Challenges of 2005 .

1. Participation of women in politicsin Kyrgyzstan: challenges, achievements and perspectivesNiyazova A.N., Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of KR in the Parliament, KR

2. Challenges of 2005. • Actualization of the problem of the political system inefficiency, roll back in human dimension indicators, including in issues of gender equality • «Washing out» women out of the governmental bodies • Rhetoric strategy of the State in relation to gender equality • Strengthening of traditional stereotype perceptions regarding the role of a woman- mother and house-keeper • Lack of record of hidden barriers for participation of women in politics • A negative image of a woman- participant of pickets and women-activists One of the consequences – zero representation of women in the Parliament based on results of elections of 2005.

3. Response of women’s movement • Review of the women’s movement strategy at the National Forum of Women’s Organizations in April, 2005. A Uniform Action Platform was developed • Strategy for lobbying of institutional changes, including in legislation (Constitution, Elections Code, etc.) • Use of symbolic actions for attraction of attention of politicians and the public to the problem of non-representation of women in politics

4. Achievements • Parliamentarian hearings on implementation by KR of international obligations on human rights, including the CEDAWConvention and Convention on political rights of women (13-14 September, 2006). • Adoption of the Decrees by the President: - On measures for improvement of gender policy as of 20.03.2006 - On approval of the Regulation on the order of carrying out gender expertise of projects of НПА and development of respective opinions as of 5.02.2007 - On the national Action Plan for the achievement of gender equality for 2007-2010 as of 20.08.2007

5. Important: Country Development Strategy(CDS) has been approved in the National Council on Strategic Development of KR in November, 2006 and was approved by the Decree of the President (18.05. 2007)/ Providing for comprehensive gender approach through • Recognition of the progress in the issues of gender equality as one of the key goal of the country development • Introduction of gender approach in all Sections of the Strategy • Integration of actions into the Matrix and providing for their financial support

6. The indicated key goal of development isachievement of gender parity in administration. Key development problems in CDS: - lack of women in the Parliament - reduction of representation of women at high levels of the State power in comparison with previous years - Human resource policy in the State bodies is insensitiveto gender differences

7. In sub-section “Building-up capacity of the civil and municipal servants”the following objectives were formulated: а) supplying the civil and municipal services with professional staff with consideration of gender equality principles б) achievement of gender equality when recruiting to vacant State positions

8. Matrix of actions: а) provide for mechanisms of regular control (monitoring) over implementation of laws, including “On foundations of the State guarantees of gender equality” б) Strengthen human resource departments of the executive bodies of power by forming (singling out) in each of them of a special structural subdivision (or a specialists) on work with personnel and conducting appropriate training, including training on gender issues.

9. Constitution (adopted on 21.10.2007) • Elections Code Result: 27% women are available in the Parliament • Law “On the State guarantees of equal rights and opportunities for men and women”(8.08.2008) – innovations:it contains • Norms on guarantees in public administration and in doing civil services • Mechanism for providing for observation of gender equality (competences of the President, the Parliament, the Government, the authorized agency, the civil society)

10. Lessons learned • Control (monitoring) over implementation of international obligations – the Parliament • Control (monitoring) over observation of legislation – Prosecutor’s General Office • Availability of a special law and respective mechanisms of enforcement (implementation) in it • Strong, sustainableinstitutional mechanism • Monitoring of implementation of obligations – The authorized agency • Harmonization and synchronization of laws, particularly regarding the issues of responsibility • Interaction with the civil society

11. Perspectives • Implementation of the procedure of annual reporting of the Government to the Parliament regarding provision of gender equality in compliance with international and national obligations • Parliamentarian control and allocation of budget funds for implementation of the national Action Plan for the achievement of gender equality for 2007-2010 • Parliamentarian control of implementation of gender indicators (36 out of 100) Country Development Strategy • Establishment of the authorized agency in the executive power • Public control by citizens

12. New challenges for women in politics • Corruption growth (166 place out of 180 countries, in 2003 -118 place) • Tendencies towards Islamization and propaganda (advocacy) of patriarchal values in public space radicalization of the society • Massive representation of women in the capacity of deputies of the Parliament of KR as the result of application of gender quotas: • Requires propriety of the adopted measures for the society • There is a risk of annulment of special measures during the first forthcoming reform of the political system and discredit of the idea of political participation