News

IPPF EN strongly condemns the unlawful actions of local authorities in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, which are putting thousands of lives at risk by threatening access to essential, life-saving care.  City officials are moving to demolish the building that houses the clinic and office of the Reproductive Health Alliance in Kyrgyzstan (RHAK), an IPPF Member Association, an act that would cut off critical health services for the communities that depend on them – risking creating a care desert.  The property is privately owned by RHAK and has been used for over 25 years to provide essential health, psychological and legal services to thousands of people each year. RHAK fights gender-based violence, defends reproductive rights and supports survivors – making communities safer and fairer for all. Civil society organisations like RHAK are the backbone of a healthy and thriving society as they champion our shared well-being.  Now the building, along with two other historically significant structures in Bishkek’s so-called 'golden square,' has been earmarked for demolition as part of a proposed development project.   Particularly alarming are reports of due process violations, including attempts to reclassify land records, demands to vacate the premises without legal documentation and explicit indications that no compensation would be provided. If confirmed, such actions represent a serious breach of fundamental legal principles, including the protection of private property, legal certainty and the rule of law. Allowed to stand, such practices would leave no private property safe and expose any individual or entity to similar treatment.  We stand in full solidarity with RHAK and commend their decision to pursue all available legal avenues to defend their rights. Beyond the legal concerns, the potential closure of RHAK’s clinic would have immediate and harmful consequences for communities that rely on its services, depriving of care, particularly women, survivors of sexual violence and other marginalised groups. The reported disregard for the organization’s work and assets is both troubling and unacceptable.  ''What we are witnessing is not simply a dispute over a building. It is a test of whether the rule of law, respect for civil society and basic property rights will be upheld. It is also about ensuring that critical services are available to the people that need them. Attempts to dispossess a long-standing civil society organization like RHAK of its legally owned property, without due process or compensation, set a deeply dangerous precedent. We call on the authorities to immediately halt any actions that undermine these principles and to engage in a transparent, lawful and fair resolution,'' said Micah Grzywnowicz, IPPF EN Regional Director.  We call on the authorities in Bishkek to:  Immediately suspend any actions related to the demolition of the RHAK building;  Ensure full respect for legal procedures and property rights;  Engage in transparent dialogue with RHAK and other affected stakeholders;  Guarantee that any development process respects both national law and international standards.   We also urge international partners, institutions and civil society actors to closely monitor this situation and to support efforts to uphold the rule of law and protect civic space in Kyrgyzstan.  We all want to live in a society where private property is protected, and where people have safe spaces to access essential healthcare and connect with their communities. That is what is at stake.