HRW experts note that in the past 12 months, the country's authorities have taken certain steps to protect the rights of women with disabilities and combat violence; however, measures to ensure their safety need significant improvement.
Synat Sultanalieva, HRW researcher for Central Asia, stated: “Women and girls with disabilities remain unnoticed, and their words are not taken seriously. Despite positive changes in legislation, full access to justice for them remains in question.”
According to a March study conducted by the organization Equality in 2025, nearly 93% of surveyed women with disabilities reported experiencing various forms of violence. The survey involved 150 women from seven regions of Kyrgyzstan.
Of these, 140 women reported experiencing psychological violence, 80 reported harassment, 70 reported economic difficulties, 60 reported physical violence, and 40 reported sexual violence.
However, only eight of the respondents sought help from law enforcement agencies or medical institutions. The reasons for this choice included distrust of the police, lack of information about their rights, fear of public condemnation, and concerns for safety, especially if the aggressor is a family member.
In February 2025, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, approved amendments to the Criminal Code that strengthen penalties for sexual crimes against people with disabilities, recognizing disability as an aggravating circumstance. Provisions that allowed convicted individuals of such crimes to be exempted from imprisonment were also removed.
In August of the same year, the Law on the Rights and Guarantees of Persons with Disabilities was adopted, harmonizing the country's legislation with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Throughout 2025, the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration conducted workshops for law enforcement and judicial system employees aimed at improving access to justice for women with disabilities.
However, human rights defenders emphasize the existence of serious problems. For example, statistical data on domestic and sexual violence in the country often do not account for women with disabilities. Additionally, court and police buildings remain inaccessible to people with disabilities: according to research, only 25% of institutions in Bishkek are equipped with ramps.
HRW calls on the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to ensure the real implementation of new laws and to eliminate existing barriers to access to justice.
“The laws adopted in 2025 in Kyrgyzstan have demonstrated that meaningful changes can be achieved when authorities listen to human rights defenders. It is necessary to confirm that these steps are not merely symbolic. Women and girls with disabilities must be safe — both in their homes and in society,” concluded Synat Sultanalieva.
