birduino - Statement of the CSP WG on women and gender realities in the OSCE area at the occasion of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Statement of the CSP WG on women and gender realities in the OSCE area at the occasion of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Фев 24.2026

CSP WG on women and gender realities in the OSCE area at the occasion of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 24.2.2026

On this anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Working Group of Women on Gender Realities in the OSCE region stands in unwavering solidarity with the women. We honour their strength, their leadership, their collective efforts for improving daily living conditions together and the quiet acts of courage that so often go unseen. Their perseverance is more than a response to adversity; it is a powerful expression of dignity, hope, and the indispensable role of women in safeguarding society even in times of profound uncertainty. The CSP network or other organisational frameworks are vital to keep human connections alive. This is the core of our feminist peacebuilding advocacy.

We stand in solidarity with millions of Ukrainians, for whom the war is not a distant event but a lived reality —separation from loved ones, shattered homes, energy cuts and the daily search for safety in its broadest sense. Across Ukraine, communities have been transformed, yet the resilience of its people continues to speak with remarkable strength. The feeling of solidarity in local spaces gives power. The determination of many women to preserve dignity, identity, and hope in the face of prolonged hardship reminds the world of the human spirit’s enduring capacity.

Our solidarity goes also to women from Russia under prosecution of their freedoms of speech and dangers of imprisonment for anti-war statements. Our solidarity goes to all women in the OSCE region who defend human life, advocate for freedom of speech and democratic freedoms, often under dictatorial, oppressive and patriarchal regimes, where rights are severely infringed and civic space radically curtailed. We stand with women who are exposed to restrictions on the access to information, to propaganda and fake news, and discredited for their peace work on the ground. They resist divisive politics by continually striving for collective action.

Behind the scale of this war are deeply personal stories: parents striving to protect their children, their boys from forced conscription, families rebuilding far from home, and older generations mourning lives suddenly altered. War is never abstract for those who endure it — its consequences are profoundly human and often enough closely linked to physical violence and mental abuse. Amid this hardship, women have been and are a steady force holding communities together - caring for families, supporting the displaced, stepping into leadership when it has been needed most, and providing the urgently needed support in their immediate neighbourhoods.

There is our joint interests to bring a human dimension in all negotiation processes. While a majority of male politicians mainly speak about geo-strategy, borders and territories, resources and power, women speak about a life without fear and how to engage best in (peace) processes. While (international) funds earmarked for reconstruction are mainly feeding big projects, small scale and decentralized infrastructure projects for socioeconomic and reproductive care – guaranteed at a majority by women - are often not seen as relevant enough.

We believe in the value of OSCE’s founding principle and understanding of “common security” as the only way of preventing more hate and enemy talks, risking the well-being for generations and creating continuous trauma. OSCE should and could in all three dimensions and cross-dimensionally provide effective protection mechanisms, transparency and accountability, expanding spaces for dialogue, and help rebuild the social fabric, laying the foundation for lasting peace, democracy and justice. We as a working group are ready and willing to cooperate based on our experiences on the ground and of our special knowledge about gender(ed) realities.

This war, alongside conflicts continuing elsewhere in the world, asks something essential of all of us: not to grow accustomed to violence, not to allow compassion to fade with time, and not to accept human suffering as inevitable. Peace is always dynamic and fragile. That is why we are obliged to be alert, protect the process and be committed to it. Ultimately, it is worthwhile for everyone.

Even in the shadow of war, humanity must never lose its capacity for compassion - expressed through solidarity, care, and the refusal to look away. These are the first quiet beginnings of building peace.

Signed by the members of the Working group
www.civicsolidarity.org/work-group/women-and-gender-realities-in-the-osce-region/
contact: Heidi Meinzolt, Coordinator – meinzolt@wilpf.de

Tolekan Ismailova, Bir Duinо Kyrgyzstan - Second coordinator birduinotia@gmail.com

birduinokyrgyzstan@gmail.com

Feedback from our focus groups

SHAKHBOZ LATIPOV

Experience should be attached to a law degree

Shakhboz Latipov, 24 y.o., young lawyer: “When I came to BDK for an internship, I had no experience in legal and human rights activities. Together with experienced senior colleagues, I began to attend trials, studied documents. Gradually my supervisor Khusanbai Saliev began to trust me the preparation of documents, carefully checked them and gave practical advice. Experience comes with time and cases you work on. Every day dozens of people who need help come to us, many of them are from socially vulnerable groups: the poor, large families, elderly citizens. A lawyer in a human rights organization sometimes acts as a psychologist, it is important for him to be able to maintain professionalism and show empathy. At the end of 2019, I successfully passed the exam to get the right to start working as attorney and now I work on cases as an attorney. I turn to my colleagues for help on complex issues, they always give me their advice. This is one of the strengths of the organization: there is support and understanding here.”

FERUZA AMADALIEVA

Organization unites regions

Feruza Amadalieva, social worker, leader, teacher: “TOT from BDK is a great opportunity to get acquainted with participants from different regions, we continue to communicate on social media and when we meet at events, as close friends, we have such warm relations! At the events, I improved my knowledge, systematized it, clarified how to apply it in practice. I really like the training modules and the way the system of training and practice is built: role-playing games, theory, discussions. Each person expresses himself/herself. I have become a leader for other vulnerable women, I try to help them and engage them in such events.” Feruza Amadalieva is a regular participant of many BDK events, she invites the BDK lawyers to provide legal advice to vulnerable women.

NURIZA TALANTBEK KYZY

I became confident

In summer of 2019, Nuriza Talantbek kyzy took an active part in conducting regional screenings of documentaries, helped with organizational issues during the campaign dedicated to the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, participated in trips, and did the TOT on women's leadership. She used to be a migrant, worked for an NGO in Osh, and now works in Bishkek in the service industry. She calls her participation in the TOT “an invaluable experience”: “I first attended such an event, and received exactly the information that I needed, for which I am sincerely grateful to the facilitators. I experienced very difficult issues in my life, and thanks to that knowledge, I was able to overcome them, I persevered! After the TOT, I became more confident, began to better understand the essence of human rights, and learned to defend my interests.”

SHUKURULLO KOCHKAROV

The defendant has passed away. The work on his rehabilitation continues.

The case of Shukurullo Kochkarov shows that work on complex cases continues for many years. After the torture he was subjected to in 2010, he became disabled. We managed to get acquittal on one of the charges; the work is ongoing on achieving his rehabilitation and recognition as a victim of torture in order for compensation to be paid. Trials continue without Shukurullo Kochkarov - he died on 2 August 2019. His interests are represented by his father, Saidaziz Kochkarov, who also has a visual disability. “For many years, we have been supported by the employees of BDK, they have been handling the case of my son, they brought him to court because he couldn’t walk on his own, they constantly help our family: my wife and I underwent rehabilitation, they have helped my son by providing him with medicines, they provide all kinds of help”.

DILYOR JUMABAEV

Comprehensive support for victims of torture

Resident of the Kara-Suu district, Dilyor Jumabaev, has extensive experience in dealing with law enforcement agencies. In 2010, he was accused of possessing firearms, and thanks to the work of lawyers, he was acquitted. Two years later, his house was first searched in order to find materials of an extremist nature, but nothing was found. In 2014, he was accused of possessing extremist materials. In court, the prosecutor requested 15 years in prison; the court sentenced him to 6 years. A few years later he was released on parole. “I am grateful to the lawyers of BDK for their expert legal assistance. I participated in a rehabilitation program for victims of torture. When I encounter violations, I recommend contacting this organization.”

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