Kyrgyzstan

Equality for Women

Legally, women faired well under the communist government, with equal rights. Kyrgyzstan also has a history of female equality, as its early nomadic societies had women working as equals alongside men. However, with the reintroduction of capitalism and [Page 820]religious fundamentalism, many patriarchal attitudes reemerged, especially in the countryside. Women also earn considerably less than men. Women in Kyrgyzstan are better off than their sisters in other central Asian countries, but culture and tradition are limiting their full equality. Women do have a political voice in Kyrgyzstan. They have the right to vote, and females comprise 23 of the 75 Members of Parliament. In addition, women hold prominent national positions, such as ministers of Finance, Education and Science, Labor and Social Development, and Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court. Legally, women have the same rights as men, and there are laws against sexual harassment, violence, rape, and spousal rape. However, culturally, violence against women is ignored, and very few women press charges. It is estimated that 40 to 60 percent of the crimes against women involve domestic violence. The tradition of forced marriages or “bridal kidnapping” is illegal, but in wide practice, especially in rural areas. With the resurgence of Islamic fundamentalism, there have been recent efforts to decriminalize polygamy.

After an exchange program in the United States, a woman in Kyrgyzstan formed her own organization, Atyn Kol, with the marketing skills she learned. The women are shown preparing wool for handmade carpets.

In 2007, the president signed a law to achieve equal rights, asserting that it “establishes state guarantees in terms of providing equal rights and opportunities for persons of various sexes in political, social, economic, cultural, and other fields… and aims to protect men and women against discrimination on the basis of sex.” With such legal assurances, the women of Kyrgyzstan need to address the culture of patriarchy, which prevents the enforcement of such guarantees.