Joint project of Uzbekistan Women’s Committee and UNDP “Legislative and Institutional Capacity Development for Women’s Empowerment in Uzbekistan”, National Association of NGOs, Tashkent-based Faol Youth organization and World Bank joined hands to organize the seminar.

The goal of the event was to create environment for participation of youth in democratic processes, teach them to work together to solve gender problems and attract their attention to gender equality issues.

Participants got acquainted with such issues as human rights, women’s rights, gender, the role of NGOs in implementation of MDG’s gender equality goal in Uzbekistan, as well as impact of negative customs and traditions on the lives of women.

They also learnt about the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which is celebrating its 30 Anniversary this year, and legislative acts of Uzbekistan on protection of women’s rights and ongoing reforms in this area.

Participants discussed possible actions and ideas on encouraging gender equality, broadening rights and opportunities for women.

The UNDP project “Legislative and Institutional Capacity Development for Women’s Empowerment in Uzbekistan” has been implemented in collaboration with the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan. The project is aimed at supporting and building the capacity of government, civil society and mass media in reducing the gender gaps via raising awareness on and implementing the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) given to Uzbekistan in August 2006.

The CEDAW Convention adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly is an international document on the rights of women. Uzbekistan was one of the first Central Asian countries to ratify the convention in 1995. It has reported four times to the CEDAW Committee on its implementation.