In the period from May 10 to June 22, 2023, Public dialogues on the protection of girls’ rights to education and against early marriage were held in 14 districts in all 7 regions of the country:
- May 10, 2023 in Zhumgal district of the Naryn region;
- May 11, 2023 in Ak-Talaa district of the Naryn region;
- May 15, 2023 in Ak-Suu district of the Issyk-Kul region;
- May 16, 2023 in Zheti-Oguz district of the Issyk-Kul region;
- May 23, 2023 in Sokuluk district of the Chui region;
- May 24, 2023 in Tokmok City of the Chui region;
- May 30, 2023 in Sulukta City of the Batken region;
- May 30, 2023 in Razzakov City of the Batken region;
- May 31, 2023 in Kara-Kulja district of the Osh region;
- June 1, 2023 in Uzgen district of the Osh region;
- June 19, 2023 in Kara-Buura district of the Talas region;
- June 20, 2023 in the Manas district of the Talas region;
- June 21, 2023 in Tash-Kumyr City of the Jalal-Abad region;
- June 22, 2023 in Kara-Kul City of the Jalal-Abad region.
The Public Dialogues were attended by representatives of state bodies, religious figures, representatives of various faiths, educational organizations, local self-government bodies, social development bodies, local state administration, public organizations and activists involved in the protection of children’s rights, gender equality, protection from violence and discrimination.
The problem of girls dropping out of school due to early marriages and the influence of their parents’ religious beliefs is relevant for Kyrgyzstan, especially in rural areas.
The Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic defines that “everyone has the right to receive preschool, basic general, secondary general and primary vocational education free of charge in state educational organizations”.
However, in Kyrgyzstan, the problem of restricting girls’ access to education on the basis of their parent’s religious beliefs remains urgent, and despite the prohibition at the legislative level and criminalization of this act, the problem of early marriages is acute in Kyrgyzstan, because of which some girls do not finish school.
To solve this problem, public dialogues have been organized in 14 districts in all regions of the country (at least 2 districts in each region). The organization of public dialogues is carried out by the Public Association “Agency of Social Technologies” within the framework of the project “Assistance in promoting interfaith dialogue and tolerance”, implemented with the support of the Program Office in Bishkek of the OSCE, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic and the State Commission for Religious Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Ms.Gulmira Okoeva, Head of the Department of Gender Policy and Coordination of Protection from Family Violence of the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, during her speeches noted that official data on discriminatory marriage practices, including the number of premarital marriages, is difficult at the republic level, since they may not have state registration. However, there are a number of studies confirming the prevalence of early marriage on the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Ms.Gulmira Okoeva, Head of the Department of Gender Policy and Coordination of Protection from Family Violence of the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic
«According to a medical demographic study, 14% of women got married before the age of 18 and less than 1% of women got married before they reached the age of 15. At the same time, no men who married before the age of 18 were identified. A medico-indicator cluster survey revealed that among women aged 15-49, 0.4% were married before the age of 15, and 12.7% of women aged 20-49 were married before the age of 18. There are cases of polygamy – 0.9% of women are in a polygamous marriage/union[1]» – said Ms.Gulmira Okoeva.
Ms. Gulshan Abyldaeva, Chief Specialist of the Department of School Education and Book Publishing Policy of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, during her welcoming remarks, also noted that the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic takes all measures to protect the rights of girls to receive education regardless of their parents’ religious views, protection from early marriages and noted the importance of holding Public dialogues with representatives of local authorities, district education departments, social development departments, religious denominations and activists, discussing the problem and possible recommendations, as well as involving them in preventive work with the population.
«It is very important in cooperation with you to promote narratives of gender equality and the right of girls to education, the inadmissibility of early marriage and the further dissemination of information materials among the population in local communities, since you are the opinion leaders on the local community» – said Ms. Gulshan Abyldaeva
Chief Specialist of the Department of School Education and Book Publishing Policy of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic
Mr. Altynbek Erkimbekov, Chief Specialist of the Department of Coordination and Organizational Work of the State Commission for Religious Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, in his speeches told about what measures to protect the rights of women and girls are included in the Concept of the State Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the religious sphere for the period 2021-2026. He also noted the importance of carrying out comprehensive work to inform the population about the protection of girls’ rights to education and from early marriage, including together with representatives of religious denominations.
Mr. Altynbek Erkimbekov, Chief Specialist of the Department of Coordination and Organizational Work of the State Commission for Religious Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic
«The State Commission on Religious Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic pays special attention to the protection of children’s rights to education and the protection of girls from early marriage» – said Mr. Altynbek Erkimbekov.
The Public Dialogue in Zhumgal district of the Naryn region, May 10, 2023
The Public Dialogue in Ak-Talaa district of the Naryn region, May 11, 2023
The Public Dialogue in Ak-Suu district of the Issyk-Kul region, May 15, 2023
The Public Dialogue in Zheti-Oguz district of the Issyk-Kul region, May 16, 2023
The Public Dialogue in Sokuluk district of the Chui region, May 23, 2023
The Public Dialogue in Tokmok City of the Chui region, May 24, 2023
The Public Dialogue in Sulukta City of the Batken region, May 30, 2023
The Public Dialogue in Razzakov City of the Batken region, May 30, 2023
The Public Dialogue in Kara-Kulja district of the Osh region, May 31, 2023
The Public Dialogue in Uzgen district of the Osh region, June 1, 2023
The Public Dialogue in Kara-Buura district of the Talas region, June 19, 2023
The Public Dialogue in the Manas district of the Talas region, June 20, 2023
The Public Dialogue in Tash-Kumyr City of the Jalal-Abad region, June 21, 2023
The Public Dialogue in in Kara-Kul City of the Jalal-Abad region, June 22, 2023
At public dialogues on the protection of girls’ rights to education and from early marriages, information products developed within the framework of the project on the exclusion of girls from school due to religious views of parents and early marriages, due to which girls often do not graduate from school, were presented and discussed. Below are links to information materials:
Video: «Our religious beliefs should not limit girls right to education»
In Russian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTW7psjTj4&t=19s
In Kyrgyz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68ZqPH0giSg&t=10s
Video: «Are we choosing the right profession?»
In Russian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY21TDtF0eY
In Kyrgyz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uIXbum3kHg
Video: «What consequences do girls experience from early marriages?»
In Russian: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3x9qbOeegQ&t=1s
In Kyrgyz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws603KeA7_U&t=1s
Infographics: «Are we choosing the right profession?»
In Russian: https://hero-datkayim.kg/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/pravilno-li-my-vybiraem-professii___.pdf
Infographics: «What consequences do girls experience from early marriages?»
In Russian: https://hero-datkayim.kg/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/chego-lishayutsya-devochki-iz-za-rannih-brakov.pdf
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[1] НСК КР, Детский Фонд ООН (ЮНИСЕФ), КР. Многоиндикаторное кластерное обследование 2014. Итоговый отчет. Бишкек, КР: НСК КР, Детский Фонд ООН (ЮНИСЕФ). С.196-203