The European Union, in collaboration with UN Women, has announced the launch of the Zero VAWG (Zero Violence Against Women and Girls) initiative. The goal of this project is zero tolerance for violence against women and girls, as well as strengthening preventive mechanisms against gender-based violence in the Kyrgyz Republic.
The official ceremony marking the launch of the initiative took place in Bishkek with the participation of representatives from the government of the Kyrgyz Republic, staff from the European Union, the UN system, as well as civil society organizations and the private sector.
The Zero VAWG initiative is designed for three years, starting from November 2025 and ending in October 2028. The total budget for the project is 3.119 million US dollars, of which 2.5 million euros are allocated by the European Union, and UN Women will contribute 200,000 US dollars.
During the event, it was emphasized that the project aims to develop the capacity of women's and youth organizations, which play a crucial role in preventing and responding to cases of violence against women and girls. The initiative plans to support at least 140 such organizations and implement the "Zero VAWG Community" model at local and national levels.
The initiative is expected to create a multiplier effect, reaching over 1,200 organizations and 6,000 participants across all seven regions of the country, including Bishkek and Osh, as well as more than 20 central institutions.
During the presentation of the main areas of the initiative's work, UN Women noted that Zero VAWG focuses on the following aspects:
prevention of gender-based violence;
increasing access to services for victims;
creating coordinated response mechanisms at the community level;
using digital technologies to shape new social norms and prevent violence.
The theory of change for the initiative suggests that developing leadership and management skills among women's and youth organizations, their interaction within the "Zero VAWG Community" model, and the application of digital solutions will help combat gender-based violence more effectively and strengthen human rights overall.
At the launch ceremony, welcoming speeches were delivered by Ainura Orozbaeva, Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Security, and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, Rémi Duflot, Ambassador of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic, Antje Grave, UN Resident Coordinator in the country, and Dr. Sadik Syed, Country Representative of UN Women.
The long-term goal of the Zero VAWG initiative is to strengthen the protection of human rights, enhance the fight against gender-based violence, and empower women's and youth organizations in the Kyrgyz Republic.
