Yntymak Week has been implemented since 2023 by the Peacebuilding Hub. It is a forum that brings together diverse leaders from civil society, business and government to address issues that are central to cohesive social development. The Peacebuilding Hub is an informal collective that convenes the forum. It is comprised of a coalition of international organisations dedicated to fostering and promoting peace in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia.
In 2025, Yntymak Week focused on engaging youth as drivers of dialogue, trust-building, and cross-border collaboration. Events were held in Osh and Bishkek, and, for the first time, in Fergana, Uzbekistan. The expansion to three locations across two countries and the formalisation of partnerships with state institutions in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan were important milestones in the forum’s development.
Youth voices are often not heard. Young people try, create ideas, and have the capacity to contribute, but they are still not listened to. In these moments, believing in yourself becomes especially important.
Aizat Ruslanova, Executive Director of IDEA Central Asia
Results
Yntymak Week 2025 reaffirmed the forum’s relevance in a changing regional landscape and the increasing leadership among youth. In a context of shrinking civic space, the forum served as a safe space to raise concerns and challenges and to foster constructive dialogue between government and civil society, as well as identifying priorities for greater participation and enhanced regional cooperation. Its success generated renewed commitment from Central Asian countries to continue the dialogue, with a second Fergana Peace Forum planned for Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan in 2026.