Forum of Women's NGOs of Kyrgyzstan

Special consultative status ECOSOC UN informs

Campaign “16 days of activism against gender-bases violence” in Kyrgyz Republic.

This year the motto of the campaign is “Life without violence is the right of every person.” The goal of the campaign this year is awareness raising on gender-bases violence issues, including the problem of home violence and violence against women through holding consultations at high levels, public discussions, educational and entertainment events, TV shows and talk show at the national and regional levels. The symbol of the campaign is an imprint of a palm, which is a traditional symbol of joining all caring, progressive people, in spite of age, sex, ethnic and religious affiliation.

According to various research held by public organizations in Kyrgyzstan, every other woman, every third child, and every fourth elderly person suffered from domestic violence at some point in their life. For Kyrgyzstan the problem of violence against women is complicated: on the one hand with growing conservative ideology, and on the other hand with the weakness of the personal freedom of institutions and human rights. So, it is not by chance that in this situation, violation of fundamental women’s rights and especially young women’s rights, such as early marriage, forced marriage, bride kidnapping are happening on regular basis.

            This year the campaign is organized by a non-official network of state, public and international organizations that work in the area of preventing domestic violence on national and local levels.

            The work of the network is coordinated by the Partner Council, which consists of the representatives from: Economic and Social policy department of the President’s Administration of Kyrgyz Republic, Association of Crisis Centers of Kyrgyzstan, Forum of women’s NGOs of Kyrgyzstan, UN Gender Theme group, UN Volunteers program, OSCE center in Bishkek, Women’s program of Soros Foundation Kyrgyzstan.

Campaign calendar

November 21

Press conference by the organizers on the occasion of the beginning of the campaign

November 22-23

National Forum of activist organizations and organizations working on preventing domestic violence.

November 26

Consultative meeting “Eliminating gender-based violence: legislation, law implementation, problems and ways of solution” with participation of Internal Affairs Minister, Permanent Coordinator of UN system in Kyrgyzstan, Head of the Economic and Social policy department of the President’s Administration, police colonels from Austria, and experts on violence issues.

Press Conference on the results of the Consultative meeting.

Meeting of the experts on the on violence issues from Austria with students of Interior Affairs Ministry Academy.

November 25- December 10

Regional campaigns of crisis centers in Kyrgyzstan

Competition of youth initiatives on preventing gender-based violence

Youth campaign of UN Volunteers network on regional level.

December 10

Final press conference of the organizers of the campaign, dedicated to International Day of Human Rights.

Youth Action devoted to International Day of Human Rights.

Early December

Forum of Women's NGOs of Kyrgyzstan has prepared and is about to publish a booklet and a manual for the members of Kyrgyz National Parliament of Eliminating Domestic Violence