Although some participants of the session expressed the view that peacebuilding is not relevant to the region, Central Asia remains in a complex and fluid transition period. The Central Asian states still navigate the legacy of the Soviet past without a clearly defined shared vision for the future. While governments are trying to promote democracy and market reforms, in practice sometimes they maintain a hybrid system combining authoritarian style of governance, traditional and Islamic norms. This results in persistent “strongman” politics, widening intergenerational divides, and decreasing trust between citizens and the state.

Rising youth activism and civic engagement signal growing demand for more inclusive and institutionalized governance, yet this energy often clashes with conservative and patriarchal pushback, the increasing role of religion in politics, and shrinking civic space. Geopolitical competition further fragments the region, as China strengthens its economic influence, Russia dominates security, and Western partners promote liberal reforms. This leaves Central Asian states to balance external pressures with internal instability. Despite these divisions, emerging opportunities are becoming apparent, particularly in countries that are moving towards regional cooperation and reform efforts. Additionally, youth across all countries are showing increasing potential to drive positive change. Peacebuilding in Central Asia requires strengthening inclusive civic identity, promoting regional dialogue, supporting civil society resilience, and enabling cross-border collaboration to address shared challenges such as identity tensions, governance gaps, and socio-economic inequalities

Voices from the Region: Rethinking What Peacebuilding Means

One of the most striking insights from the session was the critical role of trust-building. In a context where the government and civil society increasingly regard each other with suspicion, the Central Asia Peacebuilding Hub has emerged as a powerful example of how inclusive platforms can foster shared ownership of peacebuilding goals and strategies to achieve them.

The Hub was initially established in Kyrgyzstan to address the challenge of fragmented peace efforts led by different international NGOs, UN agencies, and local CSOs, which often lacked interaction with other key actors, including the central government, local authorities, and the private sector. The Hub was born out of the need to create a space where civil society, state actors, businesses, and international partners could co-create peacebuilding strategies grounded in local realities. Here are some interesting ideas shared by different sector representatives during the SIPRI forum session.

Ms. Kultaeva, member of Central Elections Commission, Kyrgyz Republic:

I strongly believe that peacebuilding now extends beyond security to education, culture, technology, business and elections. As you may know, in Kyrgyzstan’s history, the election results triggered mass protests in 2005, 2010 and 2020. We have realized that to have peace and stability in Kyrgyzstan, we need to work not only on upgrading our electoral technologies but also focus on voters’ education and building dialogue with all key stakeholders. The Yntymak week is such a space where dialogue with all key stakeholders is possible, therefore we participated actively and plan to continue our cooperation with the Peacebuilding Hub in the future.

Mr.Sydykov, Head of International Business Council (business association), Kyrgyz Republic:

Businesses know that peace and stability go hand in hand with profits and lower risks, but may not see how they can be involved. Our role as a business association is to bridge this gap, be their voice in peacebuilding, and make them heard.

Platforms like Yntymak greatly help in launching this awareness in the first place and setting path for further cooperation between public and private sectors, civil society and internationals. For example, green policy incentives are far more effective than administrative measures for behavioural change not only in business, but for people in general and they contribute to conflict minimization efforts – through creating the Central Asian Green Practices Platform, we aim to change people’s attitude to business community and vice versa, through this network we move towards joint actions for peacebuilding in CA region and beyond.

Ms. Aizat Ruslanova, Executive Director of IDEA Central Asia:

From the perspective of local civil society and youth, one of the most significant contributions of the Hub has been creating genuine spaces for intergenerational dialogue. At IDEA Central Asia, we have seen that sustainable peace and the protection of civic space depend on the ability of different generations to understand one another, share lessons, and collectively respond to challenges. Our programs bring together young activists, community leaders, and experienced professionals to co-create initiatives that strengthen social cohesion and protect civic freedoms. Through activities like Yntymak Week, young people do not simply participate as beneficiaries—they engage as co-leaders, shaping discussions and proposing solutions alongside older generations. This approach has not only amplified youth voices in decision-making but has also fostered trust and continuity in civic action, which is essential to maintaining open and resilient civic spaces in the region.

Yntymak Week: A Living Laboratory for Collaboration

What makes the Hub particularly relevant beyond Central Asia is its relational approach to conflict prevention and resolution. In a sector often dominated by technical projects and siloed interventions, the Hub prioritizes safe, reflective, and purpose-driven spaces where actors can build trust and co-create solutions. Therefore, the idea of Yntymak Week (from the Kyrgyz word for “unity” or “harmony”) was born. This week is an annual peacebuilding and social cohesion event in Kyrgyzstan that unites government, civil society, business, and international actors to co-create solutions for peace. Launched in 2022 under the Peacebuilding Hub initiative with support from PeaceNexus, UN agencies, and key partners, it has become a key platform for dialogue and collaboration across sectors.

In 2025, the Yntymak Week was not just another event with conferences and workshops, it functioned as a living laboratory of collaboration, where people did not just share their experiences but worked together to define what peacebuilding and social cohesion mean in Central Asia today.