Speech by the UNRC in the Kyrgyz Republic, Ms. Antje Grawe at the Signing Ceremony of the Zero Violence against Women and Girls Initiative

Thank you for the opportunity to join you today. I would like start by thanking the European Union and UN Women for their leadership, and to acknowledge the strong commitment of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to addressing violence against women and girls as a national priority.

Today’s signing marks the launch of a new initiative, but it also reflects a shared recognition: violence against women and girls remains a serious and systemic challenge that affects families, communities, and the country’s long-term development.

National data underlines the growing scale of the issue. In 2024 alone, more than 14,600 people sought assistance from crisis centers and psychosocial support services; over 80 per cent were women, and the majority of cases were linked to domestic violence. Official statistics estimate that around 13 per cent of women in the Kyrgyz Republic have experienced domestic violence, while many cases remain unreported.

The Second Voluntary National Review, presented by the Kyrgyz delegation in July 2025 in New York, confirms that violence against women and girls continues to undermine progress in SDG achievement. The Review highlights rising reports of domestic violence, persistent

early and forced marriage, and safety concerns among adolescent girls and young women. It also shows that women who are already disadvantaged — including those in rural areas, women with disabilities, and women from low-income households — face higher risks and fewer protection mechanisms. In this sense, violence is both a driver and an outcome of inequality, exclusion, and weak institutional response.

Addressing violence against women and girls is therefore not only a human rights obligation. It is also essential for achieving the objectives of the National Development Program 2030, particularly in relation to human capital, social cohesion, inclusive growth, and trust in public institutions.

The Zero Violence against Women and Girls Initiative is designed to respond to this challenge in a targeted way. It builds directly on the lessons learned from the Spotlight Initiative, which strengthened legal frameworks, expanded survivor-centered services, improved coordination across institutions, and empowered civil society organizations nationwide.

At the same time, those lessons made clear that sustainable progress depends not only on response, but on prevention. This is what makes the focus of this new initiative particularly significant. Violence does not occur in isolation. It is shaped by social norms, power relations, economic dependence, and institutional responses. The initiative therefore places women’s and youth organizations at the center — strengthening their leadership and technical capacity, and enabling them to work with local authorities, communities, media, and national institutions to prevent violence before it occurs.

This approach is consistent with the Kyrgyz Republic’s commitments under last year’s Universal Periodic Review, including accepted recommendations on preventing gender-based violence, ensuring access

to justice, and enabling meaningful civil society participation. Implementation of these commitments depends on strong cooperation between state institutions and independent actors who can reach communities, identify risks early, and support accountability. In this context, the role of civil society is indispensable.

At the same time, the recent OHCHR public report on the impact of the Law on Foreign Representatives documents how women’s and gender-equality organizations have been among those most affected by increased pressure, self-censorship, and reduced advocacy. Many have scaled back or shifted away from rights-based work, with direct consequences for prevention, survivor support, and outreach to those most at risk.

The Zero Violence against Women and Girls Initiative responds to this reality in a constructive way. By investing in the resilience, coordination, and leadership of women’s and youth organizations, it reinforces the conditions needed for effective prevention and inclusive governance, while strengthening partnerships with public institutions.

This is a system-wide UN effort. UN Women provides technical leadership and long-standing expertise on gender equality and violence prevention. Other UN entities contribute through their mandates on governance, youth, social protection, education, and peacebuilding — working together as one UN.

Dear participants,

Let me conclude simply. Ending violence against women and girls is essential for sustainable development, social cohesion, and public trust. Today’s signing is a concrete step toward prevention, accountability, and inclusion — with women and girls not only protected, but empowered as leaders of change.

Thank you.