Expanding Sign Language Accessibility Discussed in Bishkek

Bishkek, June 12, 2026 — The Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Kyrgyz Society of the Blind and Deaf, and the UNDP held a working meeting on "Problems and Challenges in the Development of Sign Language in the Kyrgyz Republic." The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Innovation, organizations of persons with disabilities, sign language interpreters, educators, and international organizations.

June 12, 2026

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Two women sit at a table in a meeting, looking over papers with laptops nearby.

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Participants discussed the accessibility of services for people with hearing impairments in the areas of education, justice, and emergency assistance, as well as current challenges in the training of sign language specialists. The Kyrgyz State University named after Ishenaly Arabaev shared its vision on potential academic approaches to developing this field.

“The development of sign language is a matter of ensuring fundamental human rights to education, justice, and emergency services. Today, our community is experiencing an acute shortage of qualified professionals. This problem cannot be resolved without a systematic state-level approach, including the establishment of specialized interpreter training programs at the country's leading universities. We hope that the resolution submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers will serve as the foundation for real structural changes. We highly value the introduction of modern digital tools, such as the 'Sign Language Interpreter' online platform developed with the support of UNDP. This breakthrough solution opens up fundamentally new opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to access services remotely. However, technology must develop alongside the elevation of the status of interpreters themselves and the improvement of their working conditions,”

said Kanat Japarov, Chairman of the Kyrgyz Society of the Blind and Deaf.

The meeting also showcased practical experiences with digital solutions, specifically the "Sign Language Interpreter" online platform, currently being developed with UNDP support, which expands remote access to translation and interpretation services.

“Ensuring the accessibility of sign language is not merely a matter of communication, but a crucial condition for realizing the rights of persons with disabilities, including the right to access justice, education, information, and public services. Our project supports the development of sustainable platforms for interaction among state bodies, organizations of persons with disabilities, and the expert community, ensuring that inclusion-related decisions are based on people's actual needs and their active participation. This approach fosters the development of fairer and more inclusive solutions and helps ensure that no one is left behind,”

noted UNDP Project Manager Nurlan Bakirov.

Following an open discussion, the roundtable participants formulated practical recommendations and adopted a resolution aimed at improving state policies on sign language support, as well as ensuring equal rights for people with hearing impairments in accordance with the Kyrgyz Republic's commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which the country ratified in 2019. The adopted resolution was forwarded to the Council on Affairs of Persons with Disabilities under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic for further consideration and action.

The event was organized with the support of UNDP and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland as part of the "Strengthening Human Rights and Equal Access to Justice in the Kyrgyz Republic" project, contributing directly to the goals of the National Development Programme of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2030 in ensuring equal opportunities and social protection for citizens.

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