Gender Equality and International Human Rights Law in Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

AbstractGender inequality is one of the main socioeconomic and transformation issues for women in Central Asia due to the inherited patriarchal culture, the low prioritization of the problem at the country level, and the poor representation of women in decision-making processes. In the case of Kyrgyzstan, in the last couple of years, the news headlines have been filled with sad stories of women suffering from domestic and gender-based violence and discrimination. It appears that women’s rights and interests are not protected, monitored, or part of the state’s agenda. What is surprising, however, is that Kyrgyzstan was the pioneer in the region when it came to adopting laws that promote human rights. Kyrgyzstan ratified the following international human rights treaties to protect women’s rights: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in 1997, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 1994, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in 1997, the Forced Labour Convention and the Equal Remuneration Convention, both ratified in 1992, the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention in 1999, the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention and Employment Policy Convention, both ratified in 1992, and many other human rights treaties. In Kyrgyzstan, women are de facto not able to fully participate in the labor market, and do not have social protection or equal remuneration. In addition, they bear the burden of an unequal division of household chores, have limited access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, and suffer from gender-based and domestic violence. The main factors contributing to this situation are inherited patriarchal culture and norms, the socioeconomic situation in the country, limited access to justice, legally undefined terms that have resulted in a discriminatory legal framework, and no government will make the laws and treaties enforceable.