Gender Issues in Contemporary Uzbekistan

Published on EGF: 05.06.2024

by EGF Editor

Roxila Mardonkulovna Usmanova, Doctoral Student, Institute of Family and Gender Research, Republic of Uzbekistan

Special attention is being paid to further enhancing the status of women in the new Uzbek society and ensuring their rights as a priority value. Gender equality is recognized as a social phenomenon that permeates all aspects of the life and activities of society, encompassing politics, economics, law, ideology, culture, education, and science, shaping the dynamics between women and men. In the words of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoev, "The stereotype formed in the minds of our people makes me think about many things. Traditionally, we perceive a woman first and foremost as a mother, a keeper of the family hearth. This is undoubtedly true. However, today not every woman should not be just an observer, she should be an active and proactive participant in the democratic changes taking place in the country." Therefore, it can be asserted without exaggeration that in recent years, increasing the political, social, and economic engagement of women in Uzbek society has emerged as a top priority of state policy, driven by the political will of the Uzbekistani leadership.

In the last five years, significant measures have been implemented to bolster the legislative and institutional framework for ensuring gender equality. Gender equality has been elevated to the status of public policy, with 25 legislative acts enacted in our Republic aimed at safeguarding the rights and interests of women. The legislation has been reviewed to ensure compliance with standards relating to women's labor and business rights.

In order to protect and prevent discrimination against women (referred to as "female khaq khuq"), a corresponding Commission on Gender Equality Issues was established in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, the project "Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality in the Republic of Uzbekistan (2020-2030)" is currently being developed and implemented. . In particular, in accordance with United Nations General Assembly resolution No. 70, adopted in September 2015, the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan issued a decree defining measures to achieve the national Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. It is noteworthy that Uzbekistan established the first-ever Commission on Gender Equality and the Committee on Women and Gender Equality in the Senate of the Supreme Assembly. Women's representation in Parliament has reached almost 32%, aligning with UN recommendations. Globally, Uzbekistan ranks first in terms of the representation of women in leadership positions - 27%, in political parties - 44%, in higher education - 40%, and in entrepreneurship - 35%. A “women's book” system has been introduced to provide socio-economic support to women and meet their needs, for which 300 crore dollars are allocated annually from the State budget..

To enhance collaboration with foreign organizations, annual joint plans are developed and implemented based on bilateral proposals with international bodies such as UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, ILO, USAID, OSCE, and EBRD. In recent years, Uzbekistan has prioritized a number of priority areas for ensuring gender equality and enhancing the social and political role of women, taking into account national customs and values. Various efforts are underway, including:

1. Strengthening legislation on women's rights.

2. Strengthening the institutional framework for the protection of women.

3. Raising public awareness of gender equality and women's rights.

4. Training of officials responsible for the observance of these rights in law enforcement practice. Reforms in this area have had a positive impact on Uzbekistan's position in international rankings. In the World Bank's “Women, Business and the Law” rating, Uzbekistan.

It is noteworthy that for thousands of years in society, the issue of inequality between a woman and a man and its resolution has always been relevant. Most experts believe that in modern times a very large part of family disputes is related to the fact that there are cases of non-recognition of women's rights by men, and also, in some cases, insufficient importance is given to women's rights and opportunities even in society. It is no secret that there are distorted interpretations and visions in the society in understanding and application of the word gender, which is actively used today.

It should be noted that the concept of “gender” reflects the interests of both women and men, serving the aspirations of individuals to achieve their dreams and goals. Ensuring equal rights of men and women is one of the basic requirements of a developed society. Gender is a social phenomenon that permeates all aspects of life and activities of society, encompassing politics, economics, law, ideology, culture, education and science, for both women and men. Achieving gender equality in accordance with national values requires further development and improvement of long-established marriage norms that have been rooted in Uzbek society for centuries.

Gender equality has been a longstanding concern, with historical figures such as the Greek philosophers Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato advocated policies to ensure equality and justice in society. They envisioned an ideal state where equality prevailed and laws guaranteed equal rights for all. The Greek scholar Antiphon, for example, advocated equality between the sexes, arguing that nature inherently makes everyone equal - women and men - but that laws created by humans often perpetuate inequality. Eastern philosopher Abu Nasr Farabi described an egalitarian state in his work The City of Virtuous Men, emphasizing prosperity and the recognition of civil and women's rights. In addition, the Declaration of Civil and Women's Rights drafted by Olympe de Gouges in 1791 was a milestone, recognizing for the first time women's right to freedom of thought and expression.

If we consider the legal development of gender equality, it is necessary to analyze the historical-theoretical and legal aspects of both international and national legislation in the field of gender equality. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, which recognizes the equality of men and women, is universally recognized. Article 1 of the declaration states: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”  Similarly, another significant international document, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by the UN in 1966, affirms in Article 3 the obligation of states to ensure equal enjoyment of civil and political rights for men and women. Article 2 of the "Law on Equal Rights and Guarantees of Opportunities for Women and Men" in our country reflects this international norm, serving as the practical and legal basis for legislation on equal rights and opportunities. Thus, our independent State, by ratifying these international instruments, emphasizes the importance of gender equality in its national legislation, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law.

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