OSCE’s Special Representative discussed gender issues at the Uzbek Senate

On November 6, a meeting with Melanne Verveer, the special representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Chairperson-in-Office on Gender issues, took place at the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, UzA reported.

The guests were delivered a speech by S. Ortikova, the Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Oliy Majlis, about implemented reforms in the country to strengthen the role and status of women in the family and society, to protect their rights, to improve their socio-political and medical culture, as well as intellectual potential. The issues of protection of motherhood and childhood, the attention being paid to the full support of women in society, including the ongoing projects and international cooperation in this field were introduced.

During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on the issues of increasing women's participation in state and public administration in Uzbekistan. Also, issues related to the development of various forms of women's entrepreneurship, strengthening partnerships for the support of women's NGOs in the country's life and international women's movement, coordinating the activities aimed at ensuring gender equality were discussed.

At the meeting, the parties also debated, in accordance with the OSCE's 2004 Action Plan, on the works carried out by international experts in the areas of implementation of the obligations of the organization across the world countries, the protection of women's rights and gender equality.

Melanne Verveer noted with satisfaction that high level of human rights, in particular, a number of practical actions to ensure gender equality are being executed at high rates in Uzbekistan. It is planned that Tashkent will host an international conference titled “The role of women in democratic reformation and modernization of the country: Uzbekistan's experience and international practice”. It will be followed by an exchange of experience on this subject. She stated that the introduction of advanced trends in the world would be a platform for exchange of views.

At the end of the meeting, it was agreed to continue the consultations on cooperation and perspective projects.