The Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan recently organized a dialogue event on the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions in collaboration with the Committee on Women and Gender Equality of the Uzbeki Parliament and UNDP. The meeting was organized as the Ministry of Economy and Finance prepares to implement the Gender Equality Seal and as part of wider efforts to promote and foster gender equality within state institutions in Uzbekistan. Given the catalytic effect that the Ministry of Finance and Economy has on policies and developments throughout the public sector, their commitment to implementing the Seal is particularly welcome and may subsequently inspire other public institutions to follow suit.
During the event, Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Committee on Women and Gender Equality, Malika Kadirkhanova, highlighted the country’s dedication to promoting gender equality and referred to progress made over the past several years in Uzbekistan, notably in terms of women representation in public service and Parliament. For example, 48 out of 150 deputies of the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan are now women and so are 24 out of 100 members of the Senate.
To solidify their commitment, Uzbekistan has adopted a comprehensive strategy on gender equality, setting goals to be achieved by 2030. The strategy places a strong emphasis on creating equal opportunities for women and men, and its implementation is well underway. Furthermore, the Parliament is actively working on seventeen bills designed to safeguard the rights of both women and men, reinforcing the legislative framework for gender equality.
New Seal stream targeting Ministries of Finance
Uzbekistan is one of the first countries to commit to implementing the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions in the national Ministry of Finance. UNDP’s Gender Team and Tax for SDGs initiative recently rolled out a specific Seal stream targeting Ministries of Finance and tax administrations. The Seal helps participating institutions to make meaningful progress towards gender equality (SDG 5) and to become more inclusive and accountable to the citizens they serve (SDG 16). It further equips Ministries of Finance and tax administration to undertake gender-responsive fiscal reforms.
Get in touch if you would like to learn more about the Gender Equality Seal for Ministries of Finance and tax administrations.
