Kyrgyzstan first time included in int’l map of achievements in promotion of women's rights

Bishkek, July 7, 2021 . / Kabar / . First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development of Kyrgyzstan Aliza Soltonbekova participated in the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation of Women entitled “Preserving the Achievements of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment on Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond” in Cairo, Egypt.

This year, for the first time in the history of its independence, Kyrgyzstan put itself on the international map of achievements in advancing women's rights thanks to the results of the recent local council elections, which increased the number of women deputies in local councils from 11% (2017) to 38% (2021), the press service of the republic’s Ministry of Health reported.

Aliza Soltonbekova noted the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on women and men in the Kyrgyz Republic, significantly increasing the burden on women.

"Isolation, the economic crisis, severe travel restrictions, overburdened health care and social protection systems, the organization of distance learning for all children and students at almost all levels of education have increased the burden on all segments of the population," the deputy minister added.

In addition, Soltonbekova said the pandemic adversely has affected the socioeconomic life of countries in the region and has particularly highlighted the gender gaps that women still face. Isolation and school closures have placed an additional burden of household chores on women. For example, women's domestic responsibilities in Kyrgyzstan have reportedly increased by 80%.

Data after the first quarantine in the spring of 2020 show that women have experienced a greater reduction in paid hours and higher unemployment rates, mainly due to employment in vulnerable positions and in severely affected sectors of the economy, as well as a high volume of household responsibilities.