At stake in this Referendum:

• Several amendments to the Consitution including: Allowance of the private ownership of land, restructuring of seats in Kyrgyzstan's bicameral parliament, change in the government's fiscal decision-making abilities, greater freedom for the media, and limiting the immunity of deputies in parliament.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: Acting President Askar AKAYEV
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Kubanychbek JUMALIYEV
• Assembly: Kyrgyzstan has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Legislative Assembly with 35 seats and the Assembly of People's Representatives with 70 seats.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• Referendum to amend the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic. Land Reform: The referendum introduces the private ownership of land for Kyrgyzstan's citizens.
  
  Seat Distribution: The referendum calls for a redistribution of the seats in the bicameral parliament. The number of seats in the Legislative Assembly are to increase from 35 to 60; the number of seats in the Assembly of People's Representatives are to decrease from 70 to 45.
  
  Budget: The referendum calls for the removal of the right of members of parliament to alter the national budget without the government's approval.
  
  Freedom of the Press: The referendum includes a provision to increase the freedom of Kyrgyzstan's independent media.
  
  Limitation of Immunity: The referendum calls for limiting the level of legal immunity currently awarded to deputies in the parliament. This provision is intended as an anti-corruption measure.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 4,769,000 (1998)
• Registered Voters: 2,277,592 ( 1998 )

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 2,418,527 (1998)

·         Is Kyrgyzstan a signatory to CEDAW: N/A

·         Has Kyrgyzstan ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (10 February 1997)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: N/A

·         Human Development Index Position: 120 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Kyrgyzstan a signatory to CRPD: Yes (21 September 2011)

·         Has Kyrgyzstan ratified CRPD: No

·         Population with a disability: 756,795 (est.)