Locations
Bishkek, 15 November 2021 – Last Friday, on 12 November, The Committee on Law Enforcement, Combating Crime and Corruption of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic (JK KR) and the Council on Women's Rights and the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence under the JK KR, with the support of the joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, discussed proposed amendments to the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On “On Safeguarding and Protection from Domestic Violence”.
The discussion was chaired by Ms. Aida Kasymalieva, Acting Speaker and Vice-speaker of the JK KR, Mr. Edil Baisalov, Chair of the Cabinet of Ministers of the KR, Ms. Natalia Nikitenko, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Law Enforcement, Combating Crime and Corruption of the JK KR. Among the participants, there were members of the Council on Women's Rights and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence, representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Presidential Administration, representatives of state authorities - bodies responsible for protection from domestic violence, international and civil society organizations, crisis centers and the community of lawyers.
“This issue of domestic violence and violence against women and girls is under the focused attention of the Cabinet of Ministers. In 2022, we plan to triple state funding allocation to tackle domestic abuse: within the framework of the state social order 25 million soms will be provided to conduct a broad awareness raising campaign and to support crisis centers.” said Mr. Edil Baisalov, Deputy Chair of the Cabinet of Ministers of the KR.
The proposed amendments increase the period for issuing a temporary protection order from 3 to 30 days, expand its conditions and suggest the options of its delivery electronically, include ex-spouses in a list of subjects to protect from domestic violence, define direct and indirect contacts, engage probation and execution bodies as the subjects of the implementation of the law, exclude the court of eldest, and other measures.
The Acting Speaker and Vice-speaker of the JK KR Aida Kasymalieva highlighted: “We are grateful to the Joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative for consistent and systemic work carried out to review and improve national legislation in close collaboration with the state bodies, community of experts, civil society organizations and crisis centers. From our side, we will ensure all participants’ recommendations are integrated in the draft law and it is soon passed for parliamentary hearings.”
“Today is a follow-up event that summarizes a series of further consultations among government, the community of experts and civil society to review legislation, identify existing gaps and loopholes and propose concrete solutions to effectively prevent and respond to cases of domestic violence. This law sets the standard for what society will tolerate and how law enforcement entities must behave; therefore, discussing this subject from a legislative standpoint is essential,” said Louise Chamberlain, UNDP Resident Representative, during her welcoming speech.
Further, participants voiced their comments and additions on the comparative table of the draft law on amendments to the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic “On Safeguarding and Protection from Domestic Violence". It is expected that the draft law will be revised with consideration of suggestions and further will be available for public discussion.
About Joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative
In January 2020, in partnership with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the EU and the UN launched a multi-year country program under the global Spotlight Initiative to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. The goal of the program is to create an environment in which all women and girls in Kyrgyzstan, especially the most vulnerable, live without violence and harmful practices, including child marriage and ‘ala kachuu’. The program includes a set of integrated policies and legislation, strengthening institutions, preventing violence, providing services to survivors of violence, collecting quality data and supporting the women's movement and civil society. The program is implemented by five UN agencies (UN Women, UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF and UNODC) under the overall leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator in the Kyrgyz Republic.
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Chyntemir Kalbaev
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+996775767605
