The foundational research of the “Ray of Light” initiative “Life with Dignity: Preventing Violence against Women and Girls in Kyrgyzstan”

International Alert is a global peacebuilding charity organization. The organization conducts awareness-raising activities and analysis aimed at addressing the root causes of conflicts among people belonging to different population groups.

The Evidence SA team conducted a baseline assessment for the “Tatiktuu Jashoo” project for the International Alert organization. The goal was to transform family relationships among the population in targeted locations into positive ones that reject any form of violence. In light of this, the project’s efforts were directed towards reducing misconceptions about women and girls within families, decreasing various forms of violence, and expanding women’s opportunities to make economic decisions within the family.

The research methodology employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, including surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), and in-depth interviews. A total of 479 individuals were surveyed, and 16 FGDs and 34 in-depth interviews were conducted. The research was conducted from December to January 2022. The researchers conducted fieldwork to collect data among the local population in the following locations: Ken-Bulun District, Ivanovsky District, Sulaiman-Too municipality, and Turan municipality. A distinctive feature of the research is that it was conducted in families where there potentially could have been cases of violence or in families where cases of violence were recorded.

The primary methodological limitation of the project was measuring the current level of violence in families where cases of violence occurred. As a result, victims of violence may have chosen to refrain from providing specific responses. In some cases, a high level of hidden violence against women was documented in these regions. In response, field researchers conducted training for interviewers on the “Do No Harm” technique to reduce negative impacts on respondents who had experienced violence.

The research identified key economic and social factors that contributed to the occurrence of violence. The research findings provided stakeholders with an understanding of the main ways to strengthen the positions of women and girls to prevent violence against them.

You can familiarize yourself with the brief results of the study by following the link provided.