LocationsUzbekistan Women Leaders Caucus is launched
June 21, 2022
June 21, 2022, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Today, the United Nations Development Programme jointly with the Senate of the Republic of Uzbekistan launched the “Uzbekistan Women Leaders Caucus” to promote women's empowerment, gender equality, women’s leadership skills, public awareness on equality between men and women, and conduct a broad public discussion on the reforms under the National Gender Equality Strategy of Uzbekistan.
The main objective of the Uzbekistan Women Leaders Caucus is to promote women's empowerment and expand the position of women leaders, improve their leadership skills, and prepare young girls for leadership roles. The Caucus also aims at bringing together over 180 women from various domains in 14 regions to address gender equality issues in the country. The key objectives are to:
- identify key barriers in each region to women’s participation in entrepreneurship, science, information technology, sports, and media
- support women leaders with disabilities
- contribute to the elimination of gender stereotypes and harmful social norms that exacerbate gender-based violence and inequality
- develop programs, action plans, and recommendations for government bodies to promote steady improvement of the status of women in each region.
During the first half of the event the national caucus representatives presented an overview of the local situation, current problems, and their possible solutions, as well as the number of successful projects that are being implemented in regions of Uzbekistan.
In the second part of the day, the participants worked in groups developing the annual plan of work, brainstorming ideas for proposals in each domain.
Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States in her video message pointed out that ‘the National Women Leaders Caucus plays a vital role in amplifying women’s voices by creating a network of support to the young leaders of tomorrow in developing their professional skills and expanding their opportunities. The caucus will forge a sustainable future we all need for women and girls, they must be at the forefront, and they can lead the way’.
Marina Walter, UNDP Deputy Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS, who is currently in Uzbekistan on an official visit, noted that 'Uzbekistan is now on a very exciting reform path towards stronger gender equality with a very strong Gender champion in the face of Ms Tanzila Narbaeva. The Caucus will bring a change to daily lives of women and their opportunities. Gender equality has a big chance to step forward in this country'.
During the event, participants have exchanged views on new approaches, ideas, and initiatives to help women, reforms, innovations in the country, ensuring their active participation in political processes, and the role leading women play in these processes.
At the end of the event, the work plan for the future of the National Caucus was adopted.
