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Written by 12:00 am General

Askar Shakirov: Parliamentarians should promote gender equality

Deputy Chairman of the Senate Askar Shakirov took part in the online conference “Women, Peace and Security” organized by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly as part of its initiative “Call to Action – Helsinki + 50” process.Participants in the online dialo…

Deputy Chairman of the Senate Askar Shakirov took part in the online conference “Women, Peace and Security” organized by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly as part of its initiative “Call to Action – Helsinki + 50” process.

Participants in the online dialogue discussed the role of the Parliamentary Assembly and national parliaments in ensuring the full and meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention and resolution, peacemaking, and protection of women and girls from gender inequality.

In his speech, the Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Askar Shakirov noted that the comprehensive protection of women’s rights, the elimination of violence and discrimination against them, as well as the advancement of women in power structures are the most important priorities in the development of the OSCE member states.

“Kazakhstan has reached the UN Millennium Development Goals in terms of ensuring gender equality ahead of schedule and is one of the countries with a“ very high level of gender development ”, leading among the CIS countries in the Gender Development Index, ” the Vice-Speaker noted.

He stressed the importance of the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to introduce a 30 percent quota for women and youth on the lists of candidates for political parties in elections, which increased the representation of women in the Mazhilis of Parliament to 27%.

The significant role of women in creating jobs and stimulating economic growth, which heads 43% of small and medium-sized enterprises, was noted.

Kazakhstani female military personnel, along with men, within the framework of the UN mission, participate in peacekeeping programs to restore peaceful life in post-conflict countries.

In conclusion, the Kazakh senator called on OSCE parliamentarians to ensure greater balance in the representation of women, to help create an enabling environment and build capacity so that women can realize their full potential.

Source: Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Last modified: September 9, 2021