The work of the Public Reception Center on Interethnic Issues: small stories of change in people's lives

February 14, 2024

A man receives legal counseling at a Free Legal Aid center opened with UNDP support.

UNDP Kyrgyzstan

In every part of our multinational country, one can find small stories that illustrate the importance of mutual understanding and support. These stories are born in difficult situations that call for attention and response. Let's look into some of them together, where the public reception center for interethnic issues has become a connecting factor in solving everyday difficulties, creating bridges and promoting harmony in our society.

1. The resident of Jany-Zher village of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. A.K., was born in the distant village of Jylandy in the Zherge-Tal region of the Republic of Tajikistan. In 2000, he decided to become a citizen of the Kyrgyz Republic. A few years later, in 2016, he entered into a marriage with a citizen of Tajikistan, Ms. R.A. Everything was going well, but in 2020, the family encountered trouble - an expired passport of the wife, due to which their fourth child could not receive a birth certificate.

Appeal to the public reception center on interethnic issues became the solution to the problem. The staff of the reception center not only accepted the appeal promptly, but also immediately began to solve the issue. Through joint efforts with the Population Service Center of Lenin District of Bishkek, the birth certificate was issued after one day. This case demonstrates how the public reception center is able to handle the everyday problems of citizens related to interethnic issues.

2. Assistance to a Tajik national, Ms. I.M., spouse of a Kyrgyz national. Her passport was about to expire, denying her the opportunity to visit her relatives in Tajikistan. Having applied to the public reception center on interethnic issues, Ms. I.M. received support.

The reception staff actively addressed the issue by contacting the Embassy of Tajikistan in the Kyrgyz Republic. Through the joint efforts of the reception center and the Embassy, Ms. I.M. received a new passport, which allowed her to see her relatives and friends. This story is another piece of evidence of the effectiveness of public reception centers in solving complex issues of interethnic nature.

These small stories are just moments in the lives of ordinary people, but they vividly demonstrate how the public reception center for interethnic issues actively participates in solving the everyday problems of citizens, creating cohesion and well-being in a multiethnic society.

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This article was prepared within the framework of the UNDP project in Kyrgyzstan "Inclusive Governance and Shared Identity for Sustainable Peace and Development", funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund