EMBASSY BISHKEK NOMINATION FOR 2009 SECRETARY'S

UNCLAS BISHKEK 001082 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI) AND G/IWI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KWMN PREL KPAO PHUM KG SUBJECT: EMBASSY BISHKEK NOMINATION FOR 2009 SECRETARY'S AWARD FOR IWOC REF: STATE 99729 ¶1. (SBU) Gazbubu Babayarova serves as a Research Associate and Bride Kidnapping Project Coordinator within Social Research Center (SRC) at the American University in Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. A former victim of bride kidnapping or "ala kachuu", Babayarova has spent the last four years educating the Kyrgyz population about the devastating consequences of forced marriage. ¶2. (SBU) Russell Kleinbach, Ph.D., a Professor of Sociology at Philadelphia University, described bride kidnapping as "the act of abducting a woman to marry her and includes a variety of actions, ranging from consensual elopement to kidnapping and rape." Although accepted by the general population as a traditional practice, bride kidnapping is in violation of Kyrgyz civil law, Islamic law and Kyrgyz traditional law of "adat." The physical and psychological impact that forced marriage may have on a young Kyrgyz bride can be devastating, and at times, lead to her suicide. ¶3. (SBU) In 2007, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee (NHC) awarded Babayarova with a $5000 grant in support of her project, through which she conducted 22 educational workshops on the prevention of bride kidnapping to over 1300 students, teachers, government officials, and community leaders and distributed hundreds of educational DVDs and thousands of brochures. After successfully canvassing many cities and villages, Babayarova received a second NHC grant of $15,000 in May 2008, allowing her to expand her project by training locally-based initiative groups to conduct prevention workshops and further educate the population. Her tireless efforts to empower young women to stand up for their rights have met staunch criticism by traditionalists in favor of the brutal act. In countless situations, she has put herself in harm's way by advocating for the release of non-consenting brides and, at times, physically aiding in their escape from a kidnapper's home. She attempts to reason with families unwilling to release the young brides but is always willing to stand her ground, even when faced with threats of physical violence. ¶4. (SBU) Babayarova also serves as the research assistant for Russell Kleinbach, as he studies the rapid escalation in bride kidnapping cases throughout Kyrgyzstan. Together, the researchers have conducted hundreds of interviews over the span of four years in an effort to highlight the short and long-term effects of the brutal practice. ¶5. (SBU) Contact and personal information for Ms. Babayarova: Name: Gazbubu Babayarova Abdipattaevna DOB: 08-15-1980 Address: Social Research Center 205 Abdumomunova St. Bishkek 720040 Telephone: 996-312-664-089, 996-555-843-738 E-mail: babayarovag@gmail.com Country of Birth: Kyrgyz Republic Citizenship: Kyrgyz Republic Passport number: AN 0029381 Note: Ms. Babayarova was notified of the nomination. GFOELLER