Scope of Good Practice
“Bride kidnapping” is quite common in Kyrgyzstan. However, despite a variety of research on this issue, the problem of bride kidnapping remains difficult. Lawyers have struggled with this problem for many years, but girls still are being forced to marry.
The unique aim of this campaign is to not only talk about the problem and its consequences, but also demonstrate correct models of behavior. For example, parents take away their daughter from a kidnapper’s house, police react to the committed crime and the kidnapper faces punishment. Young people will then think about the problem to which they can relate.

The Problem Addressed by the Campaign
1- Attitudes of victim’s relatives to bride kidnapping: Despite the fact that many parents feel outraged with the bride kidnapping practice, only few reported kidnapping. Some parents just pick up the victim and agree to take money and gifts in exchange for a promise not to report to the police, others just take their daughter away concerned about her condition. The majority of parents leave their daughters with kidnappers in exchange for presents and gifts.
2- Public attitude towards bride kidnapping: The public treats bride kidnapping as a daily practice that helps to substantially decrease wedding costs. The deputy Governor of Issyk-Kul region outlined during an interview that it is useless to combat bride kidnapping: “Bride kidnapping is deeply rooted in our history. One day I was a witness to a bride kidnapping myself. I was stopped in helping the victim by my driver just because he said that it is the usual thing”.
3- Little knowledge of criminal liability of bride kidnapping by a broad section of society.

Background Research
In 2010 Public Fond (PF) “Open Line” conducted research about kidnapping brides in Kyrgyzstan. The following methodology was used for data collection:
Legal acts comparative analysis
Structured interviews of the victims
Questionnaires for students
Interviews with law enforcement staff, NGOs experts, local governments and ministries
As result of questioning 268 victims of “bride kidnapping” it was found that:
36.9 percent of parent respondents asked girls to stay with kidnappers against their will
77 percent of respondents have no idea that it is possible to ask for help anywhere (police, crisis centers etc.)
For the question “Did life change for the worse after kidnapping?” 46 percent respondents said “Yes,” 38 percent were unable to answer, and only 16 percent were sure that their life changed for the worse.
47 percent of respondents live with kidnappers, 34 percent do not communicate with their kidnappers (some of them left immediately, others after some period of living together), 9 percent said that they divorced after a couple years living together.
It is important to note that 74 percent of respondents said that they were subjected to psychological pressure in their kidnapper’s house. 23 percent of kidnapping victims reported physical violence (including rape).
Strategy
The main concept of the campaign was to show “violence without violence,” that is, to present the problem of violence against women on the rise as a positive (though counter-intuitive). This display of negativity will not lead to any changes, but will only aggravate the situation.
The campaign has four target groups:
Parents of girls who were involved in the abduction of their daughter with the kidnapper, succumbing to the existing stereotypes and cultural practice
Potential kidnappers who were not aware of the existence of a criminal penalty for the kidnapping of brides
Youth who were indifferent to the problems of abducted women
Potential kidnapping victims, who should be shown that their fate is in their hands, and only they are free to guide it
Creative
The first video, “Give your daughter the right to choose,” the target audience (parents) is “reminded” of their true relationship to their daughters. The video says: “You were always near when she needed you: when she had problems in the study of subjects in school, when she hurt herself falling down… So why are you now afraid to protect her?”

 

 

The second video, “Do not be indifferent, call 102” shows the indifference to the problems of other people who were abducted. All the problems of society have a “boomerang” effect, and perhaps they could happen to you or your loved ones.

 

 

The third video “Bride kidnapping is an offense” – a humorous video showing a growing trend – “blind” kidnapping: when a guy steals a girl whom he has never seen before. This situation has been played up a bit with the message that bride kidnapping is a crime.

 

 

“Birth of a legend” shows a moment from the life of a real historical figure, Kurmanjan Datka, who was to marry a rich man because he paid a large dowry. But on the wedding day, Kurmanjan ran away. She challenged the custom and challenged the people who condemned her. Later she got to marry a man whom she has chosen. Then Kurmanjan started to lead the people of Kyrgyzstan to the south, and for which she was given the title of “Datka” – “General” and is still called the Queen of the South. This historical context has been used to show that women must not be afraid of any stereotypes in society and they must fight for happiness.

 

 

Media
Service announcements were broadcasted on public television in Kyrgyzstan twice in one year.
Broadcasting on regional channels of the country: Karakol, Kara-Balta, Batken. Broadcasting was provided free of charge.
Broadcasting on the international video site youtube.com and local – namba.kg, bulbul.kg
Broadcasting on the social network Facebook.com
On website of the organization openline.kg
On blog of the organization kloop.openline.kg
Impact
Several seminars have been organized in Karakol based on the campaign. The man who helped to organize this seminar informed the team that the children who participated witnessed the kidnapping of the bride in their town. Wasting no time, they helped the kidnapped girl leave the kidnapper’s house because she did not want to stay there. This is one of the most striking examples of the impact of the campaign.
January 28, 2013 the President of Kyrgyzstan signed a decree toughening the punishment for bride kidnapping. Earlier punishment for bride kidnapping was a maximum of 3 years in prison. Now it is 3 to 5 years.
After television public service announcements aired, there were more calls to the police, and to the organization. Prior to launching the campaign there were no open bride kidnapping cases in the courts. After the campaign began, four criminal cases were open under the article of “Stealing girls for the purpose of marriage.”
The campaign participated in the 16-day action against violence against women in Kyrgyzstan. In regions of the country people were given CDs with the social campaign slogan “Bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan.”
Conclusions and Recommendations
Recommendations:
Conduct a study on the impact of the campaign
Use public service announcements towards the solution of social problems
Conduct video screenings and discussions in the villages where the majority of bride kidnappings take place
Undertake joint activities with the Ministry of Education
Track the “Facts of Abduction,” a documentary film based on the trial for the abduction of women for marriage