Uzbekistan's Samarkand is set to host the Asian Women’s Forum on May 13-14, focusing on women's rights and empowerment in the region. The forum's theme, "Regional Approach to Issues of Economic, Social, and Political Rights of Women and Empowerment," underscores the importance of a collective effort to address these critical issues. The initiative for this forum was first proposed by the Uzbek leader during the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, highlighting Uzbekistan's commitment to advancing women's rights and gender equality.
The forum expects participation from women parliamentarians, government officials, representatives from civil society organizations, businesswomen, political scientists, social activists, researchers, and professionals from diverse economic fields. Attendees will come from East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central Asia.
Structured around 10 parallel sessions, the forum will explore topics such as women’s participation in science, education, and innovation; leveraging digital technologies; poverty alleviation through economic empowerment; promoting entrepreneurship and innovation among women; and enhancing their leadership roles in the global economy.
Alena Sakhonchik, Private Sector Specialist at the World Bank, stated, “The forum will be a watershed moment to share the results of tremendous effort, labour, and dedication in improving the status of women in the economy, society, and families. Since 2022, the Government of Uzbekistan has implemented extensive regulatory changes, liberalizing women's economic prospects and making the country a reform success story in Central Asia.”
It is important to note that Uzbekistan stood out as one of the five countries globally that made the most progress, implementing four key reforms to enhance gender equality since October 2022, the World Bank reports. These reforms notably improved the indicators of Pay and Marriage. As a result, Uzbekistan's WBL (Women, Business, and Law) index score increased by 11.9 points to 82.5 in the 2024 report, bringing it on par with countries like Singapore, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates. Uzbekistan's progress is particularly significant in Central Asia.
Specifically, the reforms in Uzbekistan included mandates for equal pay for work of equal value and the removal of restrictions on women's employment in industrial and dangerous jobs. These changes were incorporated into a new Labor Code in October 2022, aligning Uzbekistan with international labour standards and conventions.
The United Nations has also been actively involved in supporting the forum. Ceren Guven Gures, UN Women Representative for Uzbekistan, praised the coordination efforts of the Uzbek government, saying, “The coordination of the Asian Women's Forum by the Government of Uzbekistan is commendable and demonstrates its leadership in promoting gender equality and strengthening the role of women in the region.”
One of the key focuses of the forum will be on women’s contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This will include discussions on economic empowerment, parliamentary roles in fostering women's engagement in business and society, gender-responsive budgeting, equitable access to financial opportunities, and combating violence against women and children.
The forum will also provide a platform for sharing experiences and best practices among participating countries. Olga Shpilevskaya, Chairperson of the Belarusian Women's Union, highlighted the importance of this exchange, saying, “Today, the countries with the largest share in the world economy are located in the Asian region, so it is very interesting for us to participate in this forum. We see the dynamic development and successes of these countries in the field of healthcare, innovations, and technologies. It is important to share our experience.”
Dr. Alia Hammad Al-Maqaimi, Vice-President of the Kuwaiti Women's Society, emphasized the forum's focus on empowering women economically through various means. She stated, “This forum will focus on several issues related to strengthening women, starting with sharing experiences and focusing on concepts such as gender equality, as well as women's entrepreneurship and family businesses.”
The forum will also address important issues such as the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in advancing a green economy, addressing gender disparities in climate change impacts, and advocating for the rights and interests of women in environmental policies.
Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, praised Uzbekistan for hosting the forum, stating, “This timely initiative demonstrates Uzbekistan's firm commitment to the economic empowerment of women and advancing the agenda of gender equality in all spheres of society.”
The Asian Women's Forum in Uzbekistan's Samarkand is expected to provide a unique platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange, contributing significantly to the advancement of women's rights and empowerment in the Asian region. The forum will not only showcase the progress made by Uzbekistan but also provide valuable insights and strategies that can be adopted by other countries in the region to further promote gender equality and women's empowerment.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)