The Forum of the Central Asian Women’s Dialogue “Women, Peace and Security: The Role of Women in Strengthening Peace and Security in the Central Asian region and Afghanistan” was held in Bishkek last week. It focused on the key role of women in strengthening peace and security in Central Asia and Afghanistan. The meeting aimed to strengthen the “Women, Peace and Security” agenda through regional cooperation and the promotion of women’s leadership in peace-building efforts, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kyrgyzstan reported.
The event was organized in partnership with the government and parliament of Kyrgyzstan, with the support of UNDP in Kyrgyzstan, the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (RCPCA) and UN Women in Kyrgyzstan, and gathered delegations from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The Forum, led by Dzhamilia Isaeva, Vice Speaker of the Kyrgyz Parliament and Chair of the Central Asian Women’s Dialogue, brought together high-level representatives, including parliamentarians, experts, and international partners.
Dzhamilia Isaeva noted: “The forum was devoted to detailed expert discussions on the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Central Asia and Afghanistan. Participants discussed key topics such as women’s leadership in peace and stability, gender-sensitive climate change adaptation, and gender-sensitive management of transboundary water resources.”
The forum adopted strategic recommendations to ensure the meaningful participation of women in peace-building and sustainable development throughout Central Asia and Afghanistan.
Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative in Kyrgyzstan, emphasized in her speech: “We support national priorities and strategies that serve as a foundation for sustainable peace. Our efforts in this direction are already yielding concrete results: more than 2,000 women have already received access to training and resources to develop their own businesses. This empowerment elevates their economic status, drives growth in their communities and fosters regional stability. By supporting women, we create a ripple effect that strengthens peace and security across the region.”
