OSCE representatives on gender conduct country visit to Uzbekistan

From 6 to 9 November, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Gender, Melanne Verveer and OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues, Amarsanaa Darisuren conducted a country visit to Uzbekistan. The visit was organized by the Italian OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office.

During their visit, Verveer and Darisuren met with various counterparts including Deputy Chairperson of the Senate Svetlana Artykova, Director of the Scientific Research Centre “Oyila” under the Cabinet of Ministers Diloram Tashmukhamedova, Head of the National Human Rights Centre Akmal Saidov, Ombudsperson Ulugbek Mukhammadiev, and Chairperson of the Business Women Association Gulnara Makhmudova. The visit provided an opportunity for Uzbekistan’s representatives to discuss the progress achieved in increasing Uzbek women’s active participation in public, political and socio-economic life.  

The OSCE representatives received first-hand information and examples of Uzbekistan’s commitment to gender equality, reflected in national legislation, education curricula, and specific measures to strengthen women’s participation in different areas of the economy.

Verveer and Darisuren shared good practices to enhance women’s participation from the OSCE region at the conference on “The Role of Women in Democratic Renewal and Modernization of the Country: Best International Practice and Experience of Uzbekistan”, organized by the Women’s Committee under Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva. 

The OSCE representatives on gender also explored possible areas of co-operation with Uzbekistan’s government representatives with the objective of effectively implementing existing legislation that fosters equal opportunities for women.

The OSCE Gender Section also took the opportunity to discuss gender mainstreaming opportunities with the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan who assisted in arranging meetings with various counterparts.