On 21–22 May, the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) and the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD), hosted by the Jogorku Kenesh (Supreme Council) of the Kyrgyz Republic, held the Sub-Regional Parliamentarians Meeting on Advancing Gender Equality in Central Asia, Ensuring Women Empowerment in the Region in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. The meeting was organized with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Japan Trust Fund (JTF), and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), bringing together approximately 30 participants including parliamentarians, government officials, representatives of international organizations and civil society, and experts from 8 countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Participants discussed common challenges across the region, including the lack of women’s participation in political and decision-making processes, the gender pay gap, women’s disproportionate share of unpaid domestic and care work, and gender-based violence (GBV). The importance of gender quotas and gender-responsive budgeting as means of promoting women’s participation and advancing gender equality was also highlighted. The meeting also focused on emerging forms of technology-facilitated violence, including cyberstalking, online harassment, the non-consensual dissemination of intimate content, blackmail and extortion, and deepfakes. Participants emphasized the need to strengthen legal frameworks to address digital violence, enhance the accountability of online platforms, promote digital literacy, strengthen support systems for people affected by digital violence, and advance international cooperation. The meeting further highlighted the strategic role of parliamentarians in advancing gender equality and protecting women’s rights through legislation, budgeting, and parliamentary oversight, recognizing these efforts as essential to peace, security, and sustainable development in the region. The meeting recommendations called for stronger parliamentary oversight of the implementation of legislation on gender equality and violence prevention; the development of legal frameworks to address digital violence; the mainstreaming of gender perspectives across public policies; the promotion of gender-responsive budgeting; and strengthened inter-parliamentary cooperation in Central Asia and the Caucasus. The participants also agreed on the importance of continued regional cooperation, including through the establishment of a Regional Network of Women Parliamentarians, the expansion of regular inter-parliamentary dialogue and exchange, and joint efforts to advance and harmonize legislative initiatives.

On the following day, participants visited the “One Village One Product (OVOP)” project in Bishkek, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The visit provided practical insights into a community-based initiative that promotes income generation by developing and marketing products based on local resources. Around 90% of the project participants are women, making the initiative an important example of promoting women’s economic empowerment in the community.