Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 8 December 2020, the official launch of the regional program within the framework of the global Spotlight Initiative (Ray of Light) took place in the format of a video conference.

It was attended by officials from the UN, EU, representatives of the governments of Central Asia and Afghanistan, as well as the Commission on Gender Equality and the Ministry for Support of Mahalla and Family.

Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis and the Commission for Ensuring Gender Equality, made a statement at the event.

The regional program of the global initiative " Spotlight Initiative ", implemented by the UN, is very important and necessary for the countries of Central Asia, including Afghanistan. It is aimed at ensuring gender equality, social support for women, protecting their rights and freedoms, legal interests, as well as preventing harassment and violence against them.

The program is also fully consistent with the goals of the ongoing work in Uzbekistan in this direction. Therefore, special attention is paid to the establishment of cooperation and exchange of experience in this area.

During the event, they spoke about the effective work carried out in our country, including raising the status of women in state and social construction, ensuring their rights, achieving gender equality and protecting women from all forms of oppression and violence, which have risen to the level of state policy.

The participants of the meeting drew attention to the fact that the international community is closely observing and appreciating the efforts to achieve gender equality, the legitimate interests of women, and the prevention of oppression and violence.

They noted with satisfaction that increasing the role of women in state and public affairs, solving family and women’s problems is one of the important priorities of the socially oriented state policy pursued by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

As a result of the practical measures taken, on the basis of the conventions adopted by the UN in this area, a number of laws and regulations aimed at protecting the rights and interests of women have also entered into force in Uzbekistan.

So, in 2020. 15 normative legal acts were adopted in Uzbekistan.

They are provided with certain benefits to support their entrepreneurial activities.

Today, more and more compatriots are holding leadership positions. And with the effective use of quotas established by our legislation, according to the results of the 2019 elections, the number of women in parliament amounted to 32 percent.

To reduce the level of oppression and violence against women, dialogues are being held with the people, shelter rehabilitation centers are successfully operating in 200 districts and cities, protection orders are issued to victims of violence, and helplines are operating.

In addition, gender equality advisory councils have been established in each work collective. And since 2020, a national competition "Activist for Gender Equality" has been held.

Our country participates in the annual international campaign “16 days of active action against gender-based violence”.

And there are many similar events aimed at protecting the rights of women in Uzbekistan.

As part of the regional program of the global initiative "Spotlight Initiative", a methodology will be developed for revising national legislative acts in this direction, conducting at the regional level a review of national legislative structures regulating the prohibition, protection and response to all forms of violence.

In addition, it is envisaged to support regional dialogue between national stakeholders involved in the revision of legislation. It is also planned to provide services on the principle of “leaving no one behind” in order to overcome negative sentiments, especially in rural areas, to reach the most vulnerable segments of the population.