In the city of Tashkent, at the House of Human Rights, a presentation of the collection titled “Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (in Uzbek, Karakalpak, English, and Russian languages)” took place. The event was organized by the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights. This was reported by the press service of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights.
Aimed at specialists of state bodies and international organizations, lawyers, researchers, students, and all readers interested in gender equality issues, this new collection includes the text of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in four languages— Uzbek, Karakalpak, English, and Russian.
This presentation was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women on September 15, 1995, and the 45th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
Akmal Saidov, director of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Human Rights, while opening the event, drew attention to the decision adopted at the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council on September 9 – October 11, 2024, regarding "Celebrating the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.” He emphasized the reinforcement of all countries' obligations to ensure, promote, and protect women's rights to fully and equally benefit from human rights in these international documents.
At the presentation, Malika Qodirkhonova, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women and Gender Equality Issues of the Republic of Uzbekistan Legislative Chamber, and Gulruh Agzamova, Chairperson of the Committee on Democratic Institutions and Civil Society Development, spoke.
The celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action this year is no coincidence. Since the international legal documents adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women’s Affairs on September 15, 1995, have contributed significantly to the development of efforts worldwide to ensure gender equality and protect the rights, freedoms, and legal interests of women over the years.
It should also be noted that last year marked the 45th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. In this regard, it is appropriate to emphasize the pivotal importance of preparing a document of international scale dedicated to defining and ensuring women's rights, first recognized by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948.
As a result, in 1967, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, which was the first step in developing a comprehensive international agreement on women's rights. At the same time, this Declaration, despite being advisory, did not achieve the anticipated impact.
The main principles and rules of the Convention found their reflection in the new edition of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, adopted by popular vote in April 2023. Specifically, Articles 42 and 58 of the Constitution envisage the prevention of violations of women’s labor rights, the creation of decent living and working conditions for them, and ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women in all areas of society with men.
Currently, more than 40 legislative and regulatory documents aimed at comprehensive protection of women’s rights and interests have been adopted in our country.
At the moment, the share of women in state governance has been increased to 35 percent. Women constitute 38 percent of the newly elected members of the Legislative Chamber, and 27 percent of the Senate members. The number of women entrepreneurs has increased by 37 percent. In December 2020, the Central Asian Countries’ Leading Women’s Dialogue was established. Uzbekistan chaired this Dialogue in 2021.
Another important aspect: Uzbekistan's achievements in gender equality have been specifically acknowledged by the UN, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the World Bank, reflected in international indexes. The country scored 72.8 points on the gender equality and governance index in 2024. As a result, it moved up from the 103rd place recorded in 2022 to the 51st, climbing 52 ranks.
Additionally, last year, our country improved its position in the World Bank's “Women, Business and the Law” index by 48 positions, ranking 91st among 190 countries. Uzbekistan was recorded as one of the five countries that achieved the most significant results in the field of women's rights and gender equality.
