Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Today in Tashkent, in the international media hall on coverage of the presidential elections, together with the Republican Public Women’s Council, the Senate Committee of the Oliy Majlis on Women and Gender Equality, the Central Election Commission and the Yuksalish National Movement an open dialogue was organized on the topic “Guarantees of women’s electoral rights and topical issues of increasing their activity in elections”.

This event was held in order to increase political activity, in particular the electoral culture of women, to further enhance the activity in society of representatives of parliament, public organizations, authorized state bodies, subjects of lawmaking and law enforcement practice in terms of increasing political activity.

The event was attended by members of both chambers of parliament, activists of political parties, representatives of ministries and departments, members of the Youth Parliament, active women, media representatives and bloggers. The event was attended by Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, Chairman of the Republican Public Women’s Council Tanzila Narbaeva.

Tanzila Narbayeva noted in her speech that at present women make up about 50% of the country’s population, all conditions have been created for their effective work in all spheres, including political management, socio-economic life. It was noted that the role of women in elections is invaluable, today, in the era of globalization, the protection and further strengthening of the rights and freedoms, legitimate interests of women, increasing their socio-economic and political and legal activity is a requirement of the times. Taking into account the fact that in Uzbekistan, along with men, equal opportunities have been created for women voters to actively participate at all stages of the electoral process, an important issue is to strengthen the policy to support and stimulate them.

It should be noted that the Constitution enshrines such basic principles for the exercise of electoral rights as equality of women and men, free expression of the will of citizens, secret ballot on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage. These constitutional norms are reflected in the Electoral Code adopted in 2019.

The Convention on the Political Rights of Women also establishes that women have the right to vote in all elections on an equal basis with men, without any discrimination, as well as the right to be elected in accordance with the procedure established by national legislation.

It should be noted that during the presidential elections, women participate on an equal basis with men and freely as voters, presidential candidates, members of election commissions, observers and proxies.

Thus, today 104 members of district election commissions and 65,974 members of precinct election commissions are women.

In the elections to the Legislative Chamber of 2019, 54,361 women participated in precinct election commissions. If you compare this figure with the current figures, you can see an increase of 21.3%. Currently, the number of women voters in the country is almost 11 million.

It was noted that in order to increase the activity of women in the upcoming political process, to create the necessary conditions for them to freely use their constitutional rights, to vote for their candidate in makhallas, a number of propaganda activities are being carried out.

It was emphasized that women who are not indifferent to the fate of the Motherland should actively participate in the current presidential elections and contribute to the achievement of new achievements and successes. The general public should act together, showing their involvement; it is necessary to strengthen, within the established timeframe, measures aimed at ensuring the active participation of women in elections, carried out by public women’s councils in every mahalla, village and aul, city and district.