Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment: Update

Guidelines for Gender Mainstreaming Categories of ADB Projects. 
Manila.
https://www.adb.org/documents/guidelines-gender-mainstreaming-categories-adb-projects).

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Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment Update
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mechanisms to ensure more active participation of women and local communities; and
• 
gathering sex-disaggregated data based on 16 questionnaires and 6 focus group 
guides, including (i) an august–October 2017 field survey in the Kashkadarya, andijan, 
Namangan, and tashkent regions and the city of tashkent that included 32 in-country 
interviews with state and non-state agencies, development partners, beneficiaries, 
and other stakeholders; (ii) meetings with selected beneficiaries of adB projects 
(102 group discussion participants); and (iii) coordination with related stakeholders. 
the Cabinet of Ministers expressed its support before the gathering of data for this CGa 
update. the State Committee on Statistics, the Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan, the 
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Business Women’s association, participating 
commercial banks (including the National Bank of Uzbekistan, Hamkor Bank, Ipak Yuli Bank, 
Kishlok Kurulish Bank, and Ipoteka Bank), and adB gender specialists, provided data and 
materials on their mission and activities.
B. 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.
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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.