Bishkek hosted a summit of women deputies and activists on April 15th. The summit discussed women's participation in politics. There was a film screening about the work done before the introduction of the 30% quota and a discussion about opportunities for the Jogorku Kenesh to work with international organizations and women's movement organizations.

The summit was initiated by the Council on Women's, Children’s Rights and Gender Equality under the Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic and supported by UNDP within the framework of the EU-UN Joint “Spotlight Initiative.”

Women deputies of the 6th and 7th convocations of the Jogorku Kenesh, women and gender NGOs, representatives of international organizations and the Ministry of Labour, Social Development and Migration were invited to the summit.

"We have to maintain what we have achieved towards the goal of achieving gender quotas. There are so many draft laws that are now being considered by the new parliament. I would like to ask the current women MPs to continue this work. For example, there is a law on breastfeeding. When we say that women are needed in parliament, we must realize that such laws and topics will not be raised by male MPs." Ainuru Altybayeva noted.

The Council on Women's, Children’s Rights and Gender Equality under the Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh is an advisory and consultative body on women's rights and the fight against gender-based violence and discrimination. This Council was formed in June 2020 and is currently working with the deputies of the 7th Convocation.

The Council is authorised to represent the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic on issues of gender equality, combating gender-based violence and discrimination based on relevant decisions of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The Council includes members of all factions of Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, representatives of civil society organizations working in the field of protection of rights of women, children and other vulnerable groups.

Contacts for media

Ainagul Abdrakhmanova, Communications Officer

ainagul.abdrakhmanova@undp.org

+996 770 183493