Bishkek, April 6 / The award ceremony for winners of two contests among journalists and bloggers - Living without Stereotypes and Successful Rural Woman - was held with the participation of the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development and UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic.  

The main objectives of the contests aim at facilitating eradication of negative stereotypes against persons with disabilities and rural women, enhancing access to justice and legal empowerment, and creating a positive image of persons with disabilities and rural women through extensive coverage of these topics in media and social media throughout the country. In addition, the contest aimed at increasing professional interest in media materials on the selected topics.  

The contests were announced and held on May 10 to December 10, 2020, by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development (MLSD) then, in cooperation with UNDP and MFA of Finland project “Towards a sustainable access to justice for legal empowerment in the Kyrgyz Republic”.

In total, more than 50 materials were submitted to the contest. By the Contest Commission decision, composed of the MLSD, media experts and UNDP, the authors of the following media materials were declared winners:

Living without Stereotypes Contest

Azattyk Radio journalists Aigerim Akylbekova with “My Inspiring Power” ( "Мага дем берген Кайратым"), and Kunduz Syrdybaeva with “Marat’s Paintings” («Марат тарткан мыкты сүрөттөр») video content shared first place.  

Two other journalists, Eliza Akzholtoeva, Aimak newspaper reporter with the article titled "Toktokan Apa’s Hard Work" » («Токтокан апанын тоодой эмгеги») and Burulay Busurmankulova, OTRK reporter with her article "The Road Leading to Success" («Ийгиликке жетелеген жол») shared second place.

Sakhira Nazarova, “Echo Osha” (“Echo of Osh”) newspaper reporter took third place for her “Rights of Children with ASD.” («Права детей с РАС» )

Successful Rural Woman Contest

Salabat Erketayeva, ELTR TV reporter, won first place for her video "Have you seen a 70-year-old apa (mother) who drives a combine harvester? Look at the work of mothers!” («Комбайн айдаган 70 жаштагы апаны көрдүңүз беле? Энелердин эмгегине күбө болуңуздар!»)

Elnura Tolonbay kyzy, Karakolskaya Pravda newspaper reporter took second place for her article "Mothers with kind words, caring hearts, and rewarding hard work" «И горы свернут, если будет надо».

Third place was awarded to Nina Nichiporova, deputy editor-in-chief of "Vecherniy Bishkek" newspaper for the article “They can move mountains if they need to.”

Ermek Aktanov, Birinchi Radio KTRK reporter with his article titled “Rural women rights and opportunities”, and Alimzhan Masaev, Kut Bilim reporter with his article “Teacher who defeated others and herself” received encouragement awards.

One might recall that UNDP in Kyrgyzstan actively supports projects and activities focused on the rights of persons with disabilities, and rural women legal literacy improvement. Online training module on disability coverage was developed for journalists, and is available to be completed free of charge in the state or official language.

Link to photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVapeKp

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Contacts for media:

Nurzhan Alymkanova

Communications Specialist

nurzhan.alymkanova@undp.org