The petition was initiated by Tais Plus, SWAN member from Kyrgyzstan. Signatures were collected on the streets of the capital Bishkek and in several provincial cities between December 1 and 17. Says Shahnaz Islamova from Tais Plus: “Unfortunately we did not manage to collect as many signatures as we had hoped to, due to the police raids. Right on the spot, before our eyes, all of the sudden, police officers started to grab sex workers and place them into their cars. Allegedly they were ordered to bring all our women to the police”.

“This happened at our meeting point on Kulatov street” says Islamova. “At another meeting point, on street Shopokov, the girls were taken by the Traffic Police and representatives of Internal Affairs. Though the group leaders were reminding the police that they did not have a right to detain the girls, the law-enforcement officers only cursed and shove the group leaders aside. Only after the interference of Tais Plus did they let the women out of their car. They shouted: “Yeah, protect them, let them spread disease and rob people. You don’t let us fight crime”.

Besides Tais Plus, numerous other organizations were active in collecting signatures: “Podruga” in Osh; “Gvozdika” in Kyzyl Kiya; “Bilek” in Isfana; “Tais Plus 2” in Zhalalabad; “Ulgu” in Kerben; Initiative Group “Space” in Talas; “Sakbol” and Church of Living God in Balykchi; “Afiyat” in Karakol; “Tendesh” in Naryn; “Daniem” in At-Bashi village.

In only one day “Tais Plus2” collected 70 signatures in the town of Zhalalabad. “Afiyat” from Karakol collected 29 and NGO “Bilek” from Isfana 16 signatires.

The signed appeal was presented at a round table, supported by the national HIV/AIDS Coordination and Monitoring Sector of the country’s Vice-Prime Minister’s team.

For more information: Shahnaz Islamova, Tais Plus, Bishkek,
Email: [email protected]
About Tais Plus