Dear ladies and gentlemen,
The 8th of March is an opportune moment to recognise women of Kyrgyzstan for promoting gender equality and empowerment and for their achievements in the country’s development. It is also an excellent chance to reflect on the existing gaps and to look ahead to the advancement of full respect of women's rights and opportunities.
The United Nations acknowledges the great advances manifested themselves in the commitments of the Kyrgyz Republic to gender equality and women’s rights made over the past decade. The country has joined the Beijing Platform for Actions, ratified the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and signed the Millennium Declaration. The Government has adopted appropriate strategies, such as the National Action Plan for Gender Equality, and passed important laws, including the Law on the Social and Legal Protection from Domestic Violence and the Law on State Guarantees for Equal Rights and Opportunities for Men and Women.
However, despite of these important milestones, we have to recognize that women in Kyrgyzstan still suffer many forms of exclusion and discrimination: their rights are violated, their opportunities are limited and their needs are neglected.
One of the most pervasive forms of women's rights violation in Kyrgyzstan is violence against women, including bride kidnapping, polygamy, early marriages and domestic violence.
The figures of the recently released report the Association of Crisis Centers speak for themselves. Out of 1,680 women interviewed:
- 83% experienced various forms of violence from their partners and husbands;
- 29% systematically experience physical violence, including beating, intimidation etc
- 38 % were severely injured and got physical disorders and disabilities as a result of the domestic violence
- 24% in the rural areas were forced into marriage as a result of bride kidnapping
- 15% got married as a result of the arrangements by their parents
- More than 80% of women indicted for murder or murder attempt had been victims of domestic violence.
The roots of violence against women lie in persistent discrimination against women, poor accountability, and insufficiency of the actions and coordination from the side of the government, donors and civil society.
To galvanize action on violence against women, which is one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s launched UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign.
This multi-year effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls in all parts of the world calls on governments, civil society, women’s organizations, young people, the private sector, the media and the entire UN system to join forces in addressing the global pandemic of violence against women and girls.
By now, the Heads of States and Ministers from 69 Governments and more than 600 Parliamentarians have added their names to Say NO – UNiTE campaign.
In 2010, we launch the UN Secretary General's Campaign Unite to End Violence against Women in Kyrgyzstan.
This year the Campaign will focus on awareness raising and social mobilization of partners from government, donors community civil society and private business around prevention and combating violence against women and girls.
I am pleased to inform that as of now there are more than 15 partners, who joined the Campaign, among which are Parliament, Union of Artists, Kumtor Operating Company, American University in Central Asia, Alliance of Women's Legislative Initiatives, youth network Y-peer etc.
My personal commitment to the issue of violence against women stems not just from my position as UN Resident Coordinator, but also as a son, husband and father. I am convinced that each and everyone has a crucial role to play in ending violence against women – as fathers, friends, decision makers, and community and opinion leaders.
Thus, today I call you all to join the Say NO – UNiTE campaign in a public expression of your political will to make ending violence against women a top priority. You can do it by putting your name in the sign-up lists, which will be distributed to you shortly.
