UN Women Regional Director undertakes a landmark visit to Central Asia

UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Belén Sanz Luque, visited Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan from February 5 to 11, 2025, to strengthen partnerships and advance gender equality initiatives in the region. Photo: UN Women 

From February 5 to 11, 2025, Belén Sanz Luque, UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, embarked on her first mission to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The visit aimed to reinforce existing partnerships with governments, civil society, youth, and activists while supporting ongoing efforts to advance women’s rights and gender equality and recognizing progress made for all women and girls in these countries.

From commitment to action

The visit began with the high-level meeting “Five Years to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Central Asia Perspectives on the 30th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 5,” where Central Asia countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan - reaffirmed their commitment to advancing gender equality through a joint statement, as outlined in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA).

“We are committed to the vision adopted in Beijing 30 years ago – a vision of a world where the freedoms, human rights, and opportunities for all women and girls everywhere can be fully realized. We are all here today because the world cannot wait another 30 years to fulfill the promise of gender equality. This is our common aspiration,” stated Belén Sanz Luque, emphasizing the urgency of action.

Kazakhstan advances efforts to promote gender equality

During her visit to Kazakhstan, UN Women Regional Director Belén Sanz Luque, with Dina Amrisheva, UN Women Representative in Kazakhstan, met with Kazakhstan's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Akan Rakhmetullin, to advance partnership efforts ahead of the 30th anniversary of the BPfA.

During her stay in Kazakhstan, accompanied by Dina Amrisheva, UN Women Kazakhstan Head of Office a.i., Sanz Luque met with the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Akan Rakhmetullin, to discuss the ongoing partnership between UN Women and the government, particularly in the context of the 30th anniversary of the BPfA. Belén Sanz Luque underlined the importance of Kazakhstan’s commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment, recognizing the country’s efforts to end violence against women and enhance women's economic rights and innovations. Meanwhile, Rakhmetullin reaffirmed Kazakhstan's recognition of gender equality as a key part of the country’s political reform. The discussions concluded with a mutual agreement to fortify the cooperation on gender equality priorities at global and regional levels.

During a meeting with Aida Balayeva, Chairperson of Kazakhstan’s National Commission for Women Affairs, Belén Sanz Luque commended the country's recent legal reforms, including criminalizing domestic violence and launching a National Action Plan for equal rights. Photo: UN Women

In a meeting with Aida Balayeva, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women Affairs, Family and Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan, Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, Belén Sanz Luque commended Kazakhstan’s recent legal reforms on gender equality, including the criminalization of domestic violence and the introduction of a National Action Plan for promoting equal rights.

The Regional Director engaged with representatives from Kazakhstan’s civil society, including members of the UN Women Civil Society Advisory Group and the Youth Advisory Board of UNCT. Photo: UN Women

The Regional Director also engaged with representatives from Kazakhstan’s civil society, including members of the UN Women Civil Society Advisory Group and the Youth Advisory Board of UNCT. During this meeting, she emphasized the importance of promoting gender equality at both subregional and global levels. The discussions encompassed priorities for implementing the Beijing+30 agenda, advancing Sustainable Development Goal 5, and the global International Women's Day campaign “For ALL Women and Girls”. 

Gender equality is not just a goal

In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the Regional Director, in close cooperation with Sadiq Syed, UN Women Kyrgyzstan representative, participated in the high-level dialogue on preliminary findings and recommendations from the Country Gender Equality Profile (CGEP). The dialogue, co-convened by the Ministry of Labour, Social Welfare and Migration, the Delegation of the European Union to Kyrgyzstan and UN Women, was followed by meetings with government institutions, UN agencies, civil society, youth activists, and development partners.

During her opening remarks, Belén Sanz Luque emphasized the pivotal role of CGEPs as catalysts for change, helping integrate gender perspectives into national policies, economic strategies, and governance structures. “Gender equality is not just a policy goal; it is the foundation for a more just, prosperous, and sustainable future for Kyrgyzstan. Let us commit today to ensuring rights, equality, and empowerment for all women and girls. Together we can make all women count,” she stated.

High-level dialogue on the preliminary findings and recommendations from the Country Gender Equality Profile in Kyrgyzstan. Photo: UN Women/Janybek Sultanov

Sanz Luque also engaged with civil society and youth activists to discuss challenges and opportunities as well as areas for future collaboration in achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls. She acknowledged the essential role of women’s rights organizations in advancing women’s economic empowerment, ending violence against women, and increasing women’s participation in politics and peacebuilding efforts.

The Regional Director engages with women’s rights organizations and activists in Kyrgyzstan - key drivers of progress on key issues—from tackling gender-based violence to ensuring women’s leadership and participation in decision-making. Photo: UN Women/Janybek Sultanov

Kyrgyzstan promotes more women in local politics

As part of her visit, Belén Sanz Luque met with Kyrgyz government officials, including Edil Baisalov, the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers; Asein Isaev, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ravshanbek Sabirov, Minister of Labour, Social Welfare and Migration; and members of parliament from parliamentary committees Dinara Ashimova, Aisuluu Mamashova, and Mederbek Aliev.

Edil Baisalov emphasized that Kyrgyzstan remains committed to implementing gender equality policies and has ratified key international conventions. “In 2024, the country presented a National Report on the implementation of the Beijing Platform, marking an important step in promoting women's rights and sustainable development. We also reaffirm Kyrgyzstan's readiness to actively participate in the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, which will take place in March 2025 in New York,” stated Baisalov.

The Regional Director commended the national partners for their high-level commitment to integrating gender equality into policies and implementing international and national gender commitments, including CEDAW, BPfA, UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Discussions focused on expanding women's economic opportunities, ending violence against women and girls, increasing women's representation in decision-making roles, ensuring equal access to resources, and strengthening the institutional mechanisms for gender equality.

She also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on achieving 42% representation of women in local councils, a significant milestone toward gender equality and inclusive governance, expressing hope that this progress will extend to Parliament in 2026. 

Meeting with members of parliament from parliamentary committees of of the Kyrgyz Republic Dinara Ashimova, Aisuluu Mamashova, and Mederbek Aliev. Photo: UN Women/Janybek Sultanov