Asian development bank

Gender Equality Issues

Since gaining independence in 1991, Uzbekistan has seen both progress and regression in gender equality. the principles of nondiscrimination and equal rights for women and men are enshrined in the Constitution.² the national machinery for gender equality is the Women’ Committee of Uzbekistan(WCU), a public organization chaired by the deputy prime minister. the WCU has a nationwide network of branches in every administrative–territorial body (region, or viloyat, and district, or tuman), under a deputy head on women’s issues—a mandatory position.

In 2017, the WCU identified “employment, creation of new jobs, development of business and entrepreneurial skills” as the key issues for women in larger and small cities, and “social and municipal infrastructure, family and home-based business development” as the key issues for rural women.³ In the same year, and for the first time since independence, the Government

of Uzbekistan established a Virtual Reception office in each locality to facilitate citizens’ interactions with government. Citizens can send theirconcerns about issues they are facing, directly to the government. the Virtual Reception offices regularly collect, analyze, and delegate such files to the relevant state institutions. the WCU regularly assesses women’s appeals

and addresses them to the Virtual Reception offices. the main issues have been requests for legal information or assistance; questions about social matters, housing, or financial aid; and proposals related to cultural behavior, dress code, weddings, and rituals (footnote 3).⁴
the most recent decree of the president (February 2018) defines measures intended to dramatically improve government support for women, strengthen families through structural reforms in the WCU and the Oila (Family) Centers,⁵ and establish of the public Fund for

the Support of Women and the Family, the participation of the WCU, the Union of Youth of

² Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan. article 18. www.lex.uz.
³ data provided by the WCU to adB during data gathering for this CGa update.
⁴ By November 2017, 26 files on the foregoing issues had been received; 22 had the stated issues resolved, and 4 were responded to in writing.
⁵ the Oila is the National Scientific and practical Center for family issues under the WCU. decree of the Cabinet of Ministers. 1998. On Establishment of the Republican Scientific–Practical Center “Oila”. # 54 of 2 February. http://old.lex.uz/pages/Getact.aspx?lact_id=844011.
Introduction 3
Uzbekistan, and the Business Women’s association (tadbirkor ayol, or BWa).⁶ the decree also envisions the establishment of a family-oriented Scientific–practical Research Center, under the Cabinet of Ministers, to conduct fundamental, applied, and innovative research in the area of family values and traditions. these recent developments allow for more systematic approaches to the gender equality issues presented in this assessment.

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