Bübyusara Ryskulova, honourary president of the crisis centre Sezim, has spent over 30 years supporting domestic violence survivors in Kyrgyzstan. Founded in 1998, Sezim was one of the first in the region to provide critical services.
Ryskulova’s work began after a 1998 visit to the U.S., where she learned about structured support systems. Back home, the concept was largely unknown. The early days were difficult, with no one calling the first hotline for months. When the first call came, she had little experience but persisted.
Over time, Kyrgyzstan made progress, including passing a 2003 law against family violence and updating it in 2017. Sezim now handles court cases, provides shelter, and works with international agencies like the IOM and UN Women. Despite advancements, Ryskulova emphasizes that daily efforts are still needed to protect every survivor.