TASHKENT, Uzbekistan

On 28 October 2021, SRSG Natalia Gherman addressed the Regional Conference “Sustainable Development and Women’s Leadership in Central Asia”.

The conference was organized by the Central Asia Women Leaders’ Caucus (CAWLC), a platform launched in December 2020 with the support of UNRCCA and UNDP, to enhance the political, economic and social participation of women in the region.

In her opening remarks, SRSG Natalia Gherman addressed the need for inclusive and comprehensive approaches among actors within and across countries of the region. She noted the particular importance of working on relevant initiatives in the fields of sustainable development and the Women, Peace and Security agenda on all levels – regional, national, local – in order to amplify their economic and social impact.

Highlighting the successes of the CAWLC throughout 2021, SRSG Natalia Gherman noted the platform’s growing recognition as “an example of solidarity, cooperation and political will of states to implement policies aimed at achieving relevant sustainable development goals and gender equality as a whole in the region”.

The event was hosted by the Chairperson of the Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Chairperson of the CAWLC in 2021, Tanzila Narbaeva. “Today, women and girls make up half of the world's population and, accordingly, half of its development potential. However, persistent gender inequality in various spheres is a factor restraining socio-economic, scientific and technological progress”, she noted and emphasized the crucial role of women leaders for accelerating the achievement of the SDGs, and particularly Goal 5.

The event gathered prominent female political leaders, parliamentarians, as well as representatives of academia and civil society organizations from the region. It focused on the role of women leaders and regional coalitions in enhancing women’s participation and leadership in sustainable development. The program also included capacity building sessions aimed at strengthening the participants’ skills in developing communication strategies and effective messages to advance their priorities to the public.

Read more about the Central Asia Women Leaders’ Caucus: https://unrcca.unmissions.org/women-leaders-caucus