Legislative Policies on Women’s Political Participation Farruh Mukhamedov, Director of the Institute for Monitoring of Current Legislation under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Common vision of protecting women’s rights in Uzbekistan GOVERNMENT determines main directions of state policy Joining main international documents (over 5) Launching special government programs Supporting specific NGOs (about 300) Creating proper legal framework (over 10 documents)

Main Directions of Government Policy on Ensuring Women’s Rights - Conducting studies and assessment of the situation, enhancing women’s role in the family, society, and government; - Developing and adopting measures to promote women’s public and private employment; - Implementing legal provisions on women’s rights, maternal and child health; - Launching and implementing measures aimed at improving women’s social and political activities, promoting participation of women's NGOs in social and political life of the country and international women's movement.

Uzbekistan and International Documents 1. The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 2. Convention on the Political Rights of Women. 3. Convention concerning Equal Remuneration for Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value. 4. Maternity Protection Convention. 5. The Beijing Platform for Action and the Plan, etc.

Legal Framework - Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On additional benefits to women "; - Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On elections of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan "; - Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Elections to Provincial, District, City (town) Kenghashes of People's Deputies "; - The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On additional measures to strengthen social protection of women"; - The Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On strengthening the role of women in the state and society"; - The decree "On additional measures to support the activities of the Women's Committee of Uzbekistan".

Women’s Rights NGOs The Women's Committee of Uzbekistan with regional divisions. Business woman Business Women's Association. For Healthy Generation Foundation. Oila (Family) Center. Women's Meeting Public Association. Mehr Nuri (Ray of Kindness) Fund, etc.

Special Government Programs 1. The 1998 government program to ensure implementation of family welfare. 2. The 1999 government program to enhance women’s role in the family, society and government, and improve protection of their legal, social, economic and spiritual interests. 3. The Healthy Generation government program. 4. The Mother and Child government program 5. The government program Year of protecting the older generation interests (2002) 6. The program aimed at improving medical care for women and children. 7. The 2005 government program Year of Health. 8. The 2007 government program Year of Social Protection. 9. The 2008 government program Year of Youth. 10. The 2010 government program Year of harmoniously developed generation. 11. The 2012 government program Year of the Family. 12. The 2013 government program Year of well-being and prosperity.

Women's Participation in Society and Government Women shall make at least 30% percent of candidates nominated by a political party (the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On elections to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan“, Article 22). Following the 2009 elections, 33 female deputies were elected to the Legislative House and 15 female senators hold seats in the Senate, in 2004 there were 21 female deputies in the Legislative House. Each political party has established its women wings. The number of women in four parties varies from 36 to 50%.

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