Kyrgyzstan

A transformative milestone was achieved with the coordination of the adoption and implementation of the first-ever State Programme of the Kyrgyz Republic to support Women�s Leadership until 2030 and the Action Plan for the Implementation of the State Programme of the Kyrgyz Republic to Support Women�s Leadership for 2024-2027. This pioneering initiative institutionalizes gender-responsive governance by advancing women�s political, economic, and social participation. It ensures equal opportunities, fosters leadership skills, and increases women�s representation in public administration and decision-making roles. By embedding systemic change, this programme paves the way for long-term gender equality and inclusive governance at national and local levels. National level data reveals that women now represent 42% of local council seats, having secured 2,248 out of 5,391 seats during the 2024 elections. This significant increase from 9% before 2021 elections highlights the impact of the 30% gender quota introduced in 2019. The State Programme on Women�s Leadership is a strategic framework that builds on the progress achieved through gender quotas and ensures sustained growth in women�s representation in decision-making roles. A landmark study on violence against women in politics (VAWP) further reinforced national advocacy, exposing systemic barriers and shaping policy responses to create safer, more inclusive political environments. These efforts mark a decisive step toward dismantling obstacles to women�s leadership. UN Women CO played a pivotal role in embedding gender equality within national policymaking by forging strategic partnerships with Parliament, the Council on Gender Equality, the Cabinet of Ministers, and key ministries. Collaborations with UN agencies, civil society, and women�s rights activists translated commitments into action, integrating gender-responsive policies into governance and electoral systems. On the regional stage, the Central Asian Women Leaders� Caucus (CAWLC)�chaired by the Kyrgyz Republic Parliament in 2024�emerged as a force for legislative reform and cross-border cooperation. High-level dialogues, facilitated by UN Women, drove tangible policy commitments, culminating in landmark events like the Forum on Women, Peace, and Security, which tackled critical challenges in resource management and women�s role in peacebuilding.

In 2023 the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic has approved in principle the "State Programme on Promotion of Women to Leadership Positions 2030". UN Women provided expert support to the development of the State Programme in response to the Letter of Request from the Cabinet of Ministers to UN Women Country Office for technical assistance. This State programme is an expression of the political will of the State to address the problem of the low representation of women in senior positions in the executive branch, aligned with SDG 5.5 and the UNSDCF Outcome 4 for Kyrgyzstan. Currently, in the civil service, men prevail - 59.3%, women - 40.7% with higher prevalence of men in political and specially appointed positions - 75.7% of men and 24.3% of women. The highest gender gap is in political municipal positions with 96.7% of men and 3.3% of women. In the security sector men prevail: Ministry of Justice - 100%; Prosecutor General's Office - 80%. There are persisting stereotypes and discriminatory societal perceptions of women leaders and their role and place in decision-making processes at various levels. Under the pressure of public opinion, women often have low self-esteem and limit themselves from applying for leadership positions. Women leaders have to overcome barriers to leadership positions by proving their competence and professionalism, while men's competences are not questioned or challenged in any way. The programme and its Action Plan and budget envisage special measures to appoint women to leadership positions in the executive branch by creating a Pool (databank) of Women Leaders, establishing a system and procedures for appointing women to leadership positions. It underlines the state's responsibility to create an inclusive leadership environment by introducing effective strategies for women leadership in public administration, career development, and embracing diverse experiences and perspectives. UN Women, in partnership with USAID and UNODC, provided expert support to the Interdepartmental Working Group on the development of the State Programme, including on analysis, regulatory and legal framework for promoting women to leadership positions in the civil service, and the special measures (quotas). UN Women also facilitated a series of dialogues during which a diverse group of partners affirmed the timeliness of the State Programme to accelerate progress towards the SDGs, highlighting that women leaders bring important competencies, skills, attributes and perspectives to the governance process, enabling the creation of governance systems that are more stable and transparent and more trusted by society. It has been emphasized that increasing the number of women in leadership and political positions in the public service will bridge political divides, identify and respond to the concerns of different social groups, promote a consultative and participatory approach to policy development, and ensure government accountability.