04 March, 2025

Bellagio Business Center, Bishkek

FINAL JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE FORUM PARTICIPANTS

"Civic Forum "For Women's Rights and Gender Inclusion"

We, the participants of the Civil Forum held on March 4, 2025 in Bishkek, including representatives of civil society of Kyrgyzstan, experts from international organizations, members of Parliament, local councils, the Ombudsman Institute, public organizations, the business community, media and activists, declare our solidarity and readiness for joint actions to promote women's leadership in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Recognizing the key role of women in ensuring social justice and sustainable development, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles of gender equality and protection of women's rights enshrined in the National Strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic on achieving gender equality and gender justice until 2030, taking into account the international commitments undertaken.

We recognize the importance of including women in decision-making processes at all levels - from local to global with the principles of gender inclusiveness, including activists of community leaders and localization of the results of the First National Forum under the auspices of the deputies of the JK KR and UN Women, recommendations of participants of the online school Bir Duino KR.[i] [ii]

Kyrgyzstan is taking measures to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325, including the development of national programs aimed at increasing women's participation in decision-making, preventing gender-based violence and strengthening their protection. However, challenges remain related to insufficient funding, interagency cooperation, and the need to localize and strengthen mechanisms for involving women in peacebuilding processes[iii].

In April 2023, following the first National Women's Forum “Women's Leadership: Breaking through to a New Era” after the tragic events on the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, key recommendations on risk and disaster prevention and post-crisis peacebuilding were adopted, taking into account the new standards of the Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Risk Reduction (GNDR) and based on the research methodology “View from the Frontline”, an online school of women's leadership was established based on the importance of localizing initiatives from the ground up Risk, conflict and disaster prevention is a strategically important collaborative and inclusive endeavor with clear indicators of positive change for sustainable development as a whole.

Particular attention is paid to the role of women in protecting and promoting labor rights, which is an integral part of sustainable economic development. In this context, we support the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights 2025-2027 Program and call on government bodies, international organizations, the business community and civil society to actively cooperate in achieving these goals. The year 2024 brought two important legal innovations for women in Kyrgyzstan: in May Kyrgyzstan ratified ILO Convention No. 190 “On the Elimination of Violence and Harassment at Work”, and in December the Jogorku Kenesh adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

The Civil Forum is an important opportunity to create further strategies and action plans to protect the fundamental rights of citizens for effective protection against global disaster risks, which are characterized by shrinking civic space for civil society organizations, increasing levels of violence against women and girls living in conflict zones.

The final Resolution of the Civil Society Forum serves as a global call for solidarity and joint action and invites open and inclusive dialogues that will turn our global movement towards solutions for peace, environmental justice and respect for the dignity of every human being.   

In order to effectively implement the above initiatives, the participants of the Civil Forum:

1. It is important to strengthen cross-sector collaboration and multi-stakeholder inclusive dialog between government structures, civil society and international partners to promote women's leadership from local to global through the Online Civic Space Academy for women leaders and community activists, including risk, conflict and disaster prevention in an inclusive approach from local to global levels.

2. Include in the state development programs of the Kyrgyz Republic additional measures to ensure the rights of women, particularly in the field of labor and employment, especially from local communities living in risk and disaster situations, creating an enabling environment based on high standards of quality of life and the right to access a clean and healthy environment.

3. Support initiatives to economically empower women through education, development and entrepreneurship based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and expand space for systemic forums with community leaders to address socially significant issues in the region.

4. Together with the business community, prepare joint action plans to localize the principles of corporate social responsibility with a focus on equal labor rights for women, ensuring civic space and the development of independent trade unions.

5. Support the development of monitoring and reporting mechanisms on the implementation of Kyrgyzstan's commitments under national and international documents in the field of gender equality and labor rights protection within the framework of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), the conclusion of the Venice Commission on Civic Space, and the recommendations of the European Parliament mission, which will provide inspiration and new opportunities for all to return to the Helsinki Values for Sustainability, promote gender inclusiveness to achieve the goals of SDG 2030.[1].

6. In implementing National Development Strategies, take into account the importance of promoting UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on the role of women in conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction, as well as the need to localize the Resolution and involve women in peacebuilding and security processes, including monitoring of development banks.

7. Considering new risks and disasters from local to global levels, support lobbying for the Glacier Law. Law “On Equality”, promote discussions and adoption of a new law “On Family and Children”, based on international principles and standards. To achieve equal partnership, bring laws against NGOs, against mass media, etc. in accordance with the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, providing a favorable environment for civil space in the Kyrgyz Republic.[2].

We are convinced that only through joint efforts can we achieve real change in promoting women's leadership and protecting women's rights in Kyrgyzstan. This resolution is our collective commitment to work towards this end and to take concrete steps to achieve equality and justice.

Participants of the Civil Forum

March 4, 2025, Bishkek.