HRW emphasizes that in the past 12 months, the authorities of Kyrgyzstan have taken certain measures to protect the rights of women with disabilities and combat violence. However, experts believe that it is necessary to strengthen the protection of these women from abuse and harassment.
Synat Sultanalieva, HRW researcher for Central Asia, noted that "women and girls with disabilities continue to remain invisible, and their claims are often ignored, making it difficult for them to access justice in Kyrgyzstan, despite existing legislative progress."
According to a study conducted by the public organization Equality in March 2025, nearly 93% of surveyed women with disabilities reported experiencing various forms of violence. The survey included 150 women from seven regions of the country.
Of these, 140 respondents reported psychological violence, 80 reported harassment, 70 reported financial difficulties, 60 reported physical violence, and 40 reported sexual violence.
Only eight women from the surveyed group sought help from law enforcement or medical institutions. The main reasons for this are distrust of the police, lack of knowledge about their rights, fear of public condemnation, and concern for their safety, especially if the aggressor is a family member.
In February 2025, President Sadyr Japarov signed amendments to the Criminal Code that introduce stricter penalties for sexual violence against people with disabilities. Disability has been recognized as an aggravating circumstance, and provisions allowing for the release of convicts for such crimes from punishment have been abolished.
In August of the same year, the Law "On the Rights and Guarantees of Persons with Disabilities" was adopted, aimed at harmonizing Kyrgyzstan's legislation with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Throughout 2025, the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection, and Migration conducted training workshops for law enforcement and judicial system staff to ensure access to justice for women with disabilities.
Despite these efforts, human rights defenders point to serious shortcomings, such as the lack of data on victims with disabilities in statistics on domestic and sexual violence. Moreover, many judicial and police buildings remain inaccessible to people with disabilities—according to studies, only 25% of buildings in Bishkek are equipped with ramps.
HRW calls on the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to practically implement the adopted laws and eliminate existing barriers to justice.
"The laws adopted in 2025 show that the authorities can listen to human rights defenders. It is important that these are not just symbolic steps. Women and girls with disabilities must be protected: both in their homes and in their communities," emphasized Synat Sultanalieva.
