A presentation of a new book took place at the Human Rights House.

The presentation was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women on September 15, 1995, and the 45th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

Opening the event, Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, noted that at the 57th plenary meeting of the session of the UN Human Rights Council, held from September 9 to October 11, 2024, a resolution "On measures to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action" was adopted. These international documents strengthen the commitments of all states to ensure, promote, and protect the full and equal realization of human rights by women.

The presentation featured Malika Qadirxanova, a senator working in the Senate Committee on Youth, Women, Culture, and Sports, and Gulrukh Agzamova, Chair of the Committee on Democratic Institutions and Civil Society Development of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

It is fitting that this year marks the widespread celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. These international legal documents have significantly contributed to the efforts to ensure gender equality, rights, freedoms, and legitimate interests of women worldwide.

In turn, last year saw the widespread celebration of the 45th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and this year marks the 30th anniversary of Uzbekistan's ratification of this Convention. It was with the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 that the need arose for an international document dedicated to the issue of gender equality, defining and guaranteeing the rights of women recognized therein.

As a result, the adoption by the UN General Assembly in 1967 of the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women was the first step toward developing a comprehensive international agreement on women's rights. However, this Declaration, while prohibiting gender-based discrimination and containing recommendations for states, did not achieve the expected effect.

Therefore, the international community felt the need for a treaty that would promote global action in this area and impose specific obligations on states. In this regard, the UN World Conference on Women, held in Mexico City in 1975, proclaimed the "Decade for Women" (1975–1985). According to the conference's decision, over the next five years, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was developed, which was adopted by resolution 34/180 of the UN General Assembly on December 18, 1979. The Convention came into force on September 3, 1981, after its ratification by twenty states. Sweden was the first country to sign this document.

The CEDAW Convention is recognized as international law dedicated to the civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights of women. This document is one of the nine core UN conventions on human rights and reflects the consensus of the international community regarding women's rights.

It should be noted that in 1981, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women was established. The Committee can review the implementation of the main articles of the Convention and provide recommendations regarding their content and application. These recommendations will assist state parties in strengthening their national legislative frameworks aimed at achieving gender equality and ensuring women's rights.

To date, 189 countries have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan ratified the Convention in 1995.

The main principles and provisions of the Convention have been reflected in our national legislation and, more importantly, in the new edition of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, adopted by a nationwide vote in April 2023. In particular, Articles 42 and 58 of the Constitution provide for the prevention of violations of women's labor rights, the creation of decent living and working conditions for them, and the assurance of equal rights and opportunities for women with men in all areas of public life.

Currently, over 40 regulatory legal documents have been adopted in our country to comprehensively ensure the rights and interests of women. This primarily concerns new laws "On Guarantees of Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women and Men," "On Protecting Women from Harassment and Violence," and "On Protecting the Reproductive Health of Citizens."

Strategies such as "Uzbekistan-2030," the National Human Rights Strategy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality in Uzbekistan by 2030 are also being implemented. The adoption of national goals and objectives in the field of sustainable development has significantly strengthened the legal framework for achieving gender equality and ensuring women's rights.

A special mechanism has been established in our country to implement the relevant recommendations of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women based on periodic reports. The active participation of all executive branch bodies is ensured in the practical implementation of this mechanism.

Active work in Uzbekistan to expand women's participation in public and political life is yielding results. Specifically, the proportion of women in government agencies has increased to 35 percent. Women make up 38 percent of newly elected deputies of the Legislative Chamber and 27 percent of Senate members.

The number of women entrepreneurs has increased by 37 percent. Hundreds of thousands of women have undergone training in professions and entrepreneurship. The number of girls studying at higher educational institutions has increased sixfold, with women comprising more than half of all students.

The Central Asia Women's Leaders Dialogue was organized in December 2020 as an informal regional platform to support women in the region. Uzbekistan became the first chair of this Dialogue in 2021.

Another important point: the results of New Uzbekistan in achieving gender equality have been recognized by the UN, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the World Bank, and reflected in international indices. In 2024, our country scored 72.8 points on the Gender Equality and Governance Index, resulting in a rise of 51 positions – from 103rd place in 2022 to 52nd place.

Moreover, last year our country climbed 48 positions in the World Bank's "Women, Business and the Law" index, ranking 91st out of 190 countries. Uzbekistan has been noted as one of the five countries that have achieved the most significant results in the field of women's rights and gender equality.

This year, Uzbekistan, like all developing countries worldwide, is widely celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. In this regard, the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan, together with relevant ministries, departments, and organizations, has begun conducting various events.

The presentation of the new edition, organized at the Human Rights House, is the first of such events. The new collection, intended for specialists in government agencies and international organizations, lawyers, researchers, students, and all readers interested in gender equality issues, presents the text of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in four languages.

Experts who spoke at the presentation emphasized that reforms in the field of human rights in the new Uzbekistan are being carried out on a firm, consistent, and comprehensive basis and acknowledged that effective efforts in this area receive broad support at the national, regional, and international levels.

Press Service of the National Center

For Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan.