SRSG NATALIA GHERMAN PARTICIPATES IN LANDMARK FORUM OF THE WOMEN LEADERS’ CAUCUS HELD BACK-TO-BACK WITH HEADS OF STATE OF CENTRAL ASIA CONSULTATIVE MEETING

Forum of the Women Leaders’ Caucus convened back-to-back with the 3rd Consultative Meeting of the Heads of  State of Central Asia in Awaza, Turkmenistan (6 August 2021)

6 Aug 2021

SRSG NATALIA GHERMAN PARTICIPATES IN LANDMARK FORUM OF THE WOMEN LEADERS’ CAUCUS HELD BACK-TO-BACK WITH HEADS OF STATE OF CENTRAL ASIA CONSULTATIVE MEETING

AWAZA, Turkmenistan

On 6 August 2021, SRSG Natalia Gherman took part in a landmark Forum of the Women Leaders’ Caucus convened back-to-back with the 3rd Consultative Meeting of the Heads of  State of Central Asia in Awaza, Turkmenistan.

The Women Leaders’ Caucus was launched in late 2020 with the support of UNRCCA and UNDP as a platform committed to boosting political, economic and social participation of women in Central Asia.

At the Forum, prominent women politicians, founding members of the Women Leaders’ Caucus, exchanged the Central Asia countries’ experience in development and implementation of policies promoting gender equality.

Opening the Forum, the Chairperson of the Mejlis of the National Council of Turkmenistan, Gulshat Mammedova, read out an address prepared by the Heads of State of Central Asia to the participants of the Forum, marking the importance of gender equality as a pillar for the development of peaceful societies and celebrating the role of the Women Leaders’ Caucus in diversifying and strengthening joint regional efforts.

In her address, SRSG Gherman stressed the significance of the meeting as a milestone achievement testifying to increasing promotion of gender equality and growing importance of women’s role in enhancing cooperation and connectivity in Central Asia. She underscored the particular contribution of the Women Leaders’ Caucus to meaningful participation of women ranging from strengthening women’s economic potential to their engagement in peacebuilding processes.

The Chairperson of the Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Chairperson of the Women Leaders’ Caucus in 2021, Tanzila Narbaeva, stated: "Today's Forum provides a good opportunity to share the achievements of our countries, further plans to ensure gender equality and discuss the prospects for the development of regional interaction between women in all areas of cooperation that meet our common interests".

The Forum discussions culminated in the adoption of the Declaration of the Women Leaders’ Caucus, expressing appreciation of current positive dynamics of the regional cooperation, highlighting women’s role in addressing global and region-specific challenges and conveying support to innovative policies aimed at empowerment and partnership among women across Central Asia.

In this respect, SRSG Gherman stated that “the declaration would further accelerate the regional cooperation to achieve gender equality and women’s participation in political, economic and social life”.