Statement of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Antje Grawe Public Dialogue in Parliament: “Women’s Leadership: A Breakthrough into a new era”

Distinguished Members of Parliament and representatives of the State, 

Ambassadors, representatives of International Organisations, civil society representatives, 

Dear women-leaders,

Honourable Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ms. Isaeva, 

I wish to thank you on behalf of the United Nations system in Kyrgyzstan and its 27 entities for the invitation to this important event on the eve of International Women’s Day and on the day of Zero Discrimination. 

Today’s event which you know is called "Women's Leadership: A Breakthrough into a New Era", is centred around this year's International Women's Day theme: "Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress". This theme underscores that strategic investments in women and collaborative alliances are needed to drive progress generally – and to achieve gender equality and women empowerment specifically. 

Having listened to the many interventions during the last two and a half hours, it is not only an honor and a great inspiration to be here together with so many women leaders - and with the men who support them; it also injects a huge sense of optimism that investments in women in Kyrgyzstan will bear expected fruits. 

I would like to commend the Parliament for initiating this dialogue with women groups and women leaders, recognizing that the first prerequisite for adequate investment is to listen to the voices of those whom we seek to invest in. 

By engaging with women from diverse backgrounds, such as women in migration, women from the border areas, living with or affected by HIV, survivors of violence, women from border areas, and women with disabilities, we could all gain valuable insights into the kind of investments needed to accelerate progress, taking into account specifically the needs of marginalized groups and those often under-represented. 

I have no doubt that decision-makers present here today have taken careful note of the areas for urgent investment identified through a consultative process among women and the many recommendations put forward by them which I hope will serve as basis for an action plan for implementation. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

At the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, indeed no less than a “breakthrough into a new era” is required to address the gaps in achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls, thereby making significant contributions to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The UN Global 2023 Gender Snapshot Report highlights that none of the 18 indicators and sub-indicators of SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls by 2030, have met their targets, to the contrary many are regressive. At this path, gender equality will be reached in 300 years!  Importantly, this slow progress is undermining progress towards all 17 SDGs.

Therefore, women's empowerment is not only a goal in itself; it is a critical enabler for poverty reduction, broader societal progress and economic development.

Thus, as we reflect on the progress made and challenges that lie ahead to advance women’s rights, it is essential to take a holistic approach and prioritize investments in education, economic opportunities, and inclusive growth to empower women and reduce poverty. 

President Japarov’s commitment to investing in education and inclusive, green economic growth to reduce poverty, which he pledged at the SDG Summit convened by the UN Secretary-General in New York last September, acknowledged the inter-connectivity of these goals and the need for targeted investments in this regard. 

For women and girls to thrive, a conducive environment is a prerequisite: In this context, I would like to congratulate all relevant authorities for yesterday’s ratification of Convention 190 of the International Labor Organization “On the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work”: The Convention aims to ensure safety and equality in the workplace, prevent violence and harassment, and create fairer and safer labor conditions. Kyrgyzstan is the first country in Central Asia and one of the first 30 countries in the world to take this critical step. I applaud this commitment to creating a conducive environment also for women to thrive and to contribute to the country's development. It also resonates with this year’s theme for International Women’s Day which calls for a shift to a care society, that places a greater emphasis on the well-being of citizens, whilst paying specific attention to the groups most left behind, those excluded, stigmatized or discriminated against. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Next year, the world will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action. The Platform for Action emphasized the importance of providing women with equitable economic opportunities, increased access to economic resources, education, and support services, as well as high levels of participation in decision making to alleviate poverty. In the run-up to the 30th anniversary, all UN Member States, including the Kyrgyz Republic, are reviewing and reporting on their progress towards gender equality, including the allocation of budgets for gender equality as a critical enabler. Today's dialogue is an essential input to the National Consultation and the Country's National Report, which will be launched in the margins of International Women’s Day in Kyrgyzstan. 

I hope that the proposals put forth by women leaders will not only inform this or other reports, but that they will in fact be carefully reviewed, and inform legislative and policy initiatives with real impact for women and girls. 

Distinguished participants,

Achieving gender equality and women empowerment requires a long breath and concerted efforts by all stakeholders in a society, rights holders and duty bearers alike, Parliament, Government, State institutions, including law enforcement entities, National Human Rights Institutes, civil society, media, and women groups, to mention a few. 

Today’s dialogue has demonstrated the need for such interactions and productive exchanges of all stakeholders. 

I therefore invite everyone here to continue dialogue and collaboration with women's rights holders from all walks of life as an instrumental approach to resolving both practical and strategic issues at all levels. 

On behalf of the UN family in Kyrgyzstan, I express our commitment to continuing our partnership to advance the enjoyment of rights by women from all backgrounds in the Kyrgyz Republic, in line with our 5-year UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. 

In closing, let me echo the words of UN Secretary-General, A. Guterres, emphasizing the need to change the systems that hinder women from realizing their full potential: “It is time to stop trying to change women, and start changing the systems that prevent them from achieving their potential.  Our power structures have evolved gradually over thousands of years. One further evolution is long overdue. The 21st century must be the century of women’s equality.” To make this happen, the women leaders like the ones who are assembled here today, are essential. As are the men whose role cannot be over-rated. 

With this, I would like to wish you all a very happy International Women’s Day. 

Thank you very much. 

Chon Rahmat!