IOM has launched three projects worth nearly USD 1 million to
promote peace and tolerance, provide legal aid and rebuild a centre
for child victims of trafficking destroyed in the ethnic conflict
that erupted in Southern Kyrgyzstan in the summer of 2010.

A one-year, USD 650,000 project funded by Japan will target
young people and teachers in Osh and Jalalabad – the
districts worst affected by the conflict. It aims to improve ethnic
tolerance among students and teachers at 967 schools and 30
vocational training centres.

The project will also reach out to a wider public through a mass
information campaign to promote peaceful co-existence among Kyrgyz
and Uzbeks using TV, radio and live theatre performances.

A second six-month, USD 200,000 project funded by the Soros
Foundation will establish seven legal counselling and assistance
centres in Osh and Jalalabad cities to help an estimated 4,000
families and individuals who lost their property ownership and
identification documents during the conflict.

Working together with local non governmental organizations
(NGOs), IOM will hire and train 21 lawyers and seven notaries to
advise people and help them to acquire new documents.

A third three-month, USD 120,000 project funded by Norway will
rebuild and reopen IOM’s Adaptation and Reintegration Center
for Minors in Osh. The centre, which was destroyed in the fighting
in June, provides repatriation, rehabilitation and reintegration
services to repatriated actual and potential child victims of human
trafficking.

"This facility provides vulnerable, repatriated children with a
safe place to stay. But it also gives them appropriate medical and
psychological care, social, legal and financial help, and
vocational training that can help them to find jobs," says IOM Osh
Head of Sub-Office Ruta Nimkar.

For more information please contact:

Ruta Nimkar

IOM Kyrgyzstan

E-mail: "mailto:rnimkar@iom.int">rnimkar@iom.int

or

Zlatko Zigic

IOM Kyrgyzstan

E-mail: "mailto:zzigic@iom.int">zzigic@iom.int