Bride Kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan

Bride kidnapping is one of the most important human rights issues in contemporary Kyrgyzstan. Some of these kidnappings are merely playful rituals, where the bride is engaged to the groom and consents to the kidnapping, but many are not. There are no nation-wide statistics on the frequency of bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan, but recent studies indicate that as many as one third of all ethnic Kyrgyz women are abducted and married against their will. Despite its frequency, Kyrgyz bride kidnapping has attracted virtually no attention by scholars, activists or policy makers both within Kyrgyzstan and internationally.

The lecture included the screening of a documentary film on the topic.