Bishkek, 24 October 2025 — On 24 October, simulation exercises entitled ‘Evacuation and escort of persons with disabilities in emergency situations’ were held in Bishkek, organised at a special boarding school for visually impaired children.

The exercises were conducted by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic in conjunction with the Bishkek City Hall, with support from UNDP and OSCE.

The event was attended by employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, representatives of city services, medical workers, volunteers, and organisations of persons with disabilities. Participants successfully practised coordinating evacuation efforts, checked the accessibility of routes and equipment, and tested communication mechanisms with people with various disabilities, including the use of sign language interpretation and visual cues.

Particular attention was paid to the interaction between rescuers, escorts and the participants with disabilities themselves. The practical part demonstrated the readiness of the services to act in real emergency situations. Based on the analysis, participants noted an improvement in the professional skills of personnel, the efficiency and quality of support, and the strengthening of partnerships between the Ministry of Emergency Situations, municipal structures and public organisations. The results of the exercises confirmed the importance of an inclusive approach in the civil protection system.

In order to improve national legislation in the field of civil protection, an interdepartmental working group has been set up to analyse and prepare proposals for amendments to regulatory and legal acts, taking into account inclusive mechanisms and approaches in emergency and crisis situations. 

UNDP is actively providing expert support to improve legislation in the field of protecting the rights and guarantees of persons with disabilities, promoting the integration of the principles of inclusion and equality into the country's civil protection system. These measures are in line with the Kyrgyz Republic's Law on the Rights and Guarantees of Persons with Disabilities (2025), which aims to ensure accessibility, social integration and the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as the principles enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by the Kyrgyz Republic.

The exercises also support the implementation of the State Programme ‘Accessible Country’ (2023-2030), aimed at creating an inclusive environment and improving the accessibility of services for persons with disabilities in all areas of life.

The training contributed to the implementation of the principle of ‘leaving no one behind’ and promotes human rights, social justice and climate sustainability in the Kyrgyz Republic, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the country's national priorities.

Project "Advancing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Kyrgyzstan" is implemented by three UN agencies: UNDP, UNICEF, and UNFPA, under the overall leadership of the UN system in Kyrgyzstan and with the support of the Global Disability Fund.