Empowering Women in Uzbekistan to Fight Against Corruption

16 October 2024- A training session and discussion on gender and anti-corruption was held in Tashkent, gathering over 40 participants from government bodies, the Prosecutor General's Office, law enforcement agencies, and NGOs. The training featured a Transparency International expertinvited by UNDP Uzbekistan to share expertise on combating corruption through a gender-sensitive lens.

Strengthening the National Anti-Corruption Ecosystem in Uzbekistan Project

Organised by the Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan in collaboration with UNDP and the financialsupport of the European Union (EU), the training explored how empowering women and integrating gender perspectives into anti-corruption efforts can enhance their effectiveness. Alyona Vandysheva, an expert from Transparency International with nearly 20 years of experience discussed key vulnerabilities that disproportionately affect women in corrupt systems, such as limited access to healthcare services, higher likelihood of income reduction, exclusion from kleptocratic networks, and unequal access to resources. The session concluded that addressing these issues requires targeted strategies like collecting gender-disaggregated data on corruption victims, raising awareness of the gender-based impact of corruption, and promoting participatory, gender-responsive budgeting.

The expert also shared best practices from other countries to address gender inequality through anti-corruption measures. These include establishing quotas for public bodies and party lists, increasing the recruitment of women into public service, providing mandatory training on corruption through a gender equality lens, and supporting women's leadership programs. Furthermore, ensuring a supportive environment with safe reporting channels and conducting effective investigations of violations were highlighted as essential steps to create a more inclusive and effective anti-corruption framework. Reflecting on the session, practical exercises encouraged participants to identify steps the state, civil society, and media could take to promote women's leadership and shift societal attitudes, with solutions tailored to Uzbekistan.

Strengthening the National Anti-Corruption Ecosystem in Uzbekistan

Umida Tukhtasheva, Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan, opened the session by emphasizing the importance of gender-sensitive approaches in anti-corruption policies:

"In the anti-corruption measures implemented in our country, increasing the participation of women, as well as ensuring the protection and support of their rights and freedoms, plays an important role, and sets the agenda for discussions and training sessions like these. For the first time, the share of women in public administration has reached 35%, with 32% of deputies in the Legislative Chamber and 25% of members of the Senate being women. According to the World Bank Index, Uzbekistan is among the five fastest-growing countries in the field of gender equality. Additionally, women make up 10% of the National Anti-Corruption Council, 16% of the members of the Public Council under the Agency, and 17% of the Expert Council members."

Strengthening the National Anti-Corruption Ecosystem in Uzbekistan Project

Jana Kurpiša, Programme Manager at the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, highlighted:

''Policies shall be designed while recognizing that men and women experience corruption differently. However, women shall not be seen only as the most vulnerable group, but also as agents of change. Women's empowerment is a tool of prevention of corruption by itself. More women in policy making can lead to better public services, resulting in less exposure to corruption.''

This session is part of a broader series of events organized under the IV Tashkent Anti-Corruption Forum and was conducted within the framework of the joint project 'Strengthening the National Anti-Corruption Ecosystem in Uzbekistan,' implemented by UNDP Uzbekistan and the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the funding from the European Union.

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