HelpAge research summary

The rights of older people in Kyrgyzstan

Information on the extent to which older people enjoy their human rights in Kyrgyzstan is rarely available or included in the States reports to human rights monitoring and accountability mechanisms. In response to this lack of data, HelpAge International carried out a survey in 2012 with 100 women and men over the age of 50 in Kyrgyzstan. This summary illustrates the key findings of the survey. These findings provide evidence of gaps in the protection of older peoples human rights and reinforce the need for national and international action, mechanisms and processes to ensure that the human rights of older people are better addressed.
Despite ratification of core international human rights treaties, the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of age and guarantees to social protection in the Kyrgyz Constitution and protection of older people from violence in the Kyrgyz Family Code, the survey findings presented in this summary point to possible failures by the State to take all appropriate measures to protect and promote the rights of older people. Older women and men in the survey reported that they experience discrimination on the basis of their age in different aspects of their lives, including in employment, access to financial services and access to essential goods. They are subject to violence and abuse, with over a third of respondents reporting that they had experienced at least one type of personal crime, violence or abuse since the age of 50. In the vast majority of cases, this appeared to happen with impunity and little access to redress. The findings presented here aim to capture the position and experiences of the 100 older women and men interviewed in the survey. They are not intended to be representative of the population of older people as a whole. More information on the survey and how it was conducted can be found on the back page of this summary.

2 The rights of older people in Kyrgyzstan

The right to physical security (protection from crime, violence and abuse)
Experience of at least one form of crime, violence or abuse since the age of 50
Nearly nine out of ten respondents (87 per cent) said they felt completely or very safe from crime and violence. However, more than a third (35 per cent) reported experiencing at least one type of personal crime, violence or abuse since the age of 50. Experience of one type of abuse was higher among the Uzbek ethnic group. The most common type of abuse was financial abuse which was reported by 23 per cent of respondents (see Figure 1). Figure 1: Reported types of crime, violence and abuse

23%

Financial abuse

1 % Sexual abuse

6% Physical abuse

12%

Emotional abuse

3 % Malicious accusations abuse

Financial crime, violence and abuse 66801 83.333502 Nearly a quarter of all respondents (23 per cent) reported Sample

Figure 2: Reported types of financial abuse

experiencing at least one type ofgraph financial abuse since the 0% text age of 50. Of those who reported experiencing financial Sample abuse, 20 per cent had experienced the abuse more than graph once and 3 per cent had experienced this in the last 12 0% text months. Experience of financial abuse was higher among Sample women and those from the Russian ethnic group.
0% text Four respondents had reported the incident to the police, Sample graph text one respondent had not 16 had told family and friends and Sample graph told anyone. 0% text graph

13%

Stealing of money, property or possessions

Experiencing money, property or possessions 1 % being taken away by force

0% Being tricked or cheated out of money, property or possessions The police 12% Being denied money, property or possessions that was theirs A legal centre or legal authorities (no respondents) Being prevented from having their fair share of money, 0% property or possessions A inheritance, hospital or health centre (no respondents) made or to leave a leader house, farm or property by ABeing community village 1 % force or without their permission or consent A religious leader Other people making nancial decisions for them without 1 % their permission or consent Family or friends Did not tell anyone

The most common type of financial crime, violence and Sample abuse was stealing money, property graphor possessions which text was reported by 13 per cent 0% of respondents (see Figure 2).
0% Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text graph

0%

0%

Sexual crime, violence and Sampleabuse

0% text One respondent reported experiencing at least one type of sexual abuse since the age of Sample 50 (see Figure 3). 0.000000 16.666700 33.333401 66.666801 83.333502 The respondent reported 50.000101 being forced to have sexual graph 0% text intercourse and other sexual activity against their will within the last year. They said that this had happened more Sample graph than once and that the perpetrator was a current partner, 0% text husband or wife. graph The respondent did not tell anyone, seek support from 0% text family or friends, or report the incident to the police or other authority. Sample 0% graph text Sample

Figure 3: Reported sexual abuse

Figures represent number of respondents out of 100 surveyed

1 Sexual abuse reported

0%

Sample graph text Sample graph

A support organisation or counsellor A community or village leader A religious leader An NGO Family or friends

The rights of older people in Kyrgyzstan 3

Physical crime, violence and abuse

Six respondents reported experiencing at least one type of physical abuse since the age of 50. Two had experienced this in the last 12 months, and two had experienced the abuse more than once. Three respondents reported experiencing violence or force, and one respondent reported physical restraint, such as being tied up or locked in a room. No respondents experienced the use of a knife, gun, stick or other weapon. No respondents reported the incident to the authorities. Only one respondent had told family or friends (see Figure 4). This raises questions about whether these crimes are being committed with impunity and without any form of redress.
0% Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text

Figure 4: Sources of help and support sought Did not tell anyone by those reporting physical abuse
Figures represent number of respondents out of 100 surveyed

0 The police 0 A legal centre or legal authorities 0 A hospital or health centre 0 A support organisation or counsellor 0 A community or village leader 0 A religious leader 0 An NGO 1 Family or friends
42% Being put down, belittled, degraded, humiliated or shamed

0%

35%

Being excluded or ignored

Experiencing controlling behaviour 4 Did not tell anyone 17%

0%

(such as being prevented from having contact with friends or family, or threats to hurt you)

0% Emotional crime, violence and abuse Sample Twelve respondents reported experiencing at least one type graph of emotional abuse since the age of 50. Five had experienced 0% text it in the last 12 months and five had experienced the Sample abuse more than once. Seven had not told anyone about graph 0% text the incident.
No abuse was Sample The most commonly reported form of emotional 33% graph being put down, belittled, degraded, humiliated or shamed 0% text (see Figure 5). Emotional abuse was higher among women. Sample It was also higher among people aged overWith 85 and those graph LLID with a limiting longstanding illness or disability (LLID). 0% text Perpetrators included friends or acquaintances, community Sample leadership structures appointedgraph by government, and, to a Yes 0% textand other family members lesser extent, partners or spouses 67% or relatives. Sample

Figure 5: Reported types of emotional abuse

Figures represent number of respondents out of 100 surveyed

8 humiliated or shamed 5 Being excluded or ignored

Being put down, belittled, degraded,

1 having contact with friends or family, or threats to hurt them) 9%

Experiencing controlling behaviour (such as being prevented from No

Without LLID

Yes 91%

0%

graph text

graph Malicious accusation abuse

Sample text

Three per cent of respondents reported experiencing at 2% of Sample abuse least one type of malicious accusation since the age respondents graph of 50 (see Figure 6). 0% text One respondent had experienced this abuse more than Sample graph once. No respondents had experienced the abuse in last 0% text 12 months. Two respondents had experienced accusations Sample of being a witch, spirit possession or sorcery. Perpetrators graph included a current partner, 0% husband text or wife, a family or relative, and a friend or acquaintance. Sources of help and Sample this abuse were support for those who had experienced graph family and friends. 0% text

0%

Figure 6: Reported malicious accusation abuse

3% of respondents

4 The rights of older people in Kyrgyzstan

The right to individual life, equal treatment and dignity

Dignity, autonomy and social isolation
Nearly one in five (19 per cent) respondents felt socially isolated because of their age. Sample The most common form of detrimental treatment and lack text of autonomy, choice and control associated with older age 0% Sample was being pushed around which was reported by 13 per graph 0% text cent of respondents (see Figure 7).
0% Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text graph

Figure 7: Types of detrimental treatment reported because of age

7%

Not treated with dignity and respect

Other people look down at them or treat them in a humiliating, 3 % shameful or degrading way Other people make important decisions for them without their permission or consent

7%

0%

13%

Feeling of being pushed around

0%

7%

Feeling that what happens to them is outside of their control

0%

Social care and support needs and neglect Sample

Twenty per cent of that they had needed help or support with everyday Sample personal care and Sample graph activities (see Figure 8). graph Of those needing this personal care and support, 90 per Sample cent said they had received it. Sample Ingraph every case the care and graph text 0%husband support was provided by their or wife, family or 0% text friends. Sample
graph Of those who indicated that 0% they had care needs, 5 per cent text 0% text reported feeling neglected. Three answers were missing. Sample Sample graph graph 0% text 0% text Sample graph 0% text 0% text graph respondents indicated 0% text

Figure 8: Provision of everyday personal care and support

Need everyday personal care and support

20%

Of those needing it, receive the everyday personal care and support they need

90%

Of those needing it, do not receive the everyday personal care 5% and support they need Of those needing everyday personal care and support, 5% have Less been than neglected 10 Between 10 and 20

Sample caring Exposure to intense informal Sample graph graph activities 0% text

Sample Sample Sample graph text graph graph 0% text 0% text

Figure 9:than Time More 20 spent on unpaid care for others

Figures represent number of respondents providing unpaid care, out of 100 surveyed

Three respondents reported undertaking informal unpaid Sample Sample caring activities for relatives or friends graph who were frail or 0%graph text physically or mentally ill. 0% text
Sample the question on Of the five respondents who answered Sample graph graph time spent providing unpaid care for others, one indicated 0% text 0% text that they provided intense unpaid caring activities of more Sample than 20 hours a week (see Figure 9). graph 0% text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text

0%

text

0 Less than 10 hours a week 4 Between 10 and 20 hours a week 1 More than 20 hours a week

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

The rights of older people in Kyrgyzstan 5

The right to the highest attainable standard of health

Access to healthcare
Fourteen per cent of respondents indicated that there was no health facility within 30 minutes travel time of their home, including 8 per cent of those living in urban areas and 21 per cent in rural areas. Lack of access was higher among those with a limiting longstanding illness or disability (LLID) (see Figure 10). Figure 10: Access to healthcare facility within 30 minutes
No No 33% 9% Tried but were denied or refused health care

With LLID

Their illness, disability or inrmity making it too dicult to travel Without

LLID

The health facility being too far away

Yes 67% Yes Lack of access to transport 91%

Transport being too expensive

Experiences of discrimination, poor treatment and neglect in healthcare Sample

graph respondents indicated 0% text

bandages and or medicines, being expensive healthcare Figure 11: Age discrimination intoo accessing The health facility being of a low quality 2% of often being absent 3% of or the sta respondents respondents 2 % Refused or denied medical treatment Not having health insurance Being treated badly in the past by insurance 5% Refused health health professionals Feeling too old to bother or did not want to be a burden family or relatives Experiencing worse treatment by health professionals 16% on Too busy with other work, household responsibilities or other commitments 12% Health and medical needs were neglected Other reason

Seeing a medical professional, or health equipment, such as

Only 2 per cent of that they had been refused or denied medical treatment because of Sample their age, and 5 per cent said that they had been refused graph health insurance because their age. However, a higher text 0%of Sample graph text proportion (16 per cent) had experienced worse treatment Sample by health professionals because graphof their age and 12 per textmedical needs had been 0%and cent said that their health neglected because of their age (see Figure 11).
0% Sample graph text Sample graph text

0%

Unmet health needs Sample

Seven per cent of all reported that there had been at least one occasion since the age of 50 when they Sample had needed healthcare but did not receive it. graph The most common barrier to accessing healthcare was Sample because the health facility was too far away (see Figure graph 12). 0% text
0% Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text 0% text graph respondents 0% text

Figure 12: Barriers to accessing healthcare

Figures represent number of respondents out of 100 surveyed

2 it too dicult to travel

Their illness, disability or inrmity making

3 The health facility being too far away 2 such as bandages and or medicines, being too expensive 1 or the sta often being absent
The health facility being of a low quality Seeing a medical professional, or health equipment,

1 Being treated badly in the past by health professionals 1 Other reason

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

6 The rights of older people in Kyrgyzstan

The right to an adequate standard of living

Discriminatory denial of everyday essentials
Five per cent of respondents reported Sample lack of access to graph everyday essentials such as food, water, shelter, heating, 0% text fuel and clothing as a serious problem for them personally all of the time, with a further 27Sample per cent reporting such graph difficulties regularly and 470% per text cent occasionally. When these respondents were asked Sample if they felt this was because of their age, 1 per cent graph reported this to be the 0% text case all of the time, 7 per cent regularly, and 31 per cent occasionally (see Figure 13). Sample
0% graph text Sample graph text

Figure 13: Denial of everyday essentials on the basis of age

60%

Never

1 % All of the time

7%

Regularly

31%

Occasionally

0%

Access to income and social Sample security

Figure 14: Access to income and social security

Any type of paid work activity (formal or informal)

graph Just under a third of respondents (32 per cent) said they 0% text Sample graph or informal work. A large received an income from formal 0% text majority (86 per cent) indicated Sample that they received income graph 0% from a pension (see Figure Sample 14). text graph 0% text in Sample When asked about difficulties receiving or accessing graph pensions, one respondent cited illness, disability or 0% text Sample infirmity making it difficultgraph to travel to get the pension, text Sample and another cited that 0% payments were always or often late. graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample Sample graph graph Nine per cent of respondents indicated that they had 0% text text 0% Sample experienced being refused graph work because of their age since 0% text Sample Sample the age of 50. graph graph 0% text text 0% Sample Four per cent had been refused a loan because of their age graph since the age of 50 (see Figure text 15). 0% Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text Sample graph 0% text

32%

86% Pension

1 % Money or support from social benets paid to older people Money or support from other social insurance protection and social security benets or receiving allowances paid by government or local government or NGOs

9%

10%

Money or support from husband or wife Money or support from family or friends

49%

Discrimination at work and in access to financial services

Figure 15: Discrimination in access to work and loans

9% Refused work because of their age

4 % Refused a loan because of their age

The rights of older people in Kyrgyzstan 7

The right to political voice and participation

Political participation
The vast majority of respondents (94 per cent) had voted in the last national election in Kyrgyzstan. Among those who did not vote, reasons given were not being registered to vote, not being interested in politics, feeling that voting does not make any difference or not supporting any of the parties, feeling too old to vote, or age, illness, infirmity or disability preventing voting (see Figure 16).

Lack of relevant identity cards or papers Not being able to get to the polling station

Not knowing about the election Concerns about safety

Figure 16: Reasons for not voting

Figures represent number of respondents out of 100 surveyed

1 Not registered 33% to vote

No

No 9%

1 or do not support any of the parties

Yes 1 disability prevents voting

2 Not being interested in politics With Without Feeling LLID that voting does not make a dierence LLID
Feeling too old to vote or age, illness, inrmity or Yes 67% 91%

Participation in political and Sample graph text public affairs

Only 2 per cent of respondents reported participating in political or public or community life in the last 12 months (see Figure 17). Of those who had participated, one respondent indicated that they had undertaken voluntary work.

Figure 17: Participation in political life and public or community affairs in the last 12 months
2% of respondents 3% of respondents

Less than 10 hours a week

Knowledge and understanding of human rights

Fifty five per cent of respondents had heard of the Sample Universal Declaration of Humangraph Rights but 44 per cent 0% text had not (see Figure 18). All respondents agreed older people graph should stand up more 0% text actively for their rights.
0% Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph text Sample graph Sample

Figure 18: Knowledge of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

44%

No

55%

Yes

2 % Declined to answer

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

0%

8 The rights of older people in Kyrgyzstan

Survey on the human rights of older people in Kyrgyzstan

The aim of the survey is to extend knowledge and understanding of older peoples rights in Kyrgyzstan by providing data on critical areas, systematically disaggregated by a range of characteristics such as sex, disability, ethnic group, area type and narrow age band. The survey questions were based on a panel of indicators that was developed in line with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights framework of human rights indicators. The findings cover areas such as older womens and mens access to basic essential goods, hunger and food allocation within the household; access to healthcare and experiences of poor treatment, neglect and discrimination in healthcare. Questions also focused on older womens and mens experience of dignity and respect, autonomy and social isolation; physical security, including protection from violence, and other aspects of elder abuse such as financial and emotional abuse and malicious accusations (for example witchcraft). Further, the questions covered older peoples participation in political affairs and public and community life, and their knowledge and understanding of human rights.

Note about disaggregation

For ethical and safety reasons, data is not presented disaggregated by multiple characteristics. This is due to the sensitive nature of the questions on domestic violence, sexual abuse and elder abuse and any potential harm to respondents should their identity be disclosed. A full research report is available at www.helpage.org/monitoringrights

Acknowledgements
HelpAge International would like to thank the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development for their financial support of this research. Special thanks go to Polly Vizard of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Exclusion at the London School of Economics who developed the survey, did the analysis, and wrote the research report. We would like to thank Galina Samokhleb from the National Statistics Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic who led the fieldwork. Training was conducted by the following organisations: Darika Asanbaeva, Public Association Ayalzat, Karakol town; Mukhabat Koshoeva, Public Association Resource Centre for Older People, Balykchy town; Munira Naruzbaeva, Maana Crises Center, Talas town; Gulumkan Shabdanbekova, Lady Shirin Public Foundation, Kara-buura village; Saida Kudaiberdieva and Nazgul Sanjarova, Public Foundation Mekhr Shavkat, Kara-Suu district; Layla Akchurina, Public Association of Social Protection named after Fomova, Kant town; Sharapat Altanova, Public Association of Parents on Childrens protection, Naryn town; Rakhat Ashirova, Foundation for Tolerance International, Batken town. Thank you also to all the older people who were interviewed.

How the survey was conducted

The survey was carried out in 2012 with 100 women and men over the age of 50 in rural and urban areas in Jalabat region, Osh oblast, Batken region, Chu oblast, Naryn oblast, Talas region and Issyk-kul region. A three-stage methodology for identifying respondents was developed with probability sampling in the initial stage and the imposition of quotas for age group and sex in the final stages of the multistage design. However, sampling weights have not been applied as a basis for the findings in this summary. Ethical and safety guidelines from the WHO Multi-country Study on Womens Health and Domestic Violence Against Women were used to inform the survey design.

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This research and summary was produced with the financial assistance of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of HelpAge International and do not necessarily reflect the views of BMZ.

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