Promoting women empowerment in socio-political and economic spheres in Uzbekistan

From 26 to 27 September 2019, the OSCE Programme Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) is conducting a round-table discussion on the advancement of women's participation in politics and business, investing in women's professional development and leadership skills. The event is jointly organized with the Committee on Gender Issues of Uzbekistan’s Senate of the Oliy Majlis (the upper house of the parliament).

The round table brought together more than fifty participants including senators, officials from the ministries and state agencies, members of political parties, academia, NGOs and the media. Particular attention was given to advancing the role of women in political participation and comprehensive support to business women, especially in the area of family entrepreneurship.

The round-table is part of the OSCE project Support to Women’s Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the financial support from the governments of Finland and Norway.

Svetlana Artykova, Deputy Speaker of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, said in her opening speech: “Creating equal opportunities in order to integrate women into various spheres of life is an urgent task, and the government of Uzbekistan is paying close attention to it. Not least important is the development and implementation of long-term state policy in this direction, aimed at improving the social status of women.” She also noted the importance of recently adopted laws On Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men and On the Protection of Women from Harassment and Violence enabling “the consolidation of the equal status of men and women, and the guarantees for their rights and freedoms”.

John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, stressed that “the OSCE recognizes that equal rights of women and men are essential in fostering peace, security, and sustainable development. Moreover, gender equality is important for both women and men and therefore requires joined forces to better promote and integrate gender equality in all spheres of life”.

The round-table is part of a longstanding commitment of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan to assist the country in promoting women`s advancement in social, political and economic life within the society.