Promoting Inclusive Citizenship and Disability Rights in Kyrgyzstan
Building inclusive civic spaces where people with disabilities and vulnerable communities can participate fully in democratic life, access quality education, and make their voices heard in Kyrgyzstan
About Our Inclusive Citizenship Programme in Kyrgyzstan
In Kyrgyzstan, people with disabilities face persistent barriers to full participation in public life – from inaccessible infrastructure and public institutions to exclusion from civic decision-making processes. Oasis Foundation’s Inclusive Citizenship Programme works to dismantle these barriers through direct advocacy, civic education, community mobilisation, and collaboration with government bodies and civil society organisations.
Since 2003, we have worked alongside people with disabilities, marginalised communities, and democratic institutions to build a Kyrgyzstan where every citizen – regardless of ability, background, or circumstance – can exercise their rights, access services, and participate meaningfully in the decisions that shape their lives. Our programme spans disability inclusion, legal literacy, civic participation, inclusive urban development, and educational access.
Barriers to Inclusion in Kyrgyzstan
People with disabilities in Kyrgyzstan face a compounding set of exclusions. Physical inaccessibility — in public buildings, transport, and urban infrastructure — limits daily mobility and participation. Legal and administrative barriers restrict access to education, employment, and social services. Attitudinal barriers, including stigma and low awareness among public institutions, further compound exclusion.
Kyrgyzstan has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), establishing a legal framework for inclusion. However, implementation remains uneven, and civil society organisations play a critical role in bridging the gap between policy commitments and lived reality. Oasis Foundation works at this intersection — translating legal rights into practical access, and community voices into institutional change.
Beyond disability inclusion, our programme addresses the broader challenge of democratic participation for vulnerable communities: people facing poverty, those with limited formal education, rural and remote populations, and young people who have been excluded from civic life. Inclusive citizenship is about more than just physical access but also ensuring that every person has the knowledge, confidence, and opportunity to participate.
Programme Impact
- 20+ years of civic inclusion and disability rights work in Kyrgyzstan, operating since 2003.
- Recognised partner of the Mayor’s Office of Bishkek on inclusive urban development and accessible city infrastructure.
- Active collaboration with the Kyrgyz Republic government, civil society organisations including Metamorphosis, and international partners to build accessible civic spaces.
- Civic education delivered to vulnerable communities across Kyrgyzstan on legal rights, democratic participation, and social protection access.
- UrbanEyes partnership — co-presenter of the UrbanEyes digital platform launch (October 2025), enabling citizens to assess and report on urban accessibility and infrastructure.
How We Promote Inclusive Citizenship
Disability Rights Advocacy
Oasis advocates for disability rights at the legislative and institutional level in Kyrgyzstan – working with government agencies, local authorities, and civil society partners including UrbanEyes to ensure the rights enshrined in the UN CRPD are translated into accessible services, inclusive infrastructure, and equal participation in public life.
Civic Education and Legal Literacy
Oasis delivers civic education workshops and legal literacy sessions for people with disabilities, rural communities, and those living in poverty. We equip citizens with the knowledge to engage with democratic institutions, access public services, and advocate for themselves.
Inclusive Urban Development
In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Bishkek and civil society organisations including Metamorphosis, Oasis works to ensure urban infrastructure, public spaces, and municipal services are accessible to people with disabilities and all residents of Bishkek.
UrbanEyes Digital Platform Partnership
Oasis Foundation collaborates with UrbanEyes – a digital civic platform enabling residents to evaluate buildings and infrastructure, report accessibility issues, and contribute to safer, more open public spaces. Through this partnership, we support citizens in actively shaping a more accessible urban environment in Bishkek.
Education Access for People with Disabilities
Oasis removes barriers to educational participation through advocacy with institutions, support for inclusive teaching, and connection of students with disabilities to their legal entitlements. Through the Bilim Belek programme, we also fund the education of young people with disabilities facing compound disadvantages.
Community Mobilisation and Civil Society
Oasis supports community mobilization efforts that bring together people with disabilities, their families, and allies to collectively advocate for change – facilitating connections between grassroots groups and formal civic institutions across Kyrgyzstan.
Working Together for an Inclusive Kyrgyzstan
Oasis Foundation builds inclusive civic spaces through partnerships with government bodies, civil society organisations, and digital platforms — ensuring people with disabilities and marginalised communities can participate fully in democratic life across Kyrgyzstan.
On 30 October 2025, Oasis Foundation co-presented the launch of UrbanEyes at Orion Hotel, Bishkek — a digital platform enabling citizens to evaluate buildings and infrastructure, report accessibility issues, and contribute to safer, more open public spaces. Oasis is proud to support civic technology that puts disability inclusion and citizen participation at the centre of urban development.
Oasis Foundation collaborates with the Mayor's Office of Bishkek on inclusive urban development — working to ensure that city infrastructure, public spaces, and municipal services are accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities and all residents of Bishkek.
Bishkek, Kyrgyz RepublicOasis Foundation works alongside Metamorphosis and other civil society organisations in Kyrgyzstan to assess urban accessibility, develop policy recommendations, and build inclusive civic spaces where people with disabilities can participate fully in public life.
Civil Society · KyrgyzstanUrbanEyes Launch — Orion Hotel, Bishkek
On 30 October 2025, Oasis Foundation participated in the presentation of the UrbanEyes digital platform — a tool enabling residents to evaluate urban accessibility, report infrastructure issues, and shape safer, more inclusive public spaces in Bishkek.
Participants explored the platform's features, discussed the importance of accessible urban infrastructure, and shared how technology can help communities solve real problems. Oasis Foundation continues to support initiatives that make cities more open, accessible, and safe for every person.
Watch on InstagramOasis Foundation's Inclusive Citizenship Programme has operated in Kyrgyzstan since 2003, in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Bishkek, civil society organisations including Metamorphosis, and international partners. For partnership enquiries, contact info@oasiskg.org or visit bilimbelek.kg to support education access for young people with disabilities in Kyrgyzstan.
Frequently Asked Questions
About disability inclusion, civic participation, and accessible cities in Kyrgyzstan. Enquiries: info@oasiskg.org · +996 772 554 508
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People with disabilities in Kyrgyzstan face compounding barriers to full participation in public life. Physical inaccessibility — in public buildings, transport, and urban infrastructure — limits daily mobility. Legal and administrative barriers restrict access to education, employment, and social services. Attitudinal barriers, including stigma and low institutional awareness, further compound exclusion. Although Kyrgyzstan has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), implementation remains uneven. Oasis Foundation works to bridge the gap between policy commitments and lived reality through advocacy, civic education, and partnership with the Mayor's Office of Bishkek.
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The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is an international human rights treaty establishing the rights of people with disabilities to full and equal participation in society. Kyrgyzstan ratified the CRPD, creating legal obligations to ensure accessibility, non-discrimination, and inclusive participation across public life. However, implementation in Kyrgyzstan remains inconsistent — particularly in urban infrastructure, public institutions, and education. Oasis Foundation works alongside government bodies and civil society to translate these legal obligations into practical access and inclusion for people with disabilities.
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Oasis Foundation works in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Bishkek on inclusive urban development — advocating for accessible infrastructure, public spaces, and municipal services for people with disabilities. We collaborate with civil society organisations including Metamorphosis to assess accessibility, develop policy recommendations, and support inclusive public space design. In October 2025, Oasis co-presented the launch of UrbanEyes — a digital platform enabling citizens to evaluate buildings and infrastructure, report accessibility issues, and contribute to safer, more open public spaces in Bishkek.
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UrbanEyes is a digital civic platform launched in October 2025 that enables citizens to actively participate in improving their urban environment. Using the platform, residents can evaluate buildings and infrastructure, highlight accessibility issues, and report on the safety and openness of public spaces. Oasis Foundation co-presented the UrbanEyes launch at Orion Hotel, Bishkek, bringing together civic actors, government representatives, and community members. The platform directly supports disability inclusion by giving people with disabilities and their allies a concrete tool to document and report barriers in the built environment.
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Oasis Foundation delivers civic education workshops, legal literacy sessions, and rights awareness campaigns equipping citizens with the knowledge to engage with democratic institutions, access public services, and advocate for themselves. Our programmes are adapted for people with different disabilities and varying levels of formal education — including rural communities, people living in poverty, and young people excluded from civic life. We also support community mobilisation efforts that connect grassroots groups with formal civic institutions, and collaborate with Metamorphosis and other partners to build sustainable civil society capacity for inclusive citizenship in Kyrgyzstan.
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Access to quality education remains a significant challenge for young people with disabilities in Kyrgyzstan. Oasis Foundation works to remove barriers to educational participation through advocacy with educational institutions, support for inclusive teaching practices, and connection of students with disabilities to the legal entitlements available to them. Through the Bilim Belek educational programme, Oasis also raises funds for the education of young people with disabilities facing compound disadvantages — including poverty, institutional care, and social exclusion.
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Oasis Foundation's Inclusive Citizenship Programme works with the Mayor's Office of Bishkek on inclusive urban development, civil society organisations including Metamorphosis, the UrbanEyes digital platform initiative, and government agencies responsible for social protection and disability rights. Our work also connects to Oasis Foundation's Vulnerable Youth Support Programme and Bilim Belek to address compounding exclusions faced by young people with disabilities in Kyrgyzstan.
Stand With Inclusive Communities
Your support enables Oasis Foundation to reach more people with disabilities and marginalised communities in Kyrgyzstan, expand our civic education programmes, and advocate for a more inclusive democratic society. Learn more about our research and advocacy work or explore our publications and resources.