OSCE conference raises awareness of women's access to economic and social resources in Kyrgyzstan
YSYKKOL, Kyrgyzstan, 9 October 2005 - Violations of women's access to economic and social resources in rural areas of Kyrgyzstan were the focus of a two-day conference, co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, which ended today in Ysykkol.
The event was aimed at raising awareness among lawmakers and government authorities of the general conditions of women's access to economic and social resources, based on findings and recommendations of research carried out by a team of national gender experts in Osh and Ysykkol provinces.
"Gender equality contributes to comprehensive security, which is the central goal of OSCE activities", said Sabine Machl, Deputy Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. "It has become increasingly evident that security, democracy and prosperity are closely linked. Economic liberty, environmental responsibility, social justice, and therefore also gender equality, need to be guaranteed for a society to prosper."
The conference, organized in co-operation with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the Secretariat of the National Council on Family, Women, and Gender Development Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, brought together over 35 participants, including the Speaker and several deputies of the Parliament (Jogorku Kenesh) of the Kyrgyz Republic, deputy ministers, representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGO), and micro-crediting institutions.
Additionally, participants worked to finalize documents related to increasing economic opportunities for women, to be discussed at parliamentary hearings. The participants endorsed an action plan with recommendations to improve the access of rural women to socio-economic resources. Notably, lawmakers were called upon to implement this action plan by adopting the necessary legislation.
The Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the National Council on Women, Family and Gender Development, Ms. Baktygul Togonbayeva, noted that by eliminating violations of women's rights through concerted efforts, female poverty would be alleviated and improvements in gender equality would be made.