KYRGYZSTAN: President of the Kyrgyz Republic for the Transition Period Signed Up to Say No – UNiTE Campaign

Roza Otunbaeva, President of the Kyrgyz Republic for the Transition Period signed up for the UN Secretary General's Campaign “UNiTE to End Violence against Women” reaffirming the commitment to make ending violence against women and girls a top priority at the state level.

A global campaign “Unite to End Violence against Women” has been initiated in 2008 by the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon. This initiative calls for nations to put in place strong laws, action plans, preventative measures, data collection and systematic measures to address sexual violence in conflict situations.

In Kyrgyzstan, the UNiTE Campaign was officially launched by the UN Gender Theme Group in March 2010. Since then, information and awareness raising initiatives targeting youth, men and vulnerable women have been conducted in all parts of the Kyrgyz Republic.

One of the UNiTE's components is "Say No – UNiTE" sign-up campaign, which has been joined by almost 20 government, business, international, non-government organizations and more than 600 individuals.

On 7 June 2010, Ms. Roza Otunbaeva, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic for the Transition Period put her signature on "Say NO – UNiTE" sign-up sheet confirming adherence of the Provisional Government and Kyrgyzstan to protections of women's rights.

“We know that many women underwent violence in many societies including domestic violence," said Ban Ki-moon during his visit to Kyrgyzstan in early April. “That is why through the UN iTE, the UN is joining forces with individuals, civil society and governments to put an end to violence against women in all its forms”, Mr. Ban declared. “If you give a woman power and respect, she will take decisions that benefit her family, and society as a whole”.

“We must UNiTE to end crimes against women, including domestic violence, sex trafficking, and early or forced marriage,” he added.

Photo: UN Kyrgyzstan