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OSCE supports establishment of Kyrgyz Association of Women in the Security Sector

6 March 2017
(l-r) Kaana Aidarkul, Chair of the Association of Women in Police; Shamshibek Mamyrov, Deputy Chair of the Public Council of the Ministry of Interior; Altynai Omurbekova, Vice-Speaker of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic; Ainuru Altybaeva, Member of the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic; Dr. Pierre von Arx, Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek at the founding conference of the “Association of Women in the Security Sector", Bishkek, 2 March 2017. (OSCE/Ibrokhimzhon Ulmasov) Photo details

The Kyrgyz Association of Women in the Security Sector (KAWSS) was established on 2 March 2017 in Bishkek at a founding conference organized by the OSCE Centre in co-operation with the Kyrgyz Association of Women Police (KAWP), the Presidential Administration, the Parliament, the Defence Council, the Supreme Court, the Government, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Interior Ministry and all state security-providing structures. The aim of the Association is to increase the role of women in the security sector governance field. The conference brought together around 100 delegates representing the above-mentioned national stakeholders, civil society and international organizations.

Ambassador Pierre von Arx, Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, stated that it is essential to strengthen women’s participation in the security sector at all levels. “Kyrgyzstan is known as a country where women play a significant role in political development and in ensuring peace and stability. Women are a great asset for implementing national and international commitments, including President Atambayev’s Decree on Measures to Reform Law Enforcement, which was approved on 18 July 2016," he noted.

Vice-speaker of the Kyrgyz Parliament Altynay Omurbekova added: "Today we have met for a historically important event, the establishment of the Kyrgyz Association of Women in the Security Sector, a unique public organization created for the first time in the post-Soviet period. Active work requires us to promote the international obligations of the country since Kyrgyzstan has long has acceded to the Beijing Platform for Action and the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, on the basis of which the national action plans and government programs have been shaped."

Following the conference, a resolution was adopted to reaffirm women’s participation in security sector reform, which will be signed upon agreement with the pertinent structures. KAWSS creates additional opportunities to promote gender issues and mutual co-ordination and co-operation with international organizations, exchange best practices and expertise.