Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- At the fifteenth plenary meeting of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Strategy for achieving gender equality in the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030 was considered.

As you know, in recent years in our country the issue of gender equality has been raised to the level of state policy, 25 legislative acts have been adopted in this area.

The creation of the Committee on Women and Gender Equality in the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, the Commission on Ensuring Gender Equality, headed by the Chairman of the Senate, indicate that great attention is paid to gender equality in Uzbekistan.

For the first time in the history of Uzbekistan, the number of women in the national parliament has reached a level corresponding to the UN recommendations.

The share of women in political parties has reached 44%, in higher education - 40%, in entrepreneurship - 35%. Women are widely involved in information and communication, innovation, energy and engineering spheres.

The share of women in leadership positions has reached 27%. In 81 ministries and departments, a reserve of more than 15 thousand personnel has been formed, consisting of advanced and educated women.

In order to provide social and economic support to women and target work with them, a “women’s notebook” system has been introduced.

A system is in place to cover the costs of educating girls in need who have lost their parents or one of them, single women who do not have a breadwinner; the number of grants for girls from low-income families for admission to higher educational institutions has been doubled.

For the development of women’s entrepreneurship, more than 224 thousand women have been allocated concessional loans totaling 6.9 trillion soums, the People’s Bank has been assigned to them, and women’s entrepreneurship centers have been established in 14 regions.

The system of rehabilitation and adaptation of victims of violence has been radically revised.

The reforms carried out in the field have a positive effect on the position of our country in international rankings.

In particular, in the World Bank’s Women, Business and Law Index, Uzbekistan in 2020 entered the list of 27 countries that have implemented significant reforms in the field of women’s rights and gender equality, rose by 5 positions and took 134th place out of 190 (in 2019 - 139th place).

It is noteworthy that the Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality in the Republic of Uzbekistan until 2030 was developed on the basis of the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Law "On Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men", in accordance with the country’s long-term goals and priorities, as defined in the Action Strategy five priority directions of development of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This document provides for a comprehensive approach to the implementation of the principle of equality between women and men in all spheres and levels of decision-making and implementation.

The strategy will also contribute to the advancement of gender equality in economic, political and social life in order to create conditions for the realization of equal rights and opportunities for women and men, as well as the observance of fundamental human rights.

The strategy covers issues such as ensuring equal and quality education for all, creating opportunities for girls from rural areas to obtain higher education, achieving gender equality for women, preventing violence and human trafficking.

It is noteworthy that the directions of this Strategy are determined in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for the period up to 2030.

In this regard, the Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality is being implemented mainly in a number of priority areas, based on target tasks for the long term. These include ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men in public service, in the field of socio-economic, family relations and raising children, and the implementation of electoral rights. The strategy also provides for budgeting and financing of government programs, taking into account activities aimed at ensuring gender equality.

Significant results are expected to be achieved through the implementation of the Gender Strategy. In particular, the practice of appointing women to leadership positions in the higher and lower levels of government bodies will be expanded. In government bodies where there is a gender imbalance, equal representation of women and men will be ensured by introducing a temporary quota system. An increase in the efficiency of work to ensure employment, the creation of decent working conditions and support for socially unprotected and low-income women, especially women from families living in rural areas, will be achieved, as well as self-employment will be achieved. Most importantly, the prevention of cases of harassment and violence against women in the workplace and the elimination of negative attitudes that have formed in relation to them in society will be ensured.

The implementation of the Gender Strategy will contribute to the fulfillment of national and international obligations adopted in the context of the strategic goals of Uzbekistan in the field of ensuring human rights (the Beijing Declaration and Plan of Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Sustainable Development Goals, etc.).

The senators noted that such complex issues as ensuring gender equality in society, increasing the socio-political and economic activity of women are not a task entrusted to state and public structures, it is important to strengthen the active participation of all in this matter.

Based on the comments made, the relevant resolution of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis was adopted.