Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan’s experience in promoting gender equality and parliamentary participation in the United Nations human rights mechanisms has been recognized as a best practice. This acknowledgement was made during an international seminar held on 23–24 June 2025, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The event was organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in cooperation with the State Great Khural of Mongolia.

The seminar titled “Strengthening Parliamentary Participation in UN Human Rights Mechanisms: Focus on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)” brought together parliamentarians, experts, and representatives of international organizations.

Participants exchanged experiences regarding the involvement of legislative bodies in the UPR process and the work of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

At the invitation of the organizers, a video report prepared on behalf of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan by academician A. Saidov was presented. The report highlighted measures undertaken by Uzbekistan’s parliament to effectively engage in fulfilling international commitments related to women’s rights and equal opportunities. Key areas of activity included:

Active parliamentary participation in the preparation of national reports within the UPR framework and parliamentary oversight of the implementation of related recommendations;

Cooperation with the CEDAW Committee, including parliamentary contributions to the preparation of periodic reports and implementation of subsequent recommendations;

Work of the Parliamentary Commission on Gender Equality and the Women’s Parliamentary Group aimed at advancing women’s rights and expanding their involvement in socio-political life;

Promotion of educational initiatives, including localization of international training resources such as the IPU’s Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on freedom of expression for parliamentarians;

Contribution to advancing women’s rights through legislative activities, parliamentary oversight, and engagement with civil society institutions.

Seminar participants, including members of the State Great Khural of Mongolia, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to learn from Uzbekistan’s experience and described it as an inspiring example of a systematic parliamentary approach to engagement with UN mechanisms. It was emphasized that the practices presented would be considered in Mongolia’s preparation for its fourth UPR cycle scheduled for November 2025, as well as in ensuring parliamentary participation in the implementation of CEDAW recommendations.

In response to Uzbekistan’s contribution, IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungkong sent an official letter expressing gratitude for the high level of participation and underscoring the significance of Uzbekistan’s experience for other countries preparing for the UPR and cooperation with CEDAW. He noted that the video material helped seminar participants deepen their understanding of practical mechanisms for parliamentary interaction with UN human rights structures.

Participants were particularly impressed by Uzbekistan’s efforts to ensure women’s representation in legislative bodies. Currently, women constitute more than 38% of the country’s parliament, supported by a gender quota guaranteeing that no fewer than 40% of candidates nominated by political parties are women. Positive trends in youth participation were also noted: due to conducive reforms and conditions, the Oliy Majlis has seen a noticeable increase in deputies under the age of 35.

Uzbekistan’s achievements are also reflected in the new IPU Guide on Gender Equality, “Achieving Gender Equality, Action by Action” (2025), where the country is named as one of the best practices in ensuring gender balance in parliament. The document emphasizes that a clear legislative framework, gender quotas, and specialized parliamentary mechanisms are key factors behind this success.

To support educational and informational efforts, the Inter-Parliamentary Union provided the Parliament of Uzbekistan with a digital version of the IPU and UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) handbook: “Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Optional Protocol: A Guide for Parliamentarians.” This resource is recommended for translation into Uzbek and use in parliamentary practice.

The international recognition highlights the growing role of Uzbekistan’s parliament in promoting gender equality, advancing human rights, and strengthening the parliamentary dimension of the country’s foreign policy and human rights initiatives.