The launch of the Zero VAWG (Zero Violence Against Women and Girls) initiative took place in Bishkek, initiated by the European Union in collaboration with UN Women. This project aims to achieve zero tolerance for violence against women and girls, as well as to improve national mechanisms for preventing gender-based violence in Kyrgyzstan.
The ceremony, which gathered representatives from the government, the UN system, the European Union, civil society organizations, and the private sector, was held in Bishkek. It became a landmark event for all participants.
The initiative, planned for three years (from November 2025 to October 2028), has a budget of 3.119 million US dollars. Of this amount, 2.5 million euros are allocated by the European Union, while 200,000 dollars come from UN Women.
As noted during the event, the project aims to strengthen the capacity of women's and youth organizations, which play a crucial role in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls. The initiative plans to support at least 140 such organizations and implement the "Zero VAWG Community" model at both local and national levels.
The project is expected to reach over 1,200 organizations and 6,000 participants across the country, including Bishkek and Osh, as well as more than 20 central institutions.
UN Women's structure emphasized that the main areas of the Zero VAWG initiative are:
- prevention of gender-based violence;
- increasing access to services for victims;
- creating coordinated and accountable response mechanisms at the community level;
- utilizing digital tools to shape new social norms and prevent violence.
The project's theory of change suggests that the development of leadership and management skills in women's and youth organizations, their interaction within the "Zero VAWG Community" model, and the use of digital technologies will lead to more effective combat against gender-based violence and the strengthening of human rights.
At the launch ceremony, welcoming speeches were delivered by Ainura Orozbaeva, Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Security, and Migration of Kyrgyzstan; Remi Duflot, Ambassador of the European Union to Kyrgyzstan; Antje Grave, UN Resident Coordinator in the country; and Dr. Sadik Syed, Country Representative of UN Women.
The main goal of the Zero VAWG initiative is to enhance the protection of human rights, combat gender-based violence, and empower women's and youth organizations in Kyrgyzstan.
