LocationsOn 2 March 2026, the press café “Women with Disabilities: Leadership Without Barriers” took place in Bishkek, dedicated to International Women’s Day on 8 March under the global theme “Rights. Equality. Actions for All Women and Girls.” The event served as an open platform for dialogue between women with disabilities, members of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, representatives of government institutions, media organizations, civil society organizations, international partners, as well as media and gender experts.
Women with Disabilities: Breaking Barriers, Driving Equal Opportunities for All
March 2, 2026
The initiative directly supports the implementation of the State Program “Accessible Country” for 2023–2030 and the commitments of the Kyrgyz Republic under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. At its core lies the understanding that equal access for women with disabilities to services, opportunities, and public goods is not a social privilege but a necessary condition for the country’s sustainable and inclusive development.
Opening the event, Ombudsperson (Akyikatchy) of the Kyrgyz Republic Jamila Jamanbaeva, acting within her mandate to protect human and civil rights and freedoms, emphasized the importance of a systematic approach and joint efforts to safeguard the rights of women with disabilities. She noted that the Ombudsman’s Office will continue systematic monitoring of the rights of persons with disabilities, including girls and women. This work aims to identify systemic barriers and develop concrete, practical recommendations for state authorities and local self-government bodies. The results of the monitoring will make it possible to objectively assess the current state of rights implementation, identify existing gaps, and strengthen comprehensive measures to ensure equal access to key social and public services.
“Today we are speaking about women with disabilities — those who, despite existing barriers, actively participate in public life and make a significant contribution to the socio-economic and cultural development of the Kyrgyz Republic. This is about the unconditional recognition of the equal dignity and equal rights of every individual. The principles of equality and inclusion should not only be declared but must also be consistently reflected in legislation, law enforcement practice, and the everyday life of society,” emphasized Jamila Jamanbaeva.
Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic Ainura Orozbaeva presented the ongoing measures of state policy in the field of support for persons with disabilities, placing special emphasis on expanding access to social services, employment opportunities, and social protection mechanisms.
“We are consistently implementing measures aimed at creating a barrier-free environment and expanding opportunities for women with disabilities. The State Program ‘Accessible Country’ is a concrete tool that allows us to move from declarations to practical changes in people’s lives,” she noted.
In partnership with UNDP and organizations of persons with disabilities, the Ministry also presented a practical guide on the employment of persons with disabilities. The document is designed for employers and contains concrete recommendations on inclusive recruitment and hiring practices, job retention, professional development of employees, as well as the implementation of universal design, reasonable accommodation, and inclusive corporate culture.
A welcoming speech was also delivered by Member of Parliament of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic Gulnara Baatyrova, who emphasized the need to improve legislation with consideration of gender equality and the principles of inclusion.
The speech of Gulmira Kazakunova, head of the public association “Ravenstvo” (Equality), placed a strong emphasis on the participation of women with disabilities themselves in decision-making processes:
“Nothing about us without us. Women with disabilities must be full participants in decision-making. Our experience, knowledge, and leadership are a resource for the development of the country. Inclusion is impossible without the real participation of women.”
Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic, highlighted the systemic nature of UNDP’s support:
“UNDP is guided by the principle of ‘leaving no one behind.’ Over the past years, with our support more than 55,000 people have gained access to legal and social services, including women and persons with disabilities. We have supported legislative reforms, the introduction of inclusive approaches in employment, and the digitalization of the disability assessment system. Our goal is to ensure that women with disabilities are not recipients of assistance but equal participants in public life and development processes.”
Matilda Bogner, Regional Representative for Central Asia of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasized priorities identified by international human rights mechanisms:
“Building on the vision of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk — ‘Human Rights: A Path to Solutions’ — UN mechanisms, including the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, have identified key priorities for Kyrgyzstan: ensuring unhindered access to justice, collecting disaggregated data to better understand the needs of women with disabilities, and developing inclusive media standards free from stereotypes and patronizing narratives. The extent to which these recommendations are transformed into real protection of the rights and dignity of every woman depends on the joint efforts of the state, expert community, and journalists.”
During the discussion, participants addressed the promotion of inclusive policies, recognition of the contribution of women with disabilities to the country’s socio-economic development, and responsible media coverage of disability and gender issues. Particular attention was paid to the role of the media in shaping public perception and overcoming persistent stereotypes.
The press café marked another step toward building a society where the leadership of women with disabilities is recognized as the norm, and where removing barriers becomes a shared responsibility of the state, civil society, and international partners.
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