In December 2023, in Bishkek, Equality Now conducted a specialized training session for 40 lawyers from across Kyrgyzstan, focusing on improving access to justice for sexual violence cases and understanding international human rights standards. The event aimed to equip lawyers with practical knowledge and tools to better support survivors of sexual violence within the legal system.
The training received strong positive feedback, with 81.8% of participants rating it 5 out of 5. 86.4% of attendees felt their knowledge had significantly increased. Both trainers and participants agreed that the training provided a solid foundation for further education and advocacy. This event marked a step in strengthening the capacity of legal professionals in Kyrgyzstan to uphold justice and human rights for survivors of sexual violence.
Additionally, in 2023, Equality Now co-organized an educational platform in collaboration with Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and various non-governmental and educational institutions. The goal of the platform is to promote training, raise awareness, and enhance the skills of representatives of Government bodies, activists, and civil society organizations in advancing gender equality and combating discrimination, in line with the Kyrgyz Republic’s National Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality by 2030.
As part of this initiative, four webinars were conducted on various issues of violence and discrimination against women. Notably, the event on October 11, 2023, focused on the prevention of child marriage in Kyrgyzstan, and a webinar on November 27 that same year addressed sexual violence against women and girls with disabilities in Kyrgyzstan. These webinars aimed to increase understanding and foster action on critical issues related to violence against women and girls, and particularly the protection of vulnerable groups.