New Report Highlights Persistent Gender Equality Gaps in Kyrgyzstan – The Times Of Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan Releases Country Gender Equality Profile Highlighting SDG Progress and Challenges

Introduction

Kyrgyzstan has published its Country Gender Equality Profile (CGEP), an evidence-based assessment developed by the Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare, and Migration in partnership with UN Women and supported by the European Union. The report was presented during a National Dialogue on Promoting Gender Equality Policy and provides a comprehensive analysis of structural barriers to gender equality using government statistics, legislative reviews, and stakeholder consultations.

Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The CGEP aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals, particularly:

• SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• SDG 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all
• SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
• SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation
• SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions

Key Findings and Challenges

Political Representation and Leadership

1. Women hold 39% of seats in local councils due to effective gender quotas in elected bodies, supporting SDG 5 and SDG 16.
2. Women occupy only 5% of cabinet posts and none of the positions of Presidential Representatives or district heads, highlighting gaps in appointed leadership roles.
3. Women represent just 3.5% of leadership roles in rural administration.
4. Media representation is skewed, with male politicians receiving seven times more coverage than female politicians, impacting public perception and gender equality efforts.

Economic Empowerment and Employment

• Women’s employment rate declined from 49.3% to 43.8% over the past 15 years, influenced by traditional gender norms and rising religious conservatism, affecting SDG 8 and SDG 10.
• 77% of employed women work in lower-paid sectors such as education and healthcare or informal roles, contributing to a 25% gender pay gap.
• Women spend an average of 4 hours and 20 minutes per day on unpaid household labor, compared to 55 minutes for men, reflecting persistent gender inequalities in unpaid work.
• Women own only 29% of registered real estate, limiting access to credit and business growth opportunities.
• Women constitute 27% of entrepreneurs and hold 1.2% of leadership roles in Water User Associations.

Digital Inclusion and Education

1. In 2023, only 45% of rural women had internet access compared to 65% of men, highlighting digital inequality (SDG 9 and SDG 5).
2. Women’s representation in the ICT sector dropped from 40.8% in 2020 to 31.9% in 2022.
3. Women hold only 15% of leadership roles in the tech industry.
4. Women account for 33.9% of students enrolled in computing-related degree programs, indicating gender disparities in STEM education.

Demographic Context

According to the National Statistical Committee, as of January 1, 2025, Kyrgyzstan’s population totaled 7.28 million, comprising 3.68 million women and 3.60 million men.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The CGEP underscores that despite Kyrgyzstan’s robust policy framework, significant structural and cultural barriers persist, limiting women’s full participation in political, economic, and digital spheres. To advance the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5 on gender equality, systemic and practical solutions are required to:

• Enhance women’s representation in appointed leadership roles and decision-making positions.
• Address economic disparities by promoting women’s access to higher-paying sectors, property rights, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
• Reduce unpaid care work burdens through supportive policies and cultural change.
• Bridge digital divides by improving rural internet access and encouraging women’s participation in ICT education and leadership.
• Improve media representation to foster balanced public perceptions of women leaders.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality – The article focuses extensively on gender equality issues in Kyrgyzstan, including women’s representation in leadership, economic empowerment, and social disparities.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The discussion on women’s employment rates, pay gap, and entrepreneurship relates directly to economic growth and decent work.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The article highlights disparities in access to property, finance, and digital resources, which are aspects of reducing inequalities.
4. SDG 4: Quality Education – The mention of women’s enrollment in computing-related degree programs connects to education quality and access.
5. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – Women’s participation in ICT and tech leadership roles relates to innovation and infrastructure development.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life.
   • Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services and social protection policies.
   • Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, including ownership and control over land and other forms of property.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men.
   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, and formalization of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of gender.
4. SDG 4: Quality Education
   • Target 4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education.
5. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. SDG 5 Indicators
   • Proportion of seats held by women in local councils (39%) and cabinet posts (5%).
   • Percentage of women in leadership roles in rural administration (3.5%) and Water User Associations (1.2%).
   • Gender pay gap (25%).
   • Average time spent on unpaid household labor by women (4 hours 20 minutes) vs men (55 minutes).
   • Proportion of women owning registered real estate (29%).
2. SDG 8 Indicators
   • Women’s employment rate decline from 49.3% to 43.8% over 15 years.
   • Percentage of women entrepreneurs (27%).
3. SDG 10 Indicators
   • Access to finance and property ownership disparities.
4. SDG 4 Indicators
   • Percentage of women enrolled in computing-related degree programs (33.9%).
5. SDG 9 Indicators
   • Internet access among rural women (45%) vs men (65%).
   • Women’s representation in ICT sector (decline from 40.8% in 2020 to 31.9% in 2022).
   • Women’s leadership roles in tech industry (15%).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: timesca.com