UNDP Uzbekistan

The role of women leaders is of critical importance in our increasingly developing world. Empowered and educated women can use their knowledge and understanding to promote women's issues and concerns. In so doing, they are not only increasing the chances of their own success, but also lead the way for a new generation of women.

Understanding this, the UNDP "Parliamentary Development Assistance” project organized two-day training on "Gender development: the issues of forming leadership skills" for members of parliament (MP). MPs from all fractions of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, women leaders, mass media representatives, and representatives of other interested organizations took part in the training.

Since independence in 1991 – Uzbekistan has witnessed a rapid growth of political and socio-economic activity of women, where the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is one of the driving forces of this positive change.

Today in Uzbekistan, the Constitution and more than 80 laws and other legal acts ensure and protect the rights, freedoms and interests of women. Great attention is paid to improve the socio-political and legal culture of women, their participation in public administration and civil society activities, as well as in electoral spheres. The Law "On Elections" establishes a minimum 30 percent threshold of women candidates from political parties in competition.

The interactive workshop was on rights and roles of women on such issues as access to public services, participation in public administration and civil society issues at all levels of control, the right to vote in elections and public referenda and the right to be elected to all representative bodies, the right to participate in the implementation of state policies and to hold public office, participate in the activities of NGOs and associations, dealing with the social and public life of the country. Gender sensitivity assessment of the bills was also a hot topic discussion.

Distinct suggestion and recommendations were made by the participants of the training on improving the political and socio-economic activity of women, their participation in public administration and civil society activities. One of the participants, Gulnoza Ernazarova, Member of Parliament said: "This kind of workshops is especially important for us, women, when so many opportunities are given to us, yet not employed to their fullest capacity. Even though most of the MPs know about gender inequality issue, there is no common vision of specific steps on working on that direction. That is why we look forward to similar workshops which will help to improve professional knowledge and leadership of MPs" (end quote).

UNDP “Parliamentary Development Assistance” project provides technical support in strengthening informational and institutional base of informational analytical activities of both Chambers of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and works to:

a) strengthen and develop the potential of the Parliament, as well as the Secretariats of both Chambers of Oliy Majlis;

b) assist in enhancing oversight and analytical activities of the Parliament;

c) strengthen the representative function of the Parliament through support in enhancing the organization of activities of MPs and methods of their work with electorate;

d) improve efficiency of work of Secretariats of both Chambers and informational and technical support to parliamentary activities.