The recent outbreak of violence in Kyrgyzstan has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and resulted in a tragic loss of life due to ethnic clashes. As the humanitarian response mobilizes, the InterAction Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Working Group remains concerned about the impact of this crisis on women and girls. According to UNICEF, 90% of those who fled the country in the first week of the crisis were women and children. During the crisis, the World Health Organization noted that sexual violence was increasingly being reported among affected communities in both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Without attention now, women and girls will remain at risk, particularly if violence recurs.
This document summarizes concerns and offers recommendations for United States action in order to improve the situation of women and girls in the region
