to strengthening the unity of the people, increasing tolerance, preservation and development of diversity.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic, with the support of the Administration of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek City Hall, "Velo Positiv kg" Public Association and "Golden Wheels" cycling club, in partnership with UN agencies in the Kyrgyz Republic UNDP, UNICEF, OHCHR, Public Association Institute for Peace and Development, and "Shoro" company, within the implementation of the Kyrgyz jarany concept.

At the opening ceremony of the bicycle rally, Almaz Isanov, head of the Political and Economic Research Department of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, noted, "Every citizen of Kyrgyzstan is a Kyrgyz jarany, so we all unite around the "Kyrgyz jarany" concept. The purpose of today's bike rally is to call everyone to a healthy lifestyle, and to promote the Concept widely.

In 2020, by decree of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Concept for the Development of Civil Identity of the Kyrgyz Jarany in the Kyrgyz Republic for the period 2021-2026 was approved. The main goal of the Concept is to develop a favorable environment for the development and promotion of the shared civic identity - Kyrgyz Jarany, which unites all ethnic communities while preserving/maintaining their ethno-cultural identity.

Priority directions of the Concept:

1. Formation of a conscious understanding of the civic identity of the Kyrgyz Jarany.

2. Strengthening the unity of the people of Kyrgyzstan, increasing tolerance and maintaining respect for the values ​​of diversity.

3. Development and promotion of the state language, preservation and development of multilingualism.

4. Creation of equal conditions in access to management and decision-making processes.

5. Increasing confidence in political institutions and public authorities.

Support for the implementation of the Kyrgyz Jarany Concept is carried out under the project "Inclusive Governance and Civic Identity for Sustainable Peace and Development" with the technical support of UN agencies in the Kyrgyz Republic UNDP, UNICEF and OHCHR, and funding from the UN Peacebuilding Fund.

Photo from the cycling event: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA4XMg

Contacts for media: Nurzhan Alymkanova, UNDP communications specialist  nurzhan.alymkanova@undp.org