Today, on 19 April 2021, a public discussion of proposals for Kyrgyz Criminal Code Article 175 “Abduction of a person for the purpose of marriage” and Article 170 “Kidnapping” was held by the Committee on Law Enforcement, Combatting Crime and Corruption and Gender Council of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic (JK KR), with the support of the joint EU-UN “Spotlight Initiative." The meeting was attended by members of Jogorku Kenesh, heads of ministries and departments, pro bono lawyers, civil activists, gender experts, Supreme Court judge, representatives from UN agencies and the EU Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic.

Public discussions emerged as a legal response to the tragedy that happened after the kidnapping of a Kyrgyz girl, Aizada Kanatbekova, which resulted in her homicide. This has caused a resonance among citizens who demanded to call to account all those involved in this crime, as well as those who failed to prevent and respond to it. The United Nations in the Kyrgyz Republic called on the Kyrgyz authorities “to take timely and coordinated actions to respond and address the cases registered under article 175 of the Criminal Code, Abduction of a person for the purpose of marriage, and to ensure effective and prompt investigation when such cases are brought to their attention."

In connection with this event, a number of proposals on amendments to Articles 175 and 170 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic were announced in public information spaces.

UNDP supports the enactment and enforcement of legal practices aimed at preventing and ending violence against women and girls in Kyrgyzstan and will continue to provide an inclusive platform for public discussions between the government and civil society for legal improvements.

In January 2020, in partnership with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the EU and UN have launched a multi-year country program under the global Spotlight Initiative on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls. The programme’s vision is to create an environment where all women and girls in Kyrgyzstan, particularly those most vulnerable, live a life free of violence and harmful practices, including child marriage and ala kachuu. The program consists of a set of integrated interventions in the areas of policies and legislation, strengthening institutions, prevention of violence, provision of services to survivors of violence, collecting quality data, and supporting women’s movements and civil society. The program is implemented by five UN agencies (UN Women, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF and UNODC) under the overall leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator in the Kyrgyz Republic.