Formation and development of women's non-governmental organisations in Central Asia

Abstract

This research examines women's organisations of the 20th and 21st centuries in the countries of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It examines the formation process and the current state of women's non-governmental organisations in Central Asia and identifies new trends and areas in the development of women's socio-political movements in the region. The research is based on theoretical and analytical works reviewing the problem of formation and development of the women's movement in Central Asian countries. The systematic approach was used, alongside the historical and comparative methods. The findings reveal the following- limited mechanisms for equalising gender imbalances in society and increasing women's political representation in the quota system; insufficiency of financial and material resources of women's non-governmental organisations, based mainly on the assistance of international organisations and foundations; lack of active political initiatives of the women's electorate; the inadequacy of the national women's idea in the countries under study, which can consolidate both women's organisations and the female population.