Technical Assistance Consultant's Report
Technical Assistance Consultant's Report
Technical Assistance Consultant's Report
Conference Report
Prepared by:
(Public Association) Women’s League with Creative Initiative
For :
ADB RETA 7563: Promoting Gender Inclusive Growth in CWRD DMCs
This consultant’s report does not necessarily reflect the views of ADB or the Government concerned, and
ADB and the Government cannot be held liable for its contents.
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1. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT on Mitigation of Gender Inequality and
Protection of Girls from Violence and Early Marriages in Countries of Central Asia and
Caucasus.
Goal of Project: to establish conditions for design and introduction of regional strategy plan
of action on protection of juvenile girls from violence and early marriages in countries of
Central Asia and Caucasus.
Objectives of Project:
1. to establish regional working group of experts
2. to conduct expertise in countries of Central Asia on problems of early marriages and
violence against juvenile girls
3. to create information resource database
4. to design draft regional strategy plan of action on protection of girls of Central Asia
from violence and early marriages in the framework of regional conference.
Project outcomes
During implementation of the Project WLCI conducted an expertise on situation with early
and forced marriages in the countries of Central Asia and Caucasus. Among countries of
Central Asia and Caucasus the following states demonstrated positive feedback to
cooperate: Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan Republic and
Georgia.
International Experts
Международные эксперты
Kyrgyz Republic / Кыргызская Республика
1. Ms. Ainuru Altybayeva Parliamentarian of ZhogorkuKenesh of Kyrgyz
Алтыбаева Айнуру Тойчиевна Republic /
Депутат Парламента Жогорку Кенеш
Кыргызской Республики
2. Ms. Toktokan Borombayeva Deputy Ombudsman of Kyrgyz Republic /
Боромбаева Токтокан Заместитель Акыйкатчы (Омбудсмена)
Жолуевна Кыргызской Республики
3. Ms. Rimma Sultanova Specialist of Public Association Support Center
Султанова Римма for Women, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic /
Специалист по мониторингу ОО «Центр
помощи женщинам», Бишкек, Кыргызская
Республика
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Azerbaijan Republic / Азербайджанская Республика
4. Professor Ijran Gusseynova Chairperson of State Committee on Problems of
Гусейнова Иджран Кямранкызы Family, Women and Children of Azerbaijan
Republic / Председатель Государственного
Комитета по Проблемам Семьи, Женщины и
Детей Азербайджанской Республики
5. Ms. Sabina Manafova Head of Division on External Relations and
Манафова Сабина Protocol Service of State Committee on
Problems of Family, Women and Children of
Azerbaijan Republic / начальник отдела по
внешним связям и протокольной службе
Государственного Комитета по Проблемам
Семьи, Женщины и Детей Азербайджанской
Республики
6. Ms. Lyudmila Khalilova Member of Garachukhur Municipality, Surakhan
Халилова Людмила District of Baku city, Head of Permanent Legal
Commission, Chair of Municipal Women Union –
Public Association Women for Development of
Municipalities, Azerbaijan Republic /
Член Гарачухурского Муниципалитета
Сураханского района города Баку,
Председатель Союза Муниципальных
Женщин - ОО "Женщины за Развитие
Муниципалитетов", Азербайджанская
Республики .
Republic of Tajikistan / Республика Таджикистан
7. Ms. Kurbongul Kossimova Director of Public Association Nachoti
Косимова Курбонгуль Kudakhon, Republic of Tajikistan /
директор ОО «Начоти Кудакон», Республика
Таджикистан
Georgia / Грузия
8. Ms. Leyla Suleymanova Director of Public Association Union of
Сулейманова Лейла Azerbaijan Women in Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia /
директор ОО «Союз азербайджанских
женщин в Грузии», г.Тбилиси, Грузия
Turkmenistan / Туркменистан
9. Ms. Zalina Rossoshanskaya General Director of Youth Center Bosphor of
Россошанская Залина Youth Organization named after Makhtumkuli /
генеральный директор молодежного центра
"Босфор" Молодежной организации
Туркменистанаим. Махтумкули
10. Ms. Gulya Chorekliyeva Chair of NGO ENME, Turkmenistan /
Чореклиева Гуля председатель НПО «ЕНМЕ», Туркменистан
Established group of experts from each country prepared country reports on the base of
statistics and factual information. The data were compiled and used for preparation of country
reports, design and promotion of recommendations to introduce amendments and changes into
legislation of countries of Central Asia and Caucasus within a single regional strategy plan of
action concerning overcoming from gender inequality with regards to juvenile girls and
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prohibition of early and forced marriages (bride kidnapping). Expert reports and draft document
of recommendations along with draft Strategy for Regional Centre on Social Policy
Development Gender and Children were presented to public discussions during the Regional
Conference on Prevention of Violence against Adolescent Girls, Early and Forced Marriages in
Countries of Central Asia and Caucasus within Millennium Development Goals held on
September 19-20, 2013 in Astana.
The results of country assessments produced fundamental material for discussions with the
Conference concerning design of efficient strategies to overcome the problem of early
marriages in countries of Central Asia.
International Experts
Международные эксперты
Turkmenistan / Туркменистан
26. Ms. Zalina General Director of Youth Center Bosphor of Youth Organization
Rossoshanskaya named after Makhtumkuli /
Россошанская Залина генеральныйдиректормолодежногоцентра "Босфор"
Молодежной организации Туркменистана им. Махтумкули
27. Ms. Gulya Chorekliyeva Chair of NGO ENME, Turkmenistan /
Чореклиева Гуля председатель НПО «ЕНМЕ», Туркменистан
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Conference Programme
September 19, 2013, conference hall Besik, Palace of Peace and Accord, Astana, Tauelsizdik st. 57
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• Ms. Rimma Sultanova – Specialist of Public Association Support Center for Women, Bishkek, Kyrgyz
Republic.
• Ms. Lyudmila Khalilova - member of Garachukhur Municipality, Surakhan District of Baku city, Head of
Permanent Legal Commission, Chair of Municipal Women Union – Public Association Women for
Development of Municipalities, Azerbaijan Republic.
• Ms. Leyla Suleymanova – Director of Public Association Union of Azerbaijan Women in Georgia, Tbilisi,
Georgia.
• Ms. Kurbongul Kossimova – Director of Public Association Nachoti Kudakhon, Kulyab, Republic of
Tajikistan.
3.30 – 4.00 pm Discussions and Comments
4.00 – 4.30 pm Coffee Break
4.30 – 4.45 pm Session: Reproductive and Sexual Rights of Girls. Guarantee of Access to Legal, Medical and Social Aid
for Victims of Gender Violence in Kazakhstan – Moderator Ms. Bakhtyla Tumenova (President of Public
Foundation Aman Saulyk).
4.45 – 5.00 pm Session: Problems and Legal Aspects of Access to Education and Social Guarantees with Regards to
Victims of Early and Marriages – Moderator Ms. Zauresh Battalova (President of Public Foundation for
Development of Parliamentarism).
5.00 – 5.15 pm Session: Influence of Religion, Cultural and Social Stereotypes on Level of Gender Inequality in Respect
to Girls of Kazakhstan and Central Asian Countries – Moderator Professor Kalysh Amanzhol (Al-Farabi
Kazakh National University).
5.15 – 5.30 pm Session: Efficient Approaches in the Field of Violence Prevention with Regard to Women and Girls –
Moderator Ms. Zulfiya Baisakova (Chair of Board, Association of Legal Entities Crisis Centers Union of
Kazakhstan).
5.30 – 5.45 pm Session: Issues of Aid Delivery to and Security of Traffic Victim Girls – Moderator Ms. Nina Balabayeva
(Director of Public Foundation “Center for Socio-Psychological Rehabilitation and Adaptation for Women and
Children “Rodnik”).
6.00 – 6.20 pm Discussions over Recommendations and Closing Remarks on Program Day 1
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September 20, 2013, conference hall of King Hotel Astana, Astana, Valikhanov st. 7
9.30 – 10.00 am Presentation of Strategy for Regional Center of Social Development Gender and Children - Ms. Assiya
Khairulina – member of National Commission on Family and Women’s Affairs under President of RK, Chair of
Board, Public Association Women’s League of Creative Initiative, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan.
10.00 – 11.20 am Proposed Mechanisms to Promote the Strategy at National and Regional Levels with Account of Best
World Practices: Master Classes of experts (time limit 15 min):
Speakers Facilitators
/ Dialogue and Interaction of State Bodies with Ms. Gulmira Boranbayeva – Secretary of National
Civil Society / Ms. Ijran Guseynova - Chairperson of Commission on Family and Women’s Affairs under
State Committee on Problems of Family, Women Akim of South Kazakhstan Oblast
and Children of the Azerbaijan Republic.
/Role of Human Rights Organizations in Overcom Ms. Bakhtyla Tumenova - President of Public
Gender Inequality / Ms. Toktokan Borombayeva - DFoundation Aman Saulyk.
Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic.
11.20 – 11.40 am Coffee Break
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11.40 – 1.00 pm Proposed Mechanisms to Promote the Strategy at National and Regional Levels with Account of Best
World Practices: Master Classes of experts (time limit 15 min):
Speakers Facilitators
/ Forms of Efficient Interaction with Ethnic Mr. Kalysh Amanzhol – Professor of Al-Farabi
Communities / Ms. Leyla Suleymanova – Director of Kazakh National University).
Public Association Union of Azerbaijan Women in
Georgia. Tbilisi, Georgia.
/Advocacy Campaigns and Dialogue with State Ms. Zulfiya Baisakova - Chair of Board, Association
Authorities / Ms. Rimma Sultanova – Coordinator of of Legal Entities Crisis Centers Union of
Public Association Support Center for Women, Kazakhstan.
Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.
/Work with Population in Overcoming Cultural Ms. Rakhima Duissenova – Project Manager of
Stereotypes and Prejudices with Regard to Girls / Public Foundation Aman Saulyk, Republic of
Ms. Lyudmila Khalilova - member of Garachukhur Kazakhstan.
Municipality, Surakhan District of Baku city, Head of
Permanent Legal Commission, Chair of Municipal
Women Union – Public Association Women for
Development of Municipalities, Azerbaijan Republic.
/Work Experience on Rehabilitation of Early and Ms. Nina Balabayeva - Director of Public Foundation
forced Marriages Victims / Ms. Kurbongul Rodnik.
Kossimova – Director of Public Association Nachoti
Kudakhon, Kulyab, Republic of Tajikistan.
1.00 – 2.00 pm Lunch
2.00 – 2.20 pm Presentation of Compiled List of Recommendations - Ms. Assiya Khairulina – member of National
Commission on Family and Women’s Affairs under President of RK, Chair of Board, Public Association
Women’s League of Creative Initiative, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan.
2.20 – 3.00 pm Discussion and negotiating final recommendations of the Conference.
3.00 – 3.30 pm Closure Remarks on Conference
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Main outcomes of the Project:
1. Draft list of recommendations is designed and approved by participants to work out regional strategy on prevention of early
and forced marriages. On the base of analysis of the existing situation in Central Asia, exchange of experiences/best practices
and as a result of discussions over national peculiarities for prevention of early marriages and their efficiency, the stakeholders
defined a long-termed programme on formation of national and regional remedies/mechanisms to decrease gender inequality,
legal and social facets of prevention of forced and early marriages in countries of Central Asia and Georgia.
• To conduct detailed analysis of After Kazakhstan gained its sovereignty until26.1.2013 – President of Kyrgyz
national legislations in the Region 1998 in the Criminal Code there was Article Republic Almazbek Atambayev signed
and figure out gaps in legislation 106 prescribing punishment in the form of Law on Introduction of Changes into
allowing appearance of early and imprisonment for a period of 1 year for Criminal Code of Kyrgyz Republic. The
forced marriages, design and compulsion to marry. Law was adopted by Kyrgyz Parliament
promote introduction of amendments – Zhogorku Kenesh – on December 20,
necessary to solve the problem Article for women kidnapping against their 2012.
• To introduce into national will with duration for incarceration up to 3
legislations direct indication of early years was not included into the Criminal It is directed to increase rights protection
and forced marriage and legal Code of RK that entered into force on of persons below 17 year (marriage) age
mechanisms to regulate the problem January 1, 1998. as well as of women for marriage
(definition, criteria, girls’ rights, consent by toughening criminal
responsibilities of parties including The crime dealing with girl/women punishment for kidnapping with purpose
parents or guardians, role and kidnapping with marriage purpose must to conclude official marriage relations
responsibility of state bodies and be noted in the Criminal Code as a along with kidnapping of a woman
etc.) separate article or amended to the article against her will.
• To work out mechanisms to advance on human kidnapping as a separate
law enforcement practice with paragraph. For fulfillment of the stressed purpose,
regards to persons having sexual the Law provides:
relations with those aged under 16, Necessary changes to CCoRK. - revision of sanction paragraph 2 of
committing rape, corrupting minors, Article 154 of CC of KR through increase
kidnapping people. Article 125. Human kidnapping of minimal incarceration period – from
• To introduce into legislation 1. Human kidnapping shall be punished with three to five years of imprisonment,
imprisonment for a period 4-7 years. maximal one – from seven to ten years;
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amendments directed to decrease 2. The same act committed: - dividing Article 155 of CC of KR into
the age for legal capacity to enjoy а) a group of persons in prior collusion; two parts, where the second part
full medical aid by an adolescent б) repeatedly; comprises of separate categorized crime
without parents’ or legal guardians’ в) with application of violence dangerous to feature “kidnapping of a woman to
consent. life or health; conclude marriage against her will” and
г) with application of arms or objects used as strengthening of responsibility for
arms; commitment of the crime by fixation of
д) with regards to a person known to be punishment with deprivation of liberty for
juvenile; a period from five to seven years. The
е) with regards to a woman known to be Law enters into force since the date of
pregnant by perpetrator; official publication.
ж) «woman kidnapping to conclude
marriage against her will» - to define as a Division of Information Policy under
separate categorized feature of crime President Administration of Kyrgyz
з) with regards to two or more persons; Republic. http://www.president.kg/ru/post
и) for mercenary ends, - s/ 51038356f4d552443d000001
is punished with imprisonment for a period
from seven to 12 years along with
confiscation of property or without as such.
2) Raising public awareness to overcome stereotypes establishing environment for violation of girls’ and women’s rights
• To deliver support to the national • To design and implement long- • To increase awareness of
communities in overcoming of termed advocacy educational specialists working with children,
customs damaging to the campaigns for different groups of via violence identification
development and health of girls, in specialists at the level of local • To design advocacy programmes
counteraction to violation of girls’ authorities, leaders of local and for families
rights through advocacy campaigns ethnic communities, clergy, adults • To strengthen cooperation with
taking into account cultural and adolescents – on the base of clergy, mufti authorities
peculiarities and ethnical traditions, state social support and under • To establish working groups with
especially in rural areas along with support of international agencies. ethnic communities
attraction of clergy organizations to • To organize summer schools to
protect the rights of girls and women. • On the base of existing national and overcome language barriers
• To promote awareness among international practices, to apply best • Publications, TV programmes on
adolescent girls concerning how to educational programmes for languages of ethnic minorities
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ensure their rights and freedoms adolescents on prevention of gender • To educate students of legal
where special focus will be paid to inequality and violence, on background concerning problems
preventive measures and protection reproductive and sexual rights, family of violence, early marriages and
from violence with clarification that creation. Together with MoES of RK,
bride kidnapping.
there are no legal norms binding a universities and under support of
girl and her family with regards to international agencies.
husband and his family in terms of • To conduct special events (sport and
dowry, as well as touching issues on art activities) in the name of girls’
status of marriage and family, rights and for prevention of early and
existing remedies. forced marriages with compulsory
• To conduct advocacy campaigns participation of boys and young
among boys and young men persons. – on the base of state social
concerning girls’ and women’s rights support and under support of
and legal liability for sexual violence, international agencies.
forced marriage, sexual relations • To fulfill programme on advocacy
with juveniles. and trainings for mass media
• To hold advocacy work within representatives concerning issues on
general population on issues of girls gender equality and girls, problem of
and women’s rights, actively shape early marriages, violence and bride
public opinion that condemns early kidnapping. – on the base of state
and forced marriages as a negative social support and under support of
phenomenon violating girls’ and international agencies.
women’s rights and impeding
development of human potential of
the countries in the Region.
3) Formation of database on detection of scales of the problem of early and forced marriages, its roots and outcomes
along with practices in tackling the problem and overcoming of its consequences
• To introduce periodic research • To conduct analysis, monitoring and • To advance statistics in countries
activities on prevalence of child and preparation of periodic reports with of the Region
forced marriage phenomenon (public involvement of National Commission • To form annual regional report on
surveys, questionnaires for experts, on Women’s Affairs, National Human early marriages and bride
analysis of existing statistics and Rights Centre, Committee on kidnapping with clear indicators
other research methods) to get Protection of Children’s Rights under • To conduct comparative analysis
reliable data on countries of the MoES of RK. - under support of of laws to combat violence in CIS
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Region international agencies. countries
• To attract international best practices • To create web-site “Regional Centre • To create and maintain regional
and adapt/develop them taking into for Social Policy Development expert group of Central Asia and
account peculiarities of the Region “Gender and Children” - under Caucasus on the problems
• To establish communication support of international agencies. studies
channels to exchange and • To conduct regional and national
disseminate information through discussion platforms on problem of
application of modern information gender inequality in countries of
technologies. Central Asia with involvement of
international experts - under support
of international agencies.
4) Detection of victims and provision of access to all kinds of services: medical, social, psychological, educational, legal
and economic
• To ensure interaction of all sectors – • To design standards on delivery of • To develop rehabilitation services
state, non-commercial organizations special social services to juvenile for juvenile victims
and private sector – for development girls who are victims of violence. • To solve problems of girls’ access
of service system for girls and • To design indicators and algorithm of to education facilities
women and preventive programmes interaction • To develop support programmes
• To detect groups of risk and • To design educational and learning for girls aged 10-16
establish trustful relations with programmes for specialists, • To remove obstacles for access
communities adolescents, families and leaders of including those based on age or
• To ensure confidentiality when local communities. family status or prohibits on
delivering medical services certain contraceptives (for
• To work out algorithms of actions of example, extraordinary
medical workers regarding referral to contraceptives)
psychologists and social services • To provide much wider access for
given to patients with physical and/or juvenile girls to modern, humane
mental health disorders that derive and goodwill medical aid.
or may derive from domestic
violence
• In the system of education to
introduce educational programmes
on issues of protection of sexual and
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reproductive health of adolescents
and youth
• Education sector specialists in
collaboration with non-governmental
organizations under support from
healthcare organizations and with
attraction of psychologists for
adolescents shall conduct special
professional lectures and seminars
on sexual and reproductive behavior
and family planning, fix access
system to free contraceptives for
teenagers
• To assist with access to a pregnant
girl, adolescent mother to medical,
legal, educational and social
services
5) Creation of regional institutional mechanisms to prevent and solve problems of early and forced marriages
• To provide regional cooperation of • To strengthen work with legislators. • application of gender budgeting
national partners on a regular base • To strengthen collaboration of civil practices of Azerbaijan Republic
(meetings and conferences, society with parliament and executive • Unification of experts over
working groups at regional level, authorities
discussions on alternative reports
exchange with information and • NGOs should participate as experts
in legislation of countries of Central Asia and
experience, assistance to partners,
teaching specialists, online- activities/incentives/discussions Caucasus within Regional
conferences and etc.) • To increase quality of justice in Centre.
• To design regional strategy and countries of Central Asia, collect and • preparation of experts for region
promote its institutionalization at analyze statistics of judgments of Central Asia and Caucasus
national level of all participant • To conclude memoranda with state • to use EurAzEC as an instrument
countries bodies, NGOs and international
for regional interaction (general
• To work out and introduce regional agencies
research papers)
mechanisms to solve practices of
early and forced marriages going • to design single mechanism for
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beyond the boundaries of a single complaints in favour of children
country (migration of brides from and adolescents (call number 150
one country to another, bride in RK)
kidnapping with citizens of another
• to promote and create an
country and etc.)
independent institute of
Ombudsman on children’s rights
in countries of the region.
• To contribute to alteration of
existing laws or adoption of new
ones and policies directed to
respect and protect sexual and
reproductive rights of girls.
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2. Regional group of experts is created as follows:
International Experts
Международные эксперты
3. Agreement on Strategy for Regional Centre for Social Policy Development “Gender and
Children”.
Ground reasons for creation of the Centre was found out during discussions as necessity for
development and advancement of social policies in countries of Central Asia and Caucasus in the
field of ensuring gender equality for children due to the constant multifaceted transformations taking
place in society. As many processes of social transformation value go beyond the frontiers of a
single country, consolidation of joint efforts at the regional level will allow increase of efficiency in
terms of carried out activities by country organizations. Design of general parameters and single
goals accordingly will permit coordination of national action plans at the Central Asian level. At the
same time, taking into account complexity and sensibility of the touched problems, regional
interaction will help with search and generation of efficient decisions at the level of social policy.
The priority of Regional Action Plan for the next three years is the problem of early and forced
marriages and corresponding violation of the rights of girls and young women (aged up to 25).
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Objectives of Regional Action Plan for the next three years:
• to form Regional (CA) Forum on overcoming of gender inequality with regards to girls and
young women;
• to establish data bank on the problem of early and forced marriages in the region, including
information on existing legislation and protection institutions for rights and interests of girls and
young women in CA;
• to collect and exchange information on best practices and for joint work of various institutions
with purpose to improve the position girls and young women in CA;
• to ensure access to quality information for girls and young women as well as for professionals
on gender issues and the issues helping to increase the level of awareness and security of the
target audience;
• to ensure access for girls and young women to education, social aid services and healthcare
facilities;
• to overcome socio-cultural stereotypes, customs and traditions, which are in conflict with the
rights of girls and young women;
• to create mechanisms of interdisciplinary approach on execution of monitoring on respect of the
rights of girls and young women.
Institutional Structure
• Regional Centre for Social Policy Development “Gender and Children” is an independent non-
governmental and non-commercial organization comprising professionals in the field of socio-
political development in Central Asia.
Organizational Structure
Headquarters of the Regional Centre locate in Almaty, Kazakhstan. In every country there will be
an organization that coordinates relevant activities at the national level. The board of directors will
include representatives from every country. The Centre base is made of analytic group of experts
on issues of social policies.
Activities
Regional Centre will execute the roles of resource and analytic centre as well as of regional forum
and advocate of the rights of girls and young women at the regional and national levels of social
policy.
The activities of the Centre include two main directions: A. Analysis and B. Advocacy (promotion of
recommendations and the level of social policy). Within those two directions the Centre will conduct
analytic expertise research, design analytic documents, strategic plans of development, forecast
research and fulfillment of projects in the field of monitoring, analysis and socio-political planning.
At the same time, the Centre performs the duties on organization of discussion platforms bringing
together representatives of state bodies, civil society and academic community, political figures,
experts and analysts examining processes and institutions in the countries of Central Asia with
regards to issues of gender equality and children’s rights.
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Main Products of the Centre
• strategic documents (strategies, programmes, action plans and etc.)
• research papers (academic and applied study)
• problem maps, analytic reports, forecasts and etc.
• recommendations on development of legislation and social policy
• publications in mass media and academic journals and online.
4. Upon the outcomes of the Project WLCI collected materials for publication of analytical report on
the problem of early and forced marriages in countries of Central Asia and Caucasus including
information on experts of the Project and key final documents of the Conference. The report will be
forwarded to all participants of the Conference and used to continue activities within the Regional
Centre.
5. Within the project for its implementation additional donors were attracted: representative office of
Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Kazakhstan (airfares and accommodation for 2 participants from
Kyrgyzstan, 3 persons from Azerbaijan and 1 participant from Tajikistan), Asian Development Bank
(rental of conference hall and partial financial support to cover meals for participants in King Hotel
Astana), United Nations Population Fund (rental of conference hall “Besik” in Palace of Peace and
Accord) and Canadian Embassy in Astana (partial support to cover publication of the conference
materials).
1) http://www.bnews.kz/ru/news/post/159726/
2) http://kazpravda.kz/?p=7448
3) http://www.ca-news.org/news:1081173/
4) http://www.kt.kz/rus/society/v_kazahstane_ezhegodno_zhenjatsja_3_tis_nesovershennoletni
h_1153578023.html
5) http://rus.azattyq.org/content/central-asia-early-marriages-and-bride-
kidnapping/25112330.html
6) http://meta.kz/novosti/kazakhstan/828462-v-astane-obsuzhdayut-problemy-rannih-
brakov.html
7) http://www.time.kz/news/society/2013/09/19/v-kazahstane-ezhegodno-okolo-3-tisjach-
nesovershennoletnih-vstupajut-v-braki
8) http://www.kenesh.kg/RU/Pages/ViewNews.aspx?id=8&NewsID=13432
9) http://news.gazeta.kz/art.asp?aid=386316
10) http://ca-news.org/news:1081173/
11) http://www.zakon.kz/4577100-v-astane-obsuzhdajut-problemy-rannikh.html
12) http://www.ca-news.org/news:1081276/
13) http://tengrinews.kz/kazakhstan_news/kazahstan-poluchil-podtverjdeniy-suschestvovanii-
podpolnoy-birji-prodaji-detey-241975/
14) http://www.interfax.kz/?lang=rus&int_id=10&news_id=8673
15) http://kg.akipress.org/news:582904
16) http://www.bala-kkk.kz/ru/node/384
17) http://www.ncgp.kz/index.php?id=0&lang=en&layout=blog&option=com_content&view=sectio
n&Itemid=0
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18) http://www.megapolis.kz/
19) http://liter.kz/
a. Television companies:
20) http://www.1tv.kz/ (1 Channel Eurasia)
21) http://www.24.kz/ru/ (news agency 24. kz)
22) http://kaztrk.kz/ (TRC of Kazakhstan)
a. Radio:
23) http://www.radiotochka.kz/news/full/656.html September 23. Live broadcast. Information
radio portal of Radiotochka, anchorperson S.Britanova “It is crucial to increase parental
responsibility, up to criminal one”
7. In 4th quarter of 2013 under auspices of National Commission on Women’s Affairs and
Family Demographic Policy under President of RK there was a working meeting conducted
together with central executive bodies of Kazakh government concerning proposals for
introduction of changes into legislation and social policy with focus on protection of girls
from early forced marriages and violence.
Proposals for introduction of changes into Criminal Code of RK were forwarded to Ministry
of Justice, Supreme Court of RK, Parliamentarian of Mazhilis Chamber of Parliament Ms.
Aisina.
Justification: After Kazakhstan gained its sovereignty until 1998 in the Criminal Code there was
Article 106 prescribing punishment in the form of imprisonment for a period of 1 year for
compulsion to marry. Article for women kidnapping against their will with duration for incarceration
up to 3 years was not included into the Criminal Code of RK that entered into force on January 1,
1998.
Necessary changes to CCoRK: The crime dealing with girl/women kidnapping with marriage
purpose must be noted in the Criminal Code as a separate article or amended to the article on
human kidnapping as a separate paragraph.
Article 125. Human kidnapping
1. Human kidnapping shall be punished with imprisonment for a period 4-7 years.
2. The same act committed:
а) a group of persons in prior collusion;
б) repeatedly;
в) with application of violence dangerous to life or health;
г) with application of arms or objects used as arms;
д) with regards to a person known to be juvenile;
е) with regards to a woman known to be pregnant by perpetrator;
ж) «woman kidnapping to conclude marriage against her will» - to define as a
separate categorized feature of crime
з) with regards to two or more persons;
и) for mercenary ends, - is punished with imprisonment for a period from seven to 12 years
along with confiscation of property or without as such.
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ATTACHEMENTS
26
ANNEX A
Concept Paper
Developing regional mechanisms of legal and social prevention of forced and early
marriages in Central Asian and Caucasus countries
Project Goals
• To support the development of national approaches to the prevention of early and forced
marriages;
• To reduce gender inequality concerning adolescent girls in Central Asia and Caucasus.
Project Objectives
• To study countries’ situations with fulfilling girls’ rights and preventing forced and early marriages in
Central Asian and Caucasus states;
• To identify countries’ priorities and key legal and social approaches to the prevention of early
marriages and gender inequality;
• To develop guidelines for action, national mechanisms, and a regional strategy for the prevention of
early and forced marriages in the Central Asian and Caucasus region.
Project Geography
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan
Project Justification
According to the World Health Organization Secretariat’s Report “Early marriages, adolescent and young
pregnancies” (16 March 2012), mothers aged 15-19 years gave birth to 16 million children in 2008, making
up 11% of all births in the world. 95% of adolescent mothers live in low and middle-income countries.
Therefore, WHO calls nation-states to strengthen actions aimed at reducing marriages of mothers under
the age of 18 years. Such marriages are predominantly linked to poverty and the violation of women’s and
girls’ rights, including their right to education. Moreover, the risk of maternal and infant mortality is five
times higher among adolescent girls as compared to adult women.
There is growing evidence that the scope of early and forced marriages of adolescent girls is on a rise in
Central Asian countries (League of Women of Creative Initiative, Analytical Report on the Project
“Prevention of girls from customs that are harmful for their health and social development”, 2011).
Historically, in some Central Asian and Caucasus communities ethnic and cultural traditions and customs
supersede state laws and regulations; that is why, the issue of early and forced marriage continues to exist.
The law in these countries prohibits bride kidnapping and clearly defines the marriage age. However, these
legal mechanisms are not effective due to specific cultural, ethnic, and social characteristics of Central
Asian and Caucasus populations.
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Several factors contribute to the weakness of mechanisms that are supposed to prevent early and forced
marriages: gaps in the national law; flaws in the system of statistical data collection; and gaps in social
policy. As a result, the prevalence of this issue is underestimated and the timely response to cases of bride
kidnapping and early and forced marriages is lacking. Above all, we believe that the major root of this
problem lies in a lack of awareness among Central Asian and Caucasus societies, which are
predominantly rural, of the rights of women and girls. Moreover, there is a lack of understanding that not
only certain customs and traditions are outdated, specifically, those concerning women’s and girls’ status,
education, roles in the family and in the community, but also there is blurring between tradition and criminal
violence and oppression. That is why, the number of early marriages and teenage bride kidnapping
continues to grow, jeopardizing teenage girls’ life, health, psychological and social development.
Meanwhile, the society condones these cases of violence, hence undermining the interests of adolescent
girls. The cases of physical and sexual violence and of rape of teenage girls as well as cases of abuse by
a spouse, a partner, or a family member rarely become known to the public; consequently, help and
intervention are not provided. Even if a case becomes public, this does not lead to the protection of the
victim and to the legal prosecution of the perpetrator.
In addition to violence, adolescent girls are exposed to the social pressures from their own family and
community, based on the particularities of oriental/traditional education, which prohibits girls from reporting
acts of violence against them. Teenage victims usually lack access to legal information, counseling, and
protection. Also lacking are mechanisms of operational cooperation among state agencies required for
raising awareness about existing laws on the prevention of violence and for the enforcement of these laws.
Project Outcomes
The project will create conditions for the development of a comprehensive system of legal and social
mechanisms for the prevention of forced and early marriages in the countries of Central Asia and
Caucasus. Such system will involve the identification and denunciation of cultural and religious customs
and traditions that are incompatible with international norms, such as the UN Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the UN Declaration on the Elimination of
Violence against Women.
.
Project Targets: Issues and Needs
According to the 2011 UN Report on Women, the proportion of early marriages in Kazakhstan reached 7%
in 2000-2010. Over 60% of respondents who participated in our study “Prevention of girls from customs
that are harmful for their health and social development” said they encountered a case of early marriage.
74% of teenagers know someone who had been kidnapped to become married or participated in bride
kidnapping. These data are concerning because forced and early marriage are harmful for all aspects of
girls’ lives, including a risk of mother and child mortality, a lack of access to education and decent
employment, a risk of domestic violence. As one of victims said, forced marriage is “merely raping till the
end of life”. Societies that continue to follow patriarchal, outdated customs and traditions, also condone
violence and abuse of adolescent girls. It is now time to change this pattern by challenging and
denouncing forced and early marriage, which has to be considered not as a custom but as an illegal
activity.
As shown by our analysis of the problem of early and forced marriage, there is an urgent need to develop
special strategies aimed at placing the problem of early and forced marriage at the centre of public debate
in Central Asia. We argue that the issue has to be raised now, considering the growth of extremist Islamic
movements in this region. Imposed ideology of complete submission and dependency on a religious leader
is particularly dangerous for women and girls who in some communities are viewed as second-class
citizens. It is known from the psychology of violence, the victim of violence who has little social and
emotional support, soon loses her will to life and follows other people’s instructions. Such person can
become an easy target, as shown in the “shakhida” phenomenon, occurring both in our society and in
other countries with active extremist Islamic movements.
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Thus, to counteract these dangerous developments, our primary objective is to raise the awareness of the
population in the Central Asian and Caucasus region and to shape the public opinion in order to counteract
religious misconceptions that are harmful for adolescent girls and push them into early and forced
marriages.
The urgency of this issue has been so far underestimated by the state bodies. Courts often view bride a
kidnapping case as a ‘non-significant’ issue, referring to cultural and religious factors, a tendency that
leads to the limited implementation of certain legal acts/provisions. Even in those rare cases when girls
access the legal system and reach a just sentence by the court, effective mechanisms for the
implementation of the court decision are lacking. Gaps in existing laws have to be addressed to protect
girls from forced marriage and to increase the severity ranking of this offence both for perpetrators and for
those who did not provide necessary and timely support to the victim.
Our key national partner in this project is the National Commission on women’s and family issues and
demographic policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This partnership will contribute to
the legitimacy of this project and facilitate the introduction of proposed changes into the national policy in
this area. Similarly, Committees and Commissions on women and family issues of Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan will be partners for this project, in order to develop a coherent regional strategy for actions.
Partner NGOs from the Central Asia and Caucasus region will assist the project with (a) forming expert
teams, which will involve representatives of national and local state bodies, deputies, and specialists of
respective agencies; and (b) collecting statistical information and other types of evidence, necessary for
the development and promotion of recommendations for country-level legal reform and for a regional
strategy aimed at addressing gender inequality concerning adolescent girls and the prevention of early and
forced marriages, including bride kidnapping.
Project Activities
1. Collection and compilation of national country reports and articles into a single publication
and drafting regional strategy paper for Central Asian and Caucasus countries
• Collect and compile country reports and articles for publication
• Discuss and draft regional strategy for Central Asian and Caucasus countries
• Discuss and agree on the format of the international conference
29
ANNEX B
PRESS RELEASE
ОБЩЕСТВЕННОЕ
ОБЪЕДИНЕНИЕ
«ЛИГА ЖЕНЩИН
ТВОРЧЕСКОЙ
ИНИЦИАТИВЫ»
According to the conducted research, Central Asia and Caucasus are among the
group of countries where the problem of early and forced marriages is still relevant. There
are almost no official data on forced marriages that means all the problems do not go
beyond the family boundaries.
«It is a historically established fact that in many cases national traditions prevail over
legal norms; as a result, the number of early marriages, kidnapping of juvenile brides
continue increasing,» - says Ms. Assiya Khairulina, Board Chair of Women’s League with
Creative Initiative, member to National Commission on Family and Women’s Affairs under
the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. «The acts of physical violence, cases of rape
of girls, inhumane treatment by spouses or persons not having conjugal bonds are rarely
made public that, in turn, cause a special threat to the life, health and social development of
girls, future mothers».
Mr. Anton Artemyev, Chair Board of Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan, states: - «The
problem of early and forced marriages concerns both traditional socio-cultural stereotypes
in certain communities and the level of education. Having constant monitoring,
advancement of the mechanism for execution of national legislation and development of the
system for public control prevents violence against adolescent girls and impedes early and
forced marriages».
To participate in the discussion platform on the issue a number of parliamentarians,
state officials, representatives of government and civil society along with international and
30
national experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Pakistan
and Turkmenistan are invited to speak on the current situation in the sphere of protection of
girls from vulnerable groups of society and consider experiences of those organizations
working in the field of counteraction against early and forced marriages in the countries of
Central Asia and Caucasus. Within the Conference there will be adoption of draft
recommendations to the regional action plan directed to build efficient mechanisms for
protection of girls from violence, early marriages and gender inequality.
Venue and time schedule: 19 September - Conference Hall «Besik» of Palace of Peace
and Accord by the address: Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana city, Tauelsizdik st. 57. 20
September - Conference Hall of King Hotel Astana by the address: Astana, Valikhanov st. 7.
RUSSIAN TRANSLATION
Пресс релиз
32
ANNEX C
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
International Experts
Международные эксперты
Kyrgyz Republic / Кыргызская Республика
32. Ms. Ainuru Altybayeva Parliamentarian of Zhogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyz Republic /
Алтыбаева Айнуру Тойчиевна Депутат Парламента Жогорку Кенеш Кыргызской Республики
33. Ms. Toktokan Borombayeva Deputy Ombudsman of Kyrgyz Republic /
Боромбаева Токтокан Заместитель Акыйкатчы (Омбудсмена) Кыргызской
Жолуевна Республики
34. Ms. Rimma Sultanova Specialist of Public Association Support Center for Women,
Султанова Римма Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic /
Специалист по мониторингу ОО «Центр помощи женщинам»,
Бишкек, Кыргызская Республика
Azerbaijan Republic / Азербайджанская Республика
35. Professor Ijran Gusseynova Chairperson of State Committee on Problems of Family, Women
Гусейнова Иджран Кямранкызы and Children of Azerbaijan Republic / Председатель
Государственного Комитета по Проблемам Семьи, Женщины
и Детей Азербайджанской Республики
36. Ms. Sabina Manafova Head of Division on External Relations and Protocol Service of
Манафова Сабина State Committee on Problems of Family, Women and Children of
Azerbaijan Republic / начальник отдела по внешним связям и
протокольной службе Государственного Комитета по
Проблемам Семьи, Женщины и Детей Азербайджанской
Республики
37. Ms. Lyudmila Khalilova Member of Garachukhur Municipality, Surakhan District of Baku
Халилова Людмила city, Head of Permanent Legal Commission, Chair of Municipal
Women Union – Public Association Women for Development of
Municipalities, Azerbaijan Republic /
Член Гарачухурского Муниципалитета Сураханского района
города Баку, Председатель Союза Муниципальных Женщин
- ОО "Женщины за Развитие Муниципалитетов",
Азербайджанская Республики .
Republic of Tajikistan / Республика Таджикистан
38. Ms. Kurbongul Kossimova Director of Public Association Nachoti Kudakhon, Republic of
Косимова Курбонгуль Tajikistan /
директор ОО «Начоти Кудакон», Республика Таджикистан
Georgia / Грузия
39. Ms. Leyla Suleymanova Director of Public Association Union of Azerbaijan Women in
35
Сулейманова Лейла Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia /
директор ОО «Союз азербайджанских женщин в Грузии»,
г.Тбилиси, Грузия
Turkmenistan / Туркменистан
40. Ms. Zalina Rossoshanskaya General Director of Youth Center Bosphor of Youth Organization
Россошанская Залина named after Makhtumkuli / генеральный директор
молодежного центра "Босфор" Молодежной организации
Туркменистана им. Махтумкули
41. Ms. Gulya Chorekliyeva Chair of NGO ENME, Turkmenistan /
Чореклиева Гуля председатель НПО «ЕНМЕ», Туркменистан
Islamic Republic of Pakistan / Исламская Республика Пакистан
42. Ms. Shahid Humaira Awais Journalist and women’s rights activist in Pakistan, ex-
ХумайраАваис Шахид parliamentarian of Penjab Province Assembly правозащитник и
журналист в Пакистане, экс-парламентер Провинциальной
Ассамблеи Пенджаб
39
ANNEX D
PHOTOS
40