On May 13-14, the Asian Women’s Forum, organized at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, took place in Samarkand. The forum gathered over 400 participants from 36 countries, including experts, political scientists, activists, human rights defenders, scholars, business representatives, and NGOs. The forum was dedicated to the theme of "Regional Approaches to Expanding Economic, Social, and Political Rights and Opportunities for Women."
The Kazakh delegation was represented by the Vice Speakers of the Senate and the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Olga Perepechina and Daniya Yespayeva, members of the National Commission for Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy under the President - Secretary of the “AMANAT” party, Chairwoman of the party’s women’s wing Sholpan Karinova, and Rector of the Aktobe Regional University named after K. Zhubanov, Laura Karabasova.
Welcoming the forum participants, Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan O.V. Perepechina expressed gratitude to the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis Tanzila Narbayeva for organizing the forum.
Olga Perepechina called on the forum participants to unite efforts and coordinate the actions of the countries in the region to expand economic, social, and political rights and opportunities for women. She proposed the creation of a regional network of support centers for women entrepreneurs and mechanisms to expand women’s access to financial resources through a specialized fund for credit and grant programs.
At the plenary session of the forum, Sholpan Tanatovna Karinova, member of the National Commission, Secretary of the “AMANAT” party, and Chairwoman of the party’s women’s wing, delivered a report titled "Equal Access – Equal Opportunities: The Kazakhstan Case."
Sh. Karinova emphasized that issues of social justice and equality have always been at the center of Kazakhstan's state policy. Significant steps have been taken in ensuring equality and women’s participation thanks to political reforms, as noted by the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Kazakhstan has ratified international documents on gender equality and adopted the Family and Gender Policy Concept until 2030. The National Commission for Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy under the President, as well as the “AMANAT” party actively working through its women’s wing, played a significant role in these achievements.
Sholpan Karinova noted that in 2023 Kazakhstan ranked 62nd out of 146 countries in the Gender Gap Index. The UN Program in Kazakhstan and the structure "UN Women" conducted a study with over 3800 respondents participating. The majority of respondents believe that women and men have equal rights and opportunities.
The gender policy of Kazakhstani educational organizations is aimed at ensuring equal opportunities for all. An important aspect is the participation of women in science, where the proportion of women is approaching 55%. Sholpan Tanatovna also mentioned the achievements of Kazakhstani scientists, such as Kunsulu Zakarya, the developer of the QazVac vaccine against COVID-19.
Kazakhstan ranks 28th in the UN E-Government Development Index. The National Educational Database and the Digital Family Map, which accumulate data from 24 government bodies, were presented at the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York.
The forum in Samarkand was an important step towards strengthening cooperation in the field of women’s rights and opportunities and promoting gender equality in the Asian region.
The Kazakh delegation was represented by the Vice Speakers of the Senate and the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Olga Perepechina and Daniya Yespayeva, members of the National Commission for Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy under the President - Secretary of the “AMANAT” party, Chairwoman of the party’s women’s wing Sholpan Karinova, and Rector of the Aktobe Regional University named after K. Zhubanov, Laura Karabasova.
Welcoming the forum participants, Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan O.V. Perepechina expressed gratitude to the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis Tanzila Narbayeva for organizing the forum.
Olga Perepechina called on the forum participants to unite efforts and coordinate the actions of the countries in the region to expand economic, social, and political rights and opportunities for women. She proposed the creation of a regional network of support centers for women entrepreneurs and mechanisms to expand women’s access to financial resources through a specialized fund for credit and grant programs.
At the plenary session of the forum, Sholpan Tanatovna Karinova, member of the National Commission, Secretary of the “AMANAT” party, and Chairwoman of the party’s women’s wing, delivered a report titled "Equal Access – Equal Opportunities: The Kazakhstan Case."
Sh. Karinova emphasized that issues of social justice and equality have always been at the center of Kazakhstan's state policy. Significant steps have been taken in ensuring equality and women’s participation thanks to political reforms, as noted by the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Kazakhstan has ratified international documents on gender equality and adopted the Family and Gender Policy Concept until 2030. The National Commission for Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy under the President, as well as the “AMANAT” party actively working through its women’s wing, played a significant role in these achievements.
Sholpan Karinova noted that in 2023 Kazakhstan ranked 62nd out of 146 countries in the Gender Gap Index. The UN Program in Kazakhstan and the structure "UN Women" conducted a study with over 3800 respondents participating. The majority of respondents believe that women and men have equal rights and opportunities.
The gender policy of Kazakhstani educational organizations is aimed at ensuring equal opportunities for all. An important aspect is the participation of women in science, where the proportion of women is approaching 55%. Sholpan Tanatovna also mentioned the achievements of Kazakhstani scientists, such as Kunsulu Zakarya, the developer of the QazVac vaccine against COVID-19.
Kazakhstan ranks 28th in the UN E-Government Development Index. The National Educational Database and the Digital Family Map, which accumulate data from 24 government bodies, were presented at the 67th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York.
The forum in Samarkand was an important step towards strengthening cooperation in the field of women’s rights and opportunities and promoting gender equality in the Asian region.