The European Union and the United Nations (UN), in partnership with the governments of Central Asian countries, have officially launched an EU-funded multi-country programme aimed at preventing gender-based violence and promoting gender equality throughout the region. This was reported by the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan.
The programme, titled “Challenging Harmful Attitudes and Norms for Gender Equality” (CHANGE), will be implemented jointly by UNDP, UNFPA, and UN Women in close cooperation with Central Asian governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
According to UN estimates, approximately one in three women and girls globally has experienced violence in her lifetime. To address this reality, Central Asian states are demonstrating growing political will and institutional commitment to combating gender-based violence, as reflected in improvements to legislation and policy measures.
However, persistent discriminatory social norms require further efforts. The results of the 2023 Gender Social Norms Index indicate the presence of specific gender biases in the region, highlighting the urgent need for sustained investment in prevention, awareness-raising, and initiatives aimed at behavioral change.
The CHANGE programme is expected to contribute to:
- Reducing gender-based violence: by promoting social norms that increasingly reflect zero tolerance for violence;
- Strengthening advocacy: through the information and advocacy activities of civil society organizations to prevent and respond to gender-based violence;
- Strengthening social status: by expanding women’s economic rights and opportunities, and ensuring access to sustainable livelihoods.
The programme is scheduled to run from 2026 to 2028 and will cover all five Central Asian countries, creating a unified regional framework for countering violence while taking into account national priorities and local realities.
It is worth noting that during a recent press briefing in Ashgabat, the EU Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Beata Peksa highlighted the CHANGE programme, expressing hope that Turkmenistan would join this initiative to empower women across Central Asia. /// nCa, 20 February 2026