She was born in Uzbekistan in 1994 and moved to Kyrgyzstan with her parents at a young age. With only a birth certificate, she was unable to obtain a Kyrgyz passport upon reaching adulthood because, by birth, she should have been recognized as a citizen of Uzbekistan.  

Raihon lived in this situation in Kyrgyzstan for a long time, which limited her access to legal employment, public services, and certain social support measures. Even when she married a citizen of Kyrgyzstan, the couple could not officially register their marriage, which later affected the birth registration of their children. 

Such cases reflect a broader problem for vulnerable populations in border areas, where the lack of civil registration or confirmed legal status leads to risks of social exclusion and limited access to basic rights. 

The UN Peacebuilding Fund and UNDP support the efforts of the Kyrgyz Republic to strengthen social cohesion, develop cross-border cooperation, and expand access to public services. Within the project, special attention is given to providing free legal assistance to people in situations of legal uncertainty, including legal counseling, document restoration, and case support in cooperation with the state bodies of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. 

A key element of this work is inter-agency and cross-border collaboration, which helps resolve complex cases related to identity verification, the exchange of official information, and the processing of necessary documents through the relevant state and consular institutions. 

Thanks to this support, specifically the qualified legal assistance in her case, Raihon was able to obtain confirmation of her Uzbek citizenship through the local consulate of Uzbekistan, get a travel document, and travel to Uzbekistan to reunite with her relatives after almost 20 years. Most importantly, in March of this year, she obtained her long-awaited national passport and returned to Uzbekistan.  

Furthermore, with the help of the project's lawyers, she successfully completed the process of legalizing her family's status, including registering her marriage and obtaining documents for her children.  

Raihon's story illustrates how timely legal assistance and coordination between the state bodies of two countries can lead to sustainable solutions for complex life situations. 

Beyond individual cases, the initiative contributes to the broader goals of the UN Peacebuilding Fund, including strengthening social cohesion, reducing vulnerability associated with legal uncertainty, and increasing trust in state institutions in border areas. 

By supporting people through free legal assistance, the project helps to expand access to rights, strengthen social integration, and build more resilient and cohesive communities in the border regions of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.