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An online conference of the Dialogue of Women Leaders of the Central Asian States, organised by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and themed ‘Women of Central Asia: Priority Tasks and Joint Action’, was held on 21 April.
Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova who addressed the conference remarked that it served the cause of strengthen women’s role and promoting co-operation in Central Asia. According to her, the ‘Dialogue of Women leaders of the Central Asian States’ platform established itself as a relevant and effective format for regional interaction in a relatively brief period. This dialogue contributes to strengthening trust, developing inter-state and inter-parliamentary ties and formulating co-ordinated approaches to tackling current issues concerning expansion of the role of women in socio-political and socio-economic life. It was observed that today’s meeting not only ensures the continuity of this important initiative but also affirms the commitment to deepening inter-parliamentary co-operation further and developing joint approaches to solving the tasks ahead.
Speaker Sahiba Gafarova remarked in her speech that Central Asia demonstrates steady development dynamics and reinforcement of regional co-operation today and that the role of women in those processes is mounting demonstrably. She stressed in this context that the issues of expanding women’s involvement in public and political life as well as strengthening women leadership are on the regional and inter-regional agenda. She also accentuated Azerbaijan’s active involvement with the agenda.
As she was telling the conference of Azerbaijan’s successes in promoting women’s rights, Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova said that women are integral members of society and have a decisive influence upon its development in our country.
According to Speaker Sahiba Gafarova, protection of women’s rights and gender equality are today amongst the prime areas of the state policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Sahiba Gafarova mentioned Azerbaijani women’s active participation in all the activity fields and the high positions they occupy in the legislative and executive authority branches, judicial system, diplomatic service, sciences and education, and then emphasised that the large-scale public and political endeavours of First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva represent an embodiment of women’s valuable contribution to the progress of our society and country.
It was also said in the speech that consistent steps are being taken, the legislative framework is being streamlined and appropriate laws are being enacted in Azerbaijan to ensure women’s rights and liberties as well as to promote gender equality on the state and parliamentary levels. As many as 57 Bills have been considered and 20 public hearings held with regards to gender equality and family issues as well as protection of women’s and children’s rights in the Parliament over the 5 years past. At the same time, the obligations arising from the international conventions to which Azerbaijan has acceded have been incorporated into legislative acts. According to Speaker Sahiba Gafarova, the National Action Plans, presidential decrees and state programmes in this area constitute a comprehensive approach that yields important results in terms of expanding the rights and opportunities of women.
Having mentioned the great importance that Azerbaijan attaches to regional co-operation concerned with the rights of women, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova observed that the Dialogue of Women Leaders of the Central Asian States is an instance of the way parliamentary diplomacy and women leadership can form an ambience of trust, experience exchange and joint initiatives. Azerbaijan is prepared to take an active part in these processes, share her experience and support programmes designed to enhance women’s roles in politics, economy and society, she said. As the Speaker of the Milli Majlis also remarked, it is deemed expedient to undertake joint initiatives and projects aiming to strengthen inter-parliamentary interaction in the relevant fields as priority areas are defined for further co-operation under the auspices of the Dialogue of Women Leaders of the Central Asian States.
The others who addressed the conference were Speaker of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbayeva, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Central Asia and Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Kaha Imnadze, Speaker of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan Dünýägözel Gulmanowa, Deputy Speaker of the Joğorqu Kengesh of Kyrgyzstan Zhyldyz Taalybek kyzy, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan Muvsuma Muini, Chairwoman of the Committee on Legislation and Judicial-Legal Reform of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Snezhanna Imasheva and more. They told of the national experiences and of the work done in their countries on strengthening women leaders’ roles; they also voiced their opinions and proposals as to the discussed topic.
