Students, Graduates, Diplomats and Experts Spoke About Women’s Rights and Gender Issues

On 07 March 2025, the OSCE Academy organized an event dedicated to International Women’s Day, initiating the discussion on gender issues in Central Asia among diplomats, experts, recent graduates, and students of the Academy. Following the official welcome by Dr. Pal Dunay, Director of the OSCE Academy, Ambassador Alexey Rogov, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, spoke about the importance of education for women and youth in the region. Ms. Lara Scarpitta, Senior Adviser of the OSCE on Gender, addressed participants in her video message. “For us, supporting women, is not just a matter of equity, it is a matter of achieving peace, security, and stability,”- underlined Ms. Scarpitta.

Dr. Syed Sadiq, UN Women Country Representative in Kyrgyzstan, delivered his speech called “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” Based on his extensive experience working with women’s rights in different parts of the world, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and southern Africa, Dr. Sadiq provided an overview of the general situation with women’s right worldwide and highlighted the importance of providing women with equal opportunities, as well as the reasons why it is crucial to engage men in solving gender issues. The first panel was concluded by Ms. Aigerim Toktogulova, National Project Officer (WIN) at the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, who continued the discussion on gender equality and women’s empowerment in Central Asia. Ms. Toktogulova shared about the activities and the achievement of the OSCE Women & Men Innovating & Networking for Gender Equality (WIN) project.

During the second panel session three recent graduates and one MA student presented their research works. Ms. Aizat Sabyrbek kyzy, Alumna of 2025, MA in Economic Governance and Development, Kyrgyzstan and Ms. Akylai Tenizbaeva, Alumna of 2025, MA in Human Rights and Sustainability, Kyrgyzstan have covered the gender gaps in employment and workplace gender equality. Ms. Dana Soltangazinova, Alumna of 2025, MA in Politics and Security, Russian Federation, and Ms. Kristina Ryabova, Student 2024-2026, MA in Human Rights and Sustainability, Kazakhstan presented their works related to gender-based violence (GBV), more specifically the role of civil society in combating gender-based violence (GBV) and the laws on GBV in the region. The event was concluded by a lively discussion of the presented topics. The presenters were encouraged to publish their research results not only in English, where there are many sources available but also in Kyrgyz language where the literature on the topic is scarce.

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