Women and girls with disabilities in Kyrgyzstan face alarming levels of harassment, physical and sexual abuse, and economic discrimination, despite recent legal reforms aimed at protecting their rights. Human Rights Watch highlighted that progress on paper has not translated into meaningful protection, as many survivors remain unheard and unable to access the justice system.
Research by the grassroots organization Equality in March 2025 surveyed 150 women with disabilities across seven regions, revealing that nearly 93 percent had experienced some form of abuse. Psychological abuse was the most common, followed by harassment, economic difficulties, physical violence, and sexual assault. Very few survivors sought help from police or medical services due to distrust, lack of information, fear of shame, and concerns for safety when perpetrators were family members. These findings echo a 2023 Human Rights Watch report documenting similar systemic neglect and inaccessibility.
In 2025, President Sadyr Japarov signed amendments to the criminal code introducing harsher penalties for sexual violence against people with disabilities and recognizing disability as an aggravating factor. A law on “Rights and Guarantees of People with Disabilities” also aligned national legislation with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, emphasizing a social rather than medical model of disability. This model requires the government to support independent living, employment, and full participation in public life for people with disabilities.
The government has taken steps to improve awareness among law enforcement and judicial personnel, organizing training seminars and developing practical guides on protecting women with disabilities from violence. Local NGOs, supported by international partners, have also increased social justice and empowerment initiatives.
Despite these efforts, serious gaps remain in access to justice. Domestic violence data is not disaggregated by disability, legal proceedings are largely inaccessible due to physical barriers, lack of adapted materials, and absence of sign language interpretation, and survivors still face disbelief and dismissal. Cases documented by Equality illustrate both the systemic obstacles and the rare successes achievable through persistent effort.
Human Rights Watch urges international partners, UN agencies, and development organizations to continue funding disability-led organizations and monitoring implementation of legal reforms. The 2025 laws demonstrate what is possible when governments respond to advocacy, but authorities must ensure that women and girls with disabilities are protected in their homes, communities, and before the law.
