The countries of Central Asia on their way to achieve gender equality through using the full potential of women

On November 10-12, 2021, in Bostalyk district of Tashkent region, under the auspices of the Dialogue of Women Leaders of Central Asian Countries, a Regional Training Camp for girls on leadership, mentoring and gender equality was held.

The event was organized by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan jointly with the United Nations Development Program with the support of the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia and UN Women.

Welcoming speeches were made by Tanzila Narbaeva – the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Chairperson of the Central Asia Women Leaders Caucus, and Matilda Dimovska – the UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan.

The session was opened by Malika Kadirkhanova – the Chairperson of the Committee on Women Affairs and Gender Equality of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The participants of the training camp were representatives of the Youth Parliament of Uzbekistan, promising girls from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

The regional training camp was aimed to:

• develop the potential of girls, their intellectual abilities and professional skills;
• increase the involvement of women in the processes of ensuring peace and security;
• identify and improve the abilities of talented girls, prepare future women leaders;
• enhance the role of women and young girls, in resolving public, political, academic and business issues of Central Asian countries.

During the Regional Training Camp, the participants got acquainted with international norms on ensuring gender equality, key aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the evolution of the role of women in societies and countries of Central Asia, issues of realizing the leadership potential of girls in the areas of sustainable development, preventive diplomacy, science, innovation and business. The relevance of the global agenda for women, peace and security (WPS) was discussed.

For the participants, separate sessions were held on the development of scientific potential among girls and women's entrepreneurship, which laid the foundation for a deeper and broader understanding of leadership and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the advancement of the gender agenda.

In the end of the session, the participants of the regional training camp composed the Appeal letter to the members of the Dialogue of Women Leaders of Central Asian Countries. The appeal letter included proposals on supporting women from the countries of the region through developing their professional skills and recommendations for further empowering women and girls in various fields.

«We believe in you and we will support your efforts to contribute to the sustainable development of the region, to realize your potential in politics, economy, education and science, to find solutions resolving environmental issues, to maintain peace and stability, to strengthen the bonds of friendship and partnership between our countries.» - Tanzila Narbaeva

«Countries in the region need women's leadership, the skills and talents of women and girls to tackle vital challenges in all areas, from climate change to economic and community recovery» - Matilda Dimovska