Kyrgyzstan - July 2023

The Kyrgyz Constitutional Court partly sided with Altyn Kapalova, a single mother seeking to give her three children a matronymic instead of a patronymic, on 30 June, ruling that Kyrgyz citizens over the age of 16 could choose between the two on legal identity documents. The court ruled that the provision of the law “On Acts of Civil Status” mandating patronymic naming customs – where a first name is followed by one derived from the father’s name – was discriminatory, but that choosing between this and a matronymic derived from the mother’s name would be left up to adults to protect children from bullying. The decision was both celebrated as a win for gender equity and the rights of single mothers, as well as condemned by conservative Kyrgyz politicians who argued it was against established cultural norms. Kapalova has vowed to continue her campaign despite receiving death threats.

Sources: Eurasianet, Human Rights Watch, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty