For Uzbekistan, the topic of gender equality is relevant, but for many years it was not voiced. Thanks to the policy of openness of Uzbekistan and changes in society, the time has come to openly talk about the problem, study it and formulate directions for efforts.

This was stated at the launch ceremony of training workshops organized by UNDP as part of the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions on October 23, 2023.

Welcoming speeches emphasizing the importance and relevance of the training seminars were made by Malika Kadyrkhanova, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Women and Gender Equality, Gulnara Rakhimova, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Anas Fayyad Qarman, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan, Ana Landa Ugarte, UNDP Gender Equality Seal Programme Coordinator and Otabek Choriev, Deputy Chairman of the Customs Committee under the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The State Customs Committee was the first public agency in Uzbekistan to join the Gender Equality Seal in October 2022. The Committee has completed the first step of the programme and successfully passed the self-assessment through responses from more than 300 staff covering all regions of the country. An Action Plan has been developed based on the recommendations of the global experts of the programme and were presented to the participants of the event.

The Ministry of Finance became the second government agency to join the programme in December 2022. After the institutional changes in the beginning of this year, with strong commitment from the management of the Ministry of Economy and Finance the next steps are being taken to advance this important initiative. The trainings for the ministry’s staff are taking place from 23 to 26 October 2023.

Anas Fayyad Qarman, in particular, highlighted that: 

“The country has not only taken systemic measures to create an enabling legal, institutional and socio-economic environment for advancing gender equality and women’s rights within the country, but has been an increasingly active regional actor in this domain, advocating for gender equality in the Central Asia. Among recent achievements is criminalization of domestic violence, which has created a legal ground for reliable protection of the rights, freedoms and legal interests of women and children. Just last week we launched a second phase of the National Women Leaders Caucus, which has united 200 women from all regions of Uzbekistan to promote more active political participation of women in this country.”

Representatives of the ministries and other insitutions of the country, UNDP, as well as national and international gender experts and the media took part in the launch ceremony.

UNDP supports the efforts of the Government of Uzbekistan to achieve gender equality and women's empowerment towards equitable development for all.

The training seminars are conducted through the combined efforts of three UNDP projects: “Achieving equality by supporting the implementation of the national gender strategy of Uzbekistan (Gender Equality Project)”, “Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions” and “Tax for Sustainable Development Goals”.