The UN Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations/ Executive Director of UN-Women Sima Sami Bahous commended Uzbekistan's commitment to gender equality during her address at the opening of the Asian Women's Forum on Monday. However, she underscored a harsh reality: the unemployment rate among Uzbek women was at 50%, while among men it's 30%.

In her address, Bahous extended gratitude to the Uzbek president for spearheading initiatives to bolster women's rights and opportunities, emphasizing the timely convening of the forum.

Acknowledging global strides towards gender parity, Bahous underscored several positive trends, including advancements in labor legislation to fortify equal rights, implementation of quotas for women in leadership roles, and a decline in maternal mortality rates. 

Moreover, she emphasized the rising accessibility of primary education for girls and commended the progress in economic gender equality, particularly in Uzbekistan.

Bahous spotlighted Uzbekistan's policy shift, introducing equal pay and lifted restrictions barring women from hazardous industrial roles. Applauding these measures, she reiterated UN-Women's support for such progressive decisions aimed at fostering gender inclusivity and economic empowerment.

However, Bahous juxtaposed these advancements with persisting global crises disproportionately affecting women and girls, citing the situation in Gaza as a poignant example. She called for an immediate ceasefire and urged concerted efforts to address systemic violence and discrimination faced by women, advocating for the elimination of discriminatory norms and legal frameworks.

“Every third woman is still subjected to violence and harassment. The main reason is discriminatory legal systems and provisions,” Bahous shared.

Bahous unveiled statistics revealing higher unemployment rates among women, a persistent wage gap, and female representation in the informal economy, particularly in low-income nations. She pointed to the urgent need to adress these inequalities, stressing the pivotal role of investing in women's economic empowerment to yield substantial societal benefits.

“Women [in Uzbekistan] earn on average 20% less than men. They often work in insecure jobs, are not protected by labor laws, and have no pension or health insurance. 60% of women are employed in the informal sector of the economy. In low-income countries, this figure exceeds 90%. Every tenth woman still lives in extreme poverty,” Bahous remarked.

Looking ahead, Bahous underscored the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, urging nations to reaffirm their commitment to gender equality during the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. She emphasized the forthcoming global summit as an opportunity to rebuild trust and forge a new international consensus on securing a shared future, with a specific focus on ensuring financial systems work inclusively for women.

Bahous urged to prioritize gender issues in development financing, integrate gender considerations into economic and social policies, and allocate resources to women's organizations and associations. Emphasizing the importance of collaboration, she called for collective action to realize shared visions of gender equality, expressing gratitude to Uzbekistan for hosting the forum in the historic city of Samarkand, an ideal venue for advancing women's rights in the region and beyond.