Commissioner for human rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan E. Azimova together with the Chairperson of the National Commission on Women's Affairs and Family Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan L. Ramazanova took part in the UN-Women virtual dialogue

On May 22, 2020 the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan E. Azimova, together with the Chairperson of the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and the Family Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan L. Ramazanova, took part in a virtual dialogue between UN-Women and the heads of national structures on women’s affairs and gender  equality from the countries of the Eastern Partnership and the Central Asian region.

The dialogue was organized by Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of UN-Women Asa Regner, and Regional Director of UN-Women in Europe and Central Asia, Alia El-Yassir.

Heads of national structures on women’s affairs and gender equality from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan have participated in the Dialogue.

Participants of the virtual dialogue discussed the difficulties that countries and citizens, especially women and children, faced in a pandemic, and exchanged views on the priorities for a long-term response to COVID-19.  A consensus was expressed on the importance of gender mainstreaming of t country-level and global measures, that take account of the needs of vulnerable categories of the population.

“Kazakhstan supports the initiative of UN Women on the need to develop a roadmap to ensure gender equality to improve the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said the Chairperson of the Commission.

Lazzat Ramazanova informed the participants of the Dialogue on the statement by the President of the country that the state would not leave anyone in trouble during this difficult time.  On behalf of the Head of State, a state commission is working, which, during the period of declared quarantine, worked out measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection, and is currently developing anti-crisis measures to eliminate the consequences of the state of emergency.  These measures are primarily aimed at supporting vulnerable categories of citizens, medium and small businesses, and citizens who were left without sources of income during this period.  The Government allocated 6 trillion tenge, or 13 billion dollars, to fight against coronavirus and the anti-crisis program.  5 million Kazakhstanis, including physicians involved in anti-epidemic measures, citizens who were left without work, received cash and food allowance.  The Chairperson of the National Commission emphasized that women were in the forefront of the pandemic campaigners.  More than 73% of Kazakhstani women selflessly worked in difficult conditions among medical, social workers and teachers,.

The Assistant Secretary-General, Deputy Executive Director of UN-Women, Asa Regner, identified 5 priority areas for UN-Women during the pandemic: 1) end violence against women and girls, 2) provide social protection and economic support for women and  girls, 3) the distribution of unpaid and domestic labor between men and women, 4) the involvement of women and girls in decision-making and response planning processes, 5) the provision of information, data, knowledge.

 

National center for human rights of the Republic of Kazakhstan