BELGRADE, June 3 /Dunyo IA/. A parliamentary delegation of Uzbekistan, led by Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis Tanzila Narbaeva, is on an official visit to Belgrade at the invitation of the National Assembly of Serbia, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

According to the upper chamber of the Parliament, the delegation participated in the Global Conference of Women Parliamentarians organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union during its visit to Belgrade.

The conference brought together parliamentary delegations, international organizations, and experts from 65 countries.

Opening the forum, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Tulia Ackson emphasized the significance of the international event and the importance of protecting the rights and interests of women worldwide.

It was noted that the main objective of the conference was to facilitate the exchange of experience in promoting gender equality, expanding women's participation in political decision-making processes, and safeguarding women's rights within parliamentary institutions.

During the session entitled “Advancing Equality: Breaking Barriers of Gender Stereotypes and Harmful Social Norms,” Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva delivered a presentation on the reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan in the field of gender equality.

The conference highlighted that ensuring gender equality has been identified as one of the priority areas of Uzbekistan’s state policy. In recent years, the country has undertaken large-scale legal and institutional reforms in this sphere. In particular, mechanisms for protecting women from harassment and violence have been progressively strengthened, while efforts have been intensified to expand women’s participation in public administration and social life and to ensure equal rights and opportunities.

Participants also noted the systematic measures being taken to increase women’s access to education, modern professions, and advanced technologies, as well as to enhance their economic activity and support women’s entrepreneurship.

Special attention was drawn to initiatives aimed at developing women’s political leadership. It was emphasized that favorable conditions have been created to increase women’s participation in political parties, while talent pools and specialized training programs have been established to prepare women for leadership positions.

Uzbekistan’s extensive public awareness campaigns aimed at eliminating gender stereotypes and harmful social attitudes were recognized as a best practice. The National Commission on Gender Equality regularly monitors and evaluates programs implemented in this area.

During the conference, it was underlined that Uzbekistan’s reforms to promote gender equality and strengthen the role of women in public and political life are receiving increasing international recognition. Women currently account for 38 percent of parliamentary seats in the country, while Uzbekistan has advanced by 92 positions in the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s global ranking, reaching 36th place worldwide. These achievements were cited as evidence of the effectiveness of the ongoing reforms.

Participants noted that Uzbekistan’s experience demonstrates that overcoming gender stereotypes is not only a matter of social justice but also an important component of effective governance and sustainable development. In this regard, proposals were put forward to enhance cooperation among parliaments through the exchange of legislative experience and mechanisms for implementing effective laws aimed at eliminating gender stereotypes.

The participants were also informed that the Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians of the Inter-Parliamentary Union is scheduled to take place in Samarkand on September 4–6, 2026.