Kyrgyz media reports say President Sadyr Japarov has signed a new law significantly toughening penalties for domestic violence, according to local media reports.
The law, titled "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Kyrgyz Republic" — affecting the Code of Offenses and the Law "On Safety and Protection from Domestic Violence" — was signed on October 16, 2025. The legislation was earlier adopted by the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) on September 11.
According to Kyrgyz national news agency Kabar, the law is intended to strengthen the country's compliance with its international obligations to combat violence against women. It aligns with the following international and national frameworks:
- The UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (Resolution 48/104, December 20, 1993);
- The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, Resolution 34/180, December 18, 1979);
- Clause 25.2 of Goal 8 in Kyrgyzstan’s National Action Plan for Achieving Gender Equality (2022–2024), approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 513 on September 16, 2022.
Key provisions of the new law include:
- Doubling the duration of administrative detention for domestic violence offenses from 7 to 14 days;
- Introducing court-imposed electronic monitoring restrictions for up to three months;
- Expanding Article 70 of the Code of Offenses to include "stalking" as a legal term;
- Imposing arrest terms of 7 to 14 days for individuals who fail to complete court-mandated correctional programs or violate electronic monitoring conditions;
- Granting law enforcement agencies the authority to conduct risk assessments for every reported case of domestic violence.
The legislative overhaul is part of broader efforts by Kyrgyzstan to address gender-based violence and promote gender equality.
In related domestic policy news, Kyrgyzstan plans to ban service charges in cafes and restaurants starting in 2026.
