A press café titled "The Right of Women and Girls with Disabilities to Live Free from Violence: Challenges and Opportunities" took place in Bishkek. This event was timed to coincide with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and is part of a 16-day campaign against violence towards women and girls.
Venera Shonkoyeva, information manager of the Agency for Social Technologies, noted:
“We organized this press café in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection, and Migration and the Ombudsman Institute of the Kyrgyz Republic as part of our work dedicated to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the 16-day campaign against violence. Our organization has been actively engaged in this topic for several years.”
“Last year we held a similar event and saw positive results: many journalists received valuable information on how to interact with people with disabilities. There are many organizations and women with disabilities who are willing to share their experiences on how to conduct interviews properly and communicate on sensitive topics. It is extremely important for journalists to be aware of the nuances of inclusion, as they are the main transmitters of information to society, and it must be presented correctly.”
Shonkoyeva also reported on the completion of informational and consultative seminars in seven regions of Kyrgyzstan, where prosecutors, law enforcement officers, social workers, and lawyers were trained. “The results turned out to be promising, especially in the law enforcement sector. Women who have become victims of violence sometimes face misunderstanding and have their statements dismissed. There have been cases where a woman could not be understood due to speech impairments, and police officers mistakenly considered her to be intoxicated, thus refusing to work with her complaint.”
Law enforcement officers also shared positive examples: one case where a hearing-impaired applicant received the necessary assistance became a vivid testament to how important it is to communicate correctly. A police officer found a way to interact, listened, and accepted the statement. Unfortunately, such cases are still rare, and we strive to make them the norm.
This was also the reason for organizing this event together with the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection, and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, to enhance the qualifications of specialists and develop a more sensitive and inclusive approach to the protection of women and girls with disabilities,” Shonkoyeva added.
